tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post1702323342046405786..comments2024-03-19T05:28:00.356-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: The Importance of MentorsLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-21289060966107630252015-08-05T14:37:02.720-04:002015-08-05T14:37:02.720-04:00He's about 25 pounds, Bonnie, but really close...He's about 25 pounds, Bonnie, but really close to the ground.Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-60993353009534477282015-08-05T14:34:39.182-04:002015-08-05T14:34:39.182-04:00Jingle reminds me of our late dog, Alex, who was a...Jingle reminds me of our late dog, Alex, who was a beagle/sheltie mix (also from a shelter). But since you think Jingle might be part dachshund, he's probably smaller than Alex was.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17673578800047888317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-91441810431335981972015-08-05T13:46:01.871-04:002015-08-05T13:46:01.871-04:00Hi, Earl. Thanks for stopping by. It's interes...Hi, Earl. Thanks for stopping by. It's interesting how one person can have such a profound affect on another's life just be giving a little encouragement. I'm glad you had Mrs. Geyer in your life.<br /><br />Anonymous, Jingle is probably a beagle/dachshund mix. But he's a shelter rescue, so that's simply a guess. He says woof!Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-88801898071743519542015-08-05T13:38:24.431-04:002015-08-05T13:38:24.431-04:00I have to ask if Jingle is a border collie, as s/h...I have to ask if Jingle is a border collie, as s/he seems to be. Yeah, that's me: skip the adult talk and go straight to the dog. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-78472864270939154032015-08-05T10:29:15.382-04:002015-08-05T10:29:15.382-04:00Hi, Barb. My high school English teacher, Mrs. Gey...<br />Hi, Barb. My high school English teacher, Mrs. Geyer, encouraged me by telling me I had a knack for writing. She even convinced me to enter an essay contest. I did, I won, and that's when I decided I would someday be a writer. Best wishes in your new venture as a blogger here. I know you'll do well.Earl Staggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13349667172813175960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-17473886960896402702015-08-05T09:41:33.722-04:002015-08-05T09:41:33.722-04:00Thanks, Susan. And thanks for stopping by. (P.S. J...Thanks, Susan. And thanks for stopping by. (P.S. Jingle says woof.)Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-94665238877690192015-08-05T08:21:29.034-04:002015-08-05T08:21:29.034-04:00Barb, Would that we all had a mentor like Dennis. ...Barb, Would that we all had a mentor like Dennis. Thank you for introducing him. Your debut post was informative, relatable, and essentially you. Plus, I love the Jingle tease. You'll do swell, Kid.Susan Sundwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747706680849311882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-50588984775406367512015-08-04T23:38:27.434-04:002015-08-04T23:38:27.434-04:00I am sure we are all delighted that so many of Bar...I am sure we are all delighted that so many of Barb's fans have followed her here I hope you will try some of the other SleuthSayers as well. We have a lot of fun!Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-68383921421761984982015-08-04T17:57:19.269-04:002015-08-04T17:57:19.269-04:00Mo, that's a great story. Your teacher took a ...Mo, that's a great story. Your teacher took a bad moment and found the good in it. That's what teaching should be about. Not just giving facts and teaching people how to think critically, but also helping people to find their strengths and to learn from their disappointments, to provide the encouragement through which people can chase their dreams and, maybe, achieve them. You're very fortunate.Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-13689648993851111332015-08-04T17:50:00.677-04:002015-08-04T17:50:00.677-04:00Thanks, KM. Dennis himself benefited from a helpin...Thanks, KM. Dennis himself benefited from a helping hand. His story is so inspiring. A man who started as a janitor and went on to win a Pulitzer Prize. And he didn't have a big head about him either. He was just a great guy. <br /><br />Shari, it must have been tough back in those early newsroom days. I'm glad you had a female mentor to help you find your way. And to look good while you did it!<br /><br />Ellen, I've known you for a number of years. I don't think journalism ruined you. You came out smart and sharp and with a hell of a lot of great stories. Journalism probably fueled your fire for writing mysteries. Good guys. Bad guys. People you'd want to kill ... <br /><br />Joanna, wow, that is so nice of you to say. I'm ... speechless. Grateful. Thank you. <br /><br />Diana, Grace, and Larry, thanks so much for stopping by. I'm looking forward to lots of fun posts. I've already started working on the one that will post on August 25th. There will be funny pictures ...Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-47191582279807681492015-08-04T17:45:30.652-04:002015-08-04T17:45:30.652-04:00Thanks for steering me to Sleuthsayers, Barb, and ...Thanks for steering me to Sleuthsayers, Barb, and wonderful first post. I had several terrific teachers who encouraged me and helped me develop my writing, but it was a high school speech & drama teacher, Terry Ohlms, who taught me one of my most valuable lessons. When it was my turn to give an extemporaneous speech, I gave my prepared opening sentence, froze, and dissolved in tears. Mrs. Ohlms let me sit down, but asked me to stay after class. She asked me to join the speech team, based on the way I delivered that one sentence! If I knew my material beforehand, she believed I would do well. For the next three years I wrote and delivered 8-10 minute speeches, won competitions, and learned to look for the strengths, not the errors, in myself and others and foster them. Mo Walshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-49902986846811054032015-08-04T17:19:25.897-04:002015-08-04T17:19:25.897-04:00Glad to see you've joined the crew at one of m...Glad to see you've joined the crew at one of my favorite blogs. Looking forward to all your posts.Larry W. Chavishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804143598641414386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-67759529237307835602015-08-04T17:09:20.373-04:002015-08-04T17:09:20.373-04:00Oops. And I lost an end parenthesis mark!
))))))))...Oops. And I lost an end parenthesis mark!<br />))))))))) Bad AuthorJoanna Campbell Slanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951637123269159053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-40945410439117310342015-08-04T17:08:28.533-04:002015-08-04T17:08:28.533-04:00Barb, you are my mentor--and a mentor to so many o...Barb, you are my mentor--and a mentor to so many of us by your deeds and your good examples. I've learned a lot from you. (And today when I looked up the difference between "beside" and "besides," I thought of you yet again!Joanna Campbell Slanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951637123269159053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-81916360310891006652015-08-04T16:37:31.471-04:002015-08-04T16:37:31.471-04:00Congratulations, Barb, on joining the blog group. ...Congratulations, Barb, on joining the blog group. They are fortunate to have you. I look forward to reading your posts.Grace Toppinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10291304815273486038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-44630594493855991802015-08-04T16:18:28.152-04:002015-08-04T16:18:28.152-04:00Nice tribute, Barb. Looking forward to reading mor...Nice tribute, Barb. Looking forward to reading more. Diana Belchasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10131660669461707246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-2829062586817589212015-08-04T16:08:49.315-04:002015-08-04T16:08:49.315-04:00Great post, Barb. I'm looking forward to your ...Great post, Barb. I'm looking forward to your posts.<br /><br />I love the ideas of honoring mentors because they are so rare (in my experience) and so valuable. I remember one of my professors in college. He was the only one who told me I had what it took to write novels. He also said I shouldn't be in journalism because it would ruin me. He also called journalism the world's second oldest profession. Well, I stuck with journalism, but I also eventually wrote those books.Ellen Byerrumhttp://www.ellenbyerrum.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-15670806089308203702015-08-04T15:48:40.799-04:002015-08-04T15:48:40.799-04:00Barb, loved your post. What a wonderful mentor you...Barb, loved your post. What a wonderful mentor you had in Dennis. I am sure he's looking down with pride from the newsroom in the sky. I've been fortunate that I've had many people through the years who have believed in me. I especially love Phyllis Donovan, who was my editor at my first job at my hometown newspaper. Phyllis showed me it was possible to be tough enough to survive as the only women in the newsroom, plus look good in pearls.Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-10293475744078113632015-08-04T15:19:48.331-04:002015-08-04T15:19:48.331-04:00What an inspiring blog! It shows us how important ...What an inspiring blog! It shows us how important a mentor can be, and pays tribute to a great one in your life.<br /><br />In addition, I see it as a reminder that we all need to be sensitive to fellow writers, especially beginning ones, who can benefit enormously from a helping hand.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-53805438303636287352015-08-04T12:46:13.443-04:002015-08-04T12:46:13.443-04:00Hank, I just realized I didn't mention you abo...Hank, I just realized I didn't mention you above. That's just wrong, especially since you mentor so many people these days -- the epitome of a person who gives back. Thank you for stopping by.Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-24793516394205345852015-08-04T12:00:26.559-04:002015-08-04T12:00:26.559-04:00Oh, Melodie. That's a heartbreaking story, but...Oh, Melodie. That's a heartbreaking story, but I'm glad you're making the best of it, giving back. And yes, tell the people who matter to you that they matter now. As with Dennis, you never know when they will suddenly be gone.Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-51414166464401281402015-08-04T11:58:38.155-04:002015-08-04T11:58:38.155-04:00Anonyomous: Cutthroat authors on TV shows? Which o...Anonyomous: Cutthroat authors on TV shows? Which ones? Clearly I'm missing out on all the fun!<br /><br />Vicki, thanks for stopping by. I'm glad that your mentor's name lives on. So many mentors live on silently, in the art they encourage. It's nice when their contributions can be remembered directly, too.<br /><br />Nancy, I didn't know this bit of your history. I'm glad you had that teacher to help you though what must have been a rough time and that she helped you become the writer you are today.<br /><br />Dru, I love your story. It really can be one person, one comment, that makes all the difference.<br /><br />Maryann, I think the Internet teaches us what you learned personally: you can learn from someone over the miles, without ever meeting them in person. The red pencil isn't always bad!<br /><br />Debra and Susan, thanks for reading and stopping by. Good friends mean the world.<br /><br />Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-49931509079189668182015-08-04T11:47:51.400-04:002015-08-04T11:47:51.400-04:00So damned thrilled to have you on here, Barb! Gre...So damned thrilled to have you on here, Barb! Great first post, too. I had a mentor who I lost track of, and when I finally found him, it was through his obituary. I've been sad about that ever since. As a tribute to him, I pay it forward: I volunteer as a creative writing workshop leader at my city library, just as he did for me, way back in the late 80s. Your post is good reminder for us to thank our mentors *now*.Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-45435174436476558422015-08-04T11:43:21.708-04:002015-08-04T11:43:21.708-04:00Touching post, Barb. Looking forward to your futur...Touching post, Barb. Looking forward to your future posts. So glad you're blogging.Susan O'Brienhttp://www.skywritingsusan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-47941756872486146682015-08-04T11:33:23.307-04:002015-08-04T11:33:23.307-04:00Congratulations on joining the blog and on an insp...Congratulations on joining the blog and on an inspiring first post! I learned more about writing from my first editor, Jac Tharpe, than I ever did in a classroom. I never met him in person, but his many, many red-pencil marks on my submission to an anthology about Tennessee Williams' plays taught me how to write concisely, not like an academic. Maya Corriganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08353162256268887619noreply@blogger.com