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As a writer, I've explored many avenues. I've even tried my hand at songwriting, dating back to the 1960s. Here's a sample:
FOOTPRINTS ON THE MOON
The plaintive ballad of a moonstruck young lady in love with an astronaut
On the beach we made our footprints in the sand,
And at the time I thought that it was simply grand.
But that was yesterday and now it seems so soon,
Sweetheart you're up there making footprints on the moon.
You have explored the outer reaches of my heart,
And I'm in orbit every time we have to part.
While you go flying off in space I sing this tune,
Sweetheart you're up there making footprints on the moon.
Chorus:
Footprints, footprints, footprints on the moon,
Heelprints, toeprints, footprints on the moon.
Won't you please make tracks and come back to me soon?
And leave your footprints, footprints, footprints on the moon.
All my friends tell me that our affair should end,
Because I know you're stepping out with my best friend.
But though you share your love with two and not just one,
A half-astronaut is better than having none.
While you're up there going through your EVA,
I sit at home and watch you in the TV way.
Scoop up that moondust with your automatic spoon,
Don't stub your toe while leaving footprints on the moon.
(Chorus)
All that space food you've been eating's made you fat,
And your chest has dropped to where your stomach's at.
Oh, I'll still love you even though you've got a paunch,
But how come everytime I call you're out to launch?
Pehaps sometime I can go with you to the moon,
And maybe I'll become your bride some day in June,
Then I will hug and kiss you, dear, for all I'm worth,
And we'll make love, sweetheart, by the light of the silvery earth.
(Chorus)
Footprint, footprints, footprints on the moon,
Heelprints, toeprints, footprints on the moon.
Won't you please make tracks and come back to me soon?
And leave your footprints, footprints, footprints on the moon.
Copyright 1969 Robert L. Haught
As a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, I am a part of a broadly scattered writing community. NSNC has members throughout the United States, parts of Canada, and just recently, from Sweden.Not only do I enjoy writing, but I like to help other writers as much as I can. I don't claim to be an expert, but I did have some "writing tips" included in Suzette Martinez Standring's excellent book, "The Art of Column Writing -
Insider Secrets from Art Buchwald, Dave Barry, Arianna Huffington, Pete Hamill and other great columnists." I have made presentations to groups of writers. I even organized and directed the Will Rogers Writers' Workshop in Oklahoma City in 2007, which drew writers from 25 states, from coast to coast and border to border. (See www.willrogersok.org)
For several months in 2009 I was involved in organizing the program for NSNC's 33rd annual conference, held June 25-28, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Ventura, Calif. (See www.columnists.comfor information.)
It was a workshop type meeting built on the theme of "Survive and Thrive" - keying on the effects of the evolution in the newspaper business away from print journalism.
(This magazine is one way I'm coping with the changes.)
From time to time in this space, I will pass along articles and other material that might be helpful to writers, both salaried and independent. Please check back often.
-- Robert L. Haught
National Columnists Day 2009
The date of April 18 holds special meaning for those of us in the journalism community. It is National Columnists Day, established in 1995 by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.
The date of April 18 holds special meaning for those of us in the journalism community. It is National Columnists Day, established in 1995 by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.
NSNC proclaimed it a day set
aside “to reflect on the way newspaper columnists connect, educate, comfort, encourage, celebrate, outrage and occasionally even amuse readers, and a time to express appreciation for them.”
The date was chosen to honor the memory of Ernie Pyle, who won a Pulitzer Prize for front-line reporting during World War II. He was killed by enemy sniper fire on April 18, 1945 while covering the war in the Pacific.
The columnists’ organization, with members throughout the United States and parts of Canada, perpetuates Pyle’s legacy and also honors other columnists with an annual presentation of the Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award. Past recipients include Art Buchwald, Andy Rooney, Ellen Goodman and Molly Ivins. Jon Carroll of the San Francisco Examiner receive the 2009 award at NSNC’s annual conference in Ventura, Calif., June 25-28.
Begun in 1977 as a loosely-organized group of white males who held yearly informal get-togethers, NSNC has grown to become a nationally recognized journalism organization which aids columnists through a monthly newsletter and Web site, professional development training, and an annual column-writing contest with cash prizes. The NSNC Education Foundation presents three scholarships each year to outstanding college journalism students.
NSNC also sponsors the Will Rogers Humanitarian Award, recognizing a columnist who emulates the public service contributions of the popular humorist, writer and philosopher of the 1920s and ‘30s. Jeffrey Zaslow, an NSNC member who co-authored (with Randy Pausch) the international best-seller, “The Last Lecture”, was the first winner of this award in 2000.
Newspaper columnists, like others in the journalism profession, are fighting a battle for survival as more and more readers prefer the computer screen to the printed page. Fewer columnists are doing the same type of job this National Columnists Day. Those who are still employed have had to adapt to the challenge of the Internet.
Inspired by the courage and dedication exemplified by Ernie Pyle, the best columnists will survive and thrive in this new information age, along with their reporter and editor colleagues.
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