Randy Baker
Bio
Poet, author, essayist.
My Vocal "Top Stories":
* The Breakers Motel * 7 * Holding On * Til Death Do Us Part * The Fisherman
Stories (177)
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Taking a Deep Dive: Part 1
PART 1 - PART 2 Most writers are avid readers. That’s probably stating the obvious. Not every reader is, or wants to be, a writer, but being an avid reader certainly establishes a foundation for anyone who wants to pursue the craft. Someone with a deep and well-rounded appreciation of the written word will often develop an instinct for what works.
By Randy Baker2 years ago in Writers
Bring Back the Maccabee Version. Content Warning.
Max Romeo, the reggae artist, released a song in 1976 titled “Maccabee Version”. I remember hearing it as a boy in Jamaica. At some point, I became aware of something the Rastafarians called the “Maccabee version” of the Bible. They believed the Bible had been altered and the Maccabee was an older, more correct version. That's what Romeo's song was about. It implored people to "bring back Maccabee version".
By Randy Baker2 years ago in The Swamp
Batting a 1,000
I joined Vocal on January 19 and 43 days later I've crossed the 1,000 reads threshold. That's according to Vocal's stats, at least, which I don't consider to be an exact science. The math doesn't always line up when comparing reads, comments, and "likes". Their numbers are in the ballpark, though, so I'll use them as a benchmark.
By Randy Baker2 years ago in Motivation
Behind the Page
Lately, I have struggled a bit with channeling my creativity into new stories and poems. There is an element of writer’s block, but there is also a lack of focus and motivation involved. Ironically, in my opinion, those with an artistic bent tend to have a lot going on in their brain. Currently, translating that jumbled mess in my mindspace (yes, I made up that word) into a story, whether that be prose or poetry, has been a challenge.
By Randy Baker2 years ago in Writers
Facebook Ruined My Life
I hate Facebook. Really. I mean, I was sailing through life in blissful ignorance before Mark Zuckerberg came along and messed things up. Seriously, it was all rainbows and unicorns back in the day. Then, suddenly, it’s 2004, and BAM! There’s Facebook.
By Randy Baker2 years ago in Confessions
Yard Work
On a shelf in my shed, there is an old, worn machete. On the handle, you can see my name, etched there in the wood by a much younger hand. Though it has seen plenty of use in its time, it’s fair to say I’ve not wielded that old cutlass much in the past twenty years. Yet, there it is on the shelf. If it serves no other purpose, it serves as a reminder.
By Randy Baker2 years ago in Poets
