12 Comments
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Deborah J. Flora's avatar

You had us all at book proposal.

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Kris Camealy's avatar

I read every word of this but I confess my mind wandered off when I read the bit about you polishing up your own book proposal…May it bloom into the book you imagine, and may it land in my eager hands before long. Grateful for the way you wrangle words onto the screen (and the page), and this post was a bit of manna today.

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John Blase's avatar

Thank you, Kris.

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Tabitha McDuffee's avatar

Honored to know a fellow poetry lover with both a book proposal and a deadlift goal. I will happily read about either one.

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Mark Twight's avatar

The "myth-flex" passage hit just right. 🙌🏻

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Anita Palmer's avatar

John, I was introduced to you by my old friend Rick Christian. I think line by line you’re one of the most lyrical writers I’ve encountered, and I read every word you write that I can afford. Maybe soon I’ll be able to enter the Substack promised land. (See what I did there? A clue my worldview might be at least adjacent to yours. Ha.) I’ve spent 25 years as a freelance book editor, so please forgive an in-the-weeds question. I had to chart one of your proposal’s sentences to understand it. Should “engaged” be “engaging”?

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John Blase's avatar

Thanks, Anita. I'll take a look at it.

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Nancy Franson's avatar

And posts like this, dear friend, are just one reason I’m grateful our paths crossed on this terrestrial ball (see what I did there?)

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Duncan Hilton's avatar

Good one!

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Melissa Greenway's avatar

I just love this…and all your words…so much☺️

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

John, we don't deserve you. None of us do.

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Jessica's avatar

My pastor (see what I did there?!) calls these little hyperlinks “stringing pearls” and he’s done such an effective job pointing them out I notice them everywhere. Stories, everywhere you look.

And I’ll be eagerly awaiting yours.

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