The Old Timer Says

Book excerpt: Everyone has a story to tell. In The Old Timer Says, author and longtime writing teacher Jerry Apps provides writers and non-writers alike space and inspiration to capture their own stories. Jerry introduces The Old Timer Says by emphasizing the benefits of journaling and sharing his lifelong habit of keeping a journal. He advises that a journal or diary is a personal thing and there is no "right way" to keep one. You might dash off only a few words or write long, flowing pages of text. Your entries could consist of notes on the weather, recipes you'd like to cook, career or travel goals, favorite song lyrics, notes from your dreams, or short stories starring your own made-up characters. You might include sketches or photographs or other visual tidbits. "It doesn't matter how much you write or what you write, only that you write," Jerry says. On the journal's lined pages, Jerry includes a collection of his favorite "Old Timer" sayings--some funny, some thought-provoking, and all inspired by the one-liners, bits of philosophy, and advice he heard from farmers he knew growing up. They serve as gentle writing prompts while reminding folks that our personal histories are worth recording.