Dear Dana

Dear Dana,

Thank you for being a generous guy with your time and feedback. You are a positive, solid rock of a fella and although we only know each other through our work and our comment-conversations, I'm rather fond of you. I figured I'd steal Heather's letter challenge idea to write to a few choice people. I won't be writing to everyone but have chosen a few and right at the top of the list was you. Okay, you may not have been top of the list. I mean, Kayleigh is Scottish...so she's up there higher. Dharrsheena has been a follower since day one...so she's up there. Heather's up there...Kristen...Brin...Celia in the Underland...Naomi...Mackenzie...Kelli...there's a lot, sorry. But, you are up there somewhere at least.

That's the important thing.

Think about all the people I missed out. We old guys should stick together and not fight over the trivial.

Let's not get into the blunt details, Sir!

I wonder, pal...if I could take the opportunity to ask you a few questions. I say few, but I've not really thought this through so it may just turn out to be one question.

How do you come up with ideas for your writing work? I know you spoke a little about your photography in the interview the awesome Cendrine conducted with you, but just wondered.

Do you come up with a cool, funny, creepy, sad, scary or thrilling idea and roll with it or plot the eff out of it until it is completed?

I always wonder what people do - more so than I should but it's because my approach is so insane. Like a monkey on crack chasing poo around on a stick that another monkey on speed is carrying and the idea is written on the poo. Or something.

I sometimes plot. Sometimes don't.

Sometimes I spend weeks on a poem. Sometimes seconds.

It's really a mixed bag. I've never been a fan of being too rigid. I've always felt, rightly or wrongly, that it would stiffen up my creations and make them way too formulaic, but maybe that's an excuse. Maybe having more structure would hone them.

I don't know. One of the stories I'm most proud of, infact both stories I'm most proud of that I entered into the Unspoken Challenge, were more or less completed in a relatively short space of time. But, I think I lived the story in my head before I started writing it.

Anyway...How does the great Crandell do it? I know we've got similar backgrounds in content writing...I wondered if you ever tap into that.

I find if I'm writing a satirical piece or a non-fiction, non-poetic one, I definitely do.

Anyway.

Yeah.

What is your favourite fish to catch? Is there a fish you have not caught yet but would love to?

Do you think I would look good in a sombrero?

I have two hats, aside from baseball caps, that I've found I look nice in, and yes one of them is a stereotypical bonnet. I don't care. I love my heritage.

There you go...a few more questions than just one.

I just want to say, please continue to fill all of the lives of the people that follow your work with your humour, wisdom, advice and supportiveness.

Regards,

That Scottish Guy

PS - If anyone reading this is annoyed or upset that I have not included their name and link, I am sorry. Maybe I'll write you an apology letter with great adventure and mischief.

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Thanks for reading!

Author's Notes: I have already put forward two entries for Heather Hubler's lovely challenge, which you can find out about here.

Her idea, inspired me to do this letter to my Vocal bud from across the water, Dana Crandell. Please take a look at his profile here, as he is a wonderful writer, fully of cleverness, wit and sage advice:

You can also take a look at my profile here.