About Douglas G Clarke

To date my published writing has been limited to web published short stories (textnovel.com), blog entries, one article published in a technical journal, and thirteen short stories in anthologies, including three I published. Besides that I have two novels completed and in the editing phase and just launched a group writing project.

If things had been different, I may have chosen writing as my primary career, but things weren’t different. I was born with dyslexia and dysgraphia, which in simple terms meant that in seventh grade I was reading at a fourth grade level and writing (penmanship and spelling) at a second. My parents paid to have me tutored outside of school and by the time I was in 9th grade I was an avid reader. The penmanship and spelling, along with what in the 1970’s was high tech – typing – were still far below grade level.

To this day I can’t use cursive writing and my penmanship is something only a doctor, or my mother, could love. Check as you type spelling and grammar checkers have helped a lot, but they sill don’t help much when I correctly spell the wrong word (on instead of one). Thanks to the computer, I can actually write a short story and even a novel. Thanks of course also has to go to my very understanding editors, who probably roll their eyes at the kinds of mistakes I make.

I’ve heard it said, and I wish I knew the exact quote and who said it first, that all great artists create from the dark times they’ve gone through and their disabilities. That somehow if creating is not hard work, that stirs up deep emotions, a masterpiece can not be the result.

It’s funny because as I sit to write a chapter of my book, or a short story, I have some idea about what it is I’m going to write. But the effort required to type each word, (both finding the keys to hit and figuring out how to spell the word), and the effort to keep the sentence structures correct, doesn’t give me much my space left to think about what to write. Instead as I finish each word, the next word seems to just be there waiting for me to write.

I’ve read about how characters in a story start talking and say things that the authors didn’t know they were going to say, and lead the story in directions they hadn’t planned. I have experience this not only in dialog, but in action and narrative as well.

I guess that my writing is very much right brained, or perhaps the Holy Spirit is whispering in my ear. In either case my writing is very much from the heart and at times thought provoking.

My earnest pray is they my writing will both entertaining and inspiring.

To date my writing has been limited to web published short stories (textnovel.com), blog entries, and one article published in a technical journal.
If things had been different, I may have chosen writing as my primary career, but things weren’t different. I was born with dyslexia and dysgraphia, which in simple terms meant that in seventh grade I was reading at a fourth grade level and writing (penmanship and spelling) at a second. My parents paid to have me tutored outside of school and by the time I was in 9th grade I was an avid reader. The penmanship and spelling, along with what in the 1970’s was high tech – typing – were still far below grade level.
To this day I can’t use cursive writing and my penmanship is something only a doctor, or my mother, could love. Check as you type spelling and grammar checkers have helped a lot, but they sill don’t help much when I correctly spell the wrong word (on instead of one). Thanks to the computer, I can actually write a short story and even a novel. Thanks of course also has to go to my very understanding editors, who probably roll their eyes at the kinds of mistakes I make.
I’ve heard it said, and I wish I knew the exact quote and who said it first, that all great artists create from the dark times they’ve gone through and their disabilities. That somehow if creating is not hard work, that stirs up deep emotions, a masterpiece can not be the result.
It’s funny because as I sit to write a chapter of my book, or a short story, I have some idea about what it is I’m going to write. But the effort required to type each word, (both finding the keys to hit and figuring out how to spell the word), and the effort to keep the sentence structures correct, doesn’t give me much my space left to think about what to write. Instead as I finish each word, the next word seems to just be there waiting for me to write.
I’ve read about how characters in a story start talking and say things that the authors didn’t know they were going to say, and lead the story in directions they hadn’t planned. I have experience this not only in dialog, but in action and narrative as well.
I guess that my writing is very much right brained, or perhaps the Holy Spirit is whispering in my ear. In either case my writing is very much from the heart and at times though provoking.
My earnest pray is they my writing will both entertain and inspire you.
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One thought on “About Douglas G Clarke”

  1. Doug,

    Very nice web site. You have put a lot of thought into it, and I can tell it means a lot to you.

    I was interested to see that you suffered from dysgraphia. This is the same problem that Joshua has (in addition to his ADHD). As a result, he attempts to avoid writing, and only gives short answers on homework assignments and tests, even though he knows the material and could answer in greater detail. This results in grades that are not reflective of what he has learned in school.

    I am glad to see you overcame your childhood challenges.

    Dan

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