About the Man

I am different. That’s all there is to it. You may think, “I’m different too, what gives you the right to say you’re different? We’re all different.”

I would say, “Yes, we’re all different. However, the way that you are different from everyone else is different from the way that I am different from everyone else. I am different in a different kind of way.”

That having been said, I’ll just add that you could probably diagnose me and put a name on the kind of different that I am, but I don’t want a diagnosis right now (I already have a good suspect for a name for my differentness, brought to my attention by my family). All I want is to improve my writing. So, here I am writing. The best way to get better at something is to learn about it and do it a lot (practice, practice, practice). I’ve been buying, borrowing and reading books about writing, and I’ve always been an avid reader and fan of the “author” and now I’m on my journey to join the ranks for professional writers. I write because I’ve got stuff I want to say.

I welcome comments, though I prefer constructive criticism over the cruel, highly critical remarks I have at times been subjected to (some people just have a very narrow mind and a cold heart). On the other hand, I don’t want too much praise (I get some of that too, and I know anyone who praises me could also reach deep down inside and find something I could have done better as well).

I look forward to hearing what you have to say about what I have to say.

Finally, a note about my title - The Mediocre Renaissance Man.  Not too long ago I was trying to think of something I could call myself.  I wanted to sum things up in not TOO many words, but have enough information to allow myself an accurate picture of how I feel about myself in just a few words.  I came up with many ideas, but ultimately settled on the two ideas of mediocrity and renaissance man.

Renaissance man because of my characteristic interest in just about everything which causes me to research anything I get interested in down to little details (more than just reading a Wikipedia article) and strange facts in bursts - I may get interested in something specific tomorrow (button making, for example) and learn as much as I can about it for the next week, a few weeks or even a whole year.  I become quite knowledgeable about the subject, but never really specialize in it or any one subject.  That’s why I added mediocre to the description.  I’m not a true renaissance man (in my eyes) until I truly begin to specialize in different subjects.  Until then, I am restricted to claiming an above average proficiency in a wide variety of subjects and specialization in nothing at all.  I think mediocre renaissance man tells this story fairly well in only three words.

By no means do I actually consider myself to be mediocre.  On the contrary, I think I am extraordinary (as in quite unusual).  I recognize my limited talents and seek to develop them on a regular basis.  I read the short biography of a favorite author on the inside of a book jacket not too long ago, and found that I had this mediocre renaissance man character trait in common with him.  The author didn’t have a specialization in anything at all, but had a wide variety of interests he had become a mild expert in, and that is what made him such an excellent author.  Since then, the idea of developing my skills as a writer entered my mind and I have sought out ways to do so with my typical intensity of focus.

Again, I welcome any comments or suggestions that will assist me in my quest.  I also enjoy meeting new people and learning about them.  Everyone’s got a story and I love hearing them.  Feel free to contact me however you see fit.

Here are a few posts I have written about myself.  Of course, I may not keep this list entirely up to date, or clicking through to all of these links may bore you.  To view only the things I’ve written about myself, look at my “Me” tag (remember that tag views, like all views other than individual article views are ten items per page).

(Oldest first, newest last.)

• Looking for ideas…
• My Big Breakup
• Getting Up
• Favorite Superheroes
• The Pursuit of Something
• Childhood Dream - Video
• Overly Ambitious or Genius
• What I’ve Been Called
• All About Me