Monday, December 21, 2009

Where do I go from here?

I'm not sure of the reason I originally set this blog up. When I first wanted to try and be a professional published writer I sent a piece that I had written to Peter Blackstock, one of the editors of No Depression. He told me that what I had written did not really fit in within the No Depression world, and that what I should do is to start my own publication.

Peter has always had a problem coming right out and telling you what it is he thinks. It would be a whole lot easier to just say "It sucks, You Suck, Go Way" and be done with it. Then at least you would know where it was you stood. Grant Alden, one of the other No Depression editors was much more straight forward and told me that I sucked numerous times, and I appreciate him for it.

When Peter told me to go start my own publication, that's just what it is that I decided to go do. Fuck him. I'd show that little Hippie sumbitch. So I started an online publication originally titled the Rural Route Twangzine which eventually became The Twangzine. The Twangzine opened a LOT of doors for me and had a good ten year run. My life started getting busy, I was a dad, and I retired from the Navy and suddenly I no longer had the free time that I once had, and the Twangzine lay fallow. I lost the Twangzine.com domain, I lost a couple of hosts, I tried to move it all over to Twangzine.net, until finally I had to accept that it was time to let it go.

So now I have to decide, what would be the best use of this space? Should I just do a traditional blog? Should I try to do another music site? Should I do a combination of the two? I've also been playing out a lot more and I have a lot of video of that. Maybe I should just make this a site that emphasizes the performance aspects of my career. I'm just not really sure.

That's where I am counting on you people. How many of you actually read this shit? What do you want to see? Seeing as how this blog gets reposted on Facebook, and sometimes the No Depression website, I would prefer you to answer in the comments section of the BigDumbHick.com blog titled Where do I go from here. Right now I am getting ready to saturate this sumbitch with several blog entries at once.

I hope you enjoy.

1 comments:

P in the Hole said...: I've read every single word on this blog and, frankly, can't get enough. I think your navy stuff is every bit as good as Spike Milligan's wartime comic memoirs. I think you are a very talented observational comic writer and i hope you just do more of that. If you want to promote some other aspects of who/what you are/do too, that's just fine by me. Long may you run.

Paul (Bradford UK); 7:54 PM

Who is the BigDumbHick?

The BigDumbHick is me, Jeff Wall, a writer, musician, husband, father, friend, and all around wonderful human being.

What does a BigDumbHick do?

Whatever it takes to keep food on the table. I am a lot of things to a lot of people. Writer, Technician, Shipmate, Musician, Dad, Husband, Marketing Manager, Editor, Publisher, Roadie, Guitar Tech, and on and on. I am trying to hold every job in the entertainment business that doesn’t pay real money. So far, so good. I’ve met a bunch of people, made a bunch of friends, and had a hell of a good time, but none of that has done anything to help keep the lights turned on.

One of the many careers I have had include that of creative writer. I have written bios, reviews and feature articles for a variety of print and on-line publications. I am experienced at conducting interviews, meeting deadlines, and working independently or as part of a creative team. Writing is like making music. You don’t do it because you want to, you do it because you have to. The purpose of this website/blog is to serve as both an introduction to my creative writing as well as an archive for that same writing.

In addition to creative writing, I am also a damned fine performing acoustic musician, so occasionally some of that stuff will end up here as well.

When I need to make real money, I work as a Technical Writer and/or as an ElectroMechanical Technician. I have experience writing manuals, instructions and procedures. I have written and edited company newsletters and press releases. However, I usually don’t write/blog about my professional life. I find that I am a cynical smartass and for some reason, that doesn't translate very well into the corporate sector. I have been informed of this by several Corporate Executives, and since Corporate Executives are the ones who usually sign checks, I will usually try to defer to their wishes.

What makes you a BigDumbHick?

I am a rather large and strapping young man. I stand right at 6′7″ or 2 meters tall. Let’s just say I fill up a doorway, as well a room. I also fill up a subcompact car, a mid-sized car, and most luxury sized cars. I currently live in North Carolina.

When you are economy sized and speak with a Southern accent, people just naturally assume that you are a big lumbering cretin, much akin to Lennie in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. (go read a book, fool) Fortunately I posess the unique ability to laugh at myself as well as that charming Southern characteristic tendency to exaggerate one’s percieved weaknesses or shortcomings in order to lure the unknowing into a false sense of superiority. It's one of the reasons that Southerners make the best Televangilists as wella s Used Car Salesmen.

I took the moniker of BigDumbHick on a music industry internet bulletin board that I frequent and the name has stuck.

Hope you enjoy

Jeff Wall
twangzine@gmail.com

BigDumbHick

Monday, December 21, 2009

Where do I go from here?

1 comments: