Heavy Duty Publications

Many writers direct their work to a particular audience. Reporters know their audience, playwriters, romance novelists, trade magazine writers, all have that one audience in mind when working. But there is the writer who works for the unknown reader. The reader who remains a mystery, an enigma. This is the toughest audience. They can be a writer’s greatest supporter and the greatest critic. This is the challenge, this is the arena where the writer fine tunes their skills. I am not saying the writer for e.g. Great Cars Magazine are without skill. But there is a comfort in knowing what a reader is going to expect. A story or description can only be re-tooled in so many ways. But for the trade magazine to continue to be of service it must meet expectations. But to write for the anonymous reader whose discernment can only be speculated on, there is the writer’s angst. But fear will only lead to a sharpening of skill. We must write on and with determination. And maybe with practice we win the hearts of the invisible reader.

I’m an enrolled member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. Red Lake is located in northcentral Minnesota. I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. My mother, Clara was a member of Red Lake, and my father was enrolled in Lower Sioux Indian Community in southwestern Minnesota. I transferred schools to attend Red Lake High School in 1964. Before graduating in 1970 I attended Kent State University in Kent Ohio. I wasn’t there very long due to the National Guard shooting eleven people in May of that year. Four of those shot died at the scene.

Yes, writing is work. And in the beginning, you may have dreamed of a glorious, exciting, and maybe even profitable line of work. But as your ideas are a driving force, your typing may not be in line with what you had in mind. Sometimes there’s a gap between thought and the actual work. But that’s normal. Our minds work faster than our fingers. We might be distracted, or tired, or feeling uninspired. But perseverance is the key Write and re-write. And at some point your writing expression will evolve into what you originally had in mind. That’s the goal, and that’s the gold.

I’ve been writing since I was 15. And in all the years I’ve been writing there have been times of mass production, where the work flowed easily and the poems, essays, and stories came with confidence. It’s a desire, a wish and a burden. But for those of you who have kept at it I know your work is beautiful, alarming, and it must be seen and appreciated. That’s why I’m here. I want to help you become the best of what can imagine.