1. Why do you blog?
I need a readily available outlet to express/expose my writing. Like my previous and current obsessions/passions (art/music) I have to write, I am driven to write – If I don’t then I am stifled, a depressed malcontent, well, more than I usually am anyway, and like music this is not something that you keep to yourself, it is for myself that I write, but the shared experience is crucial, the feedback essential, going through the motions part of the process; setting these self imposed deadlines, structure, piece lengths etc. and keeping to these parameters helps me be a better writer.
2. Which author and/or book has most influenced you?
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life – Anne Lamott, was the book that influenced me the most. Incarcerated, practically illiterate, with no hope I picked her book up and was so impressed that I started writing that night in my cell with a pencil on the back cover and haven’t stopped since.
Other authors who’ve influenced me:
James Ellroy – My Dark Places/American Tabloid
Herbert Shelby Jr. – Requiem for a Dream
Anne Proulx – Accordion Crimes
Chuck Palahniuk – Survivor
3. Which three blogs do you most visit?
Go Fug Yourself - http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/
All that Glitters - http://spankyourcat.blogspot.com/
Bliss and the Color Pink - http://adrianabliss.blogspot.com/
4. Why do you read fiction?
I write creative nonfiction – reality gets a little too real sometimes and I need a break.
5. What makes you laugh?
Being called an American, living in America, the first morning glance in the bathroom mirror.
Patrick O’Neil blogs at Full Blue Moon Dementia, which can be found here: http://fromage_de_merde.blogspot.com/
Update: the URL for Patrick’s blog has changed to:
http://patrickseanoneil.blogspot.com/
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Jul 28th, 2006 at 5:31 am
Strange, this reading my aimless rambling on another website – asking myself did I actually say that, and like why? But no really thank you John for the chance to get out and some what exposing myself to a whole other group of readers/writers/people. Hmmmm, that didn’t exactly sound right either, now did it?
Jun 21st, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Hi John - I agree that writing assists survival - especially for a carer who can so easily feel isolated. Dementia is a horrible thing, affecting not just the person themself but all their family and contacts. ‘Aimless rambling’ it may seem to be at times - but this can help re-align both the psyche and the soul. Hang on in there John. If you want, find my blog about caring for my father-in-law, and our family of Ms Mog, Mr Mutt and the chooks (who arrive soon) at
http://chickpeasouffle.blogspot.com
Best wishes. x
Jul 2nd, 2008 at 6:28 pm
John: the URL for my blog “Full Blue Moon Dementia” has been changed - please note and post if possible - http://patrickseanoneil.blogspot.com/
jb says: Thanks for letting us know, Patrick. I’ve updated the post.