Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

 

“Lucy come quick. There’s a big dog out front.”
“That is a deer Little One.”
“It’s Friday can she come in and play?”

Another Friday comes upon us like the wind.  It has been a good week for me. I hope it was for you. I attended a library event on Saturday, and it was part of a vast SpringFest. I will do a Views of the Neighborhood on Sunday to give you an idea of the scope.

Worked a little on my WIP. I’m not very happy how it started out. There is a critical piece of the story that has a clunker in it which needs fixing. Once fixed it will justify the motivation of the bad guys.

I have also been toying around with Amazon Marketing Service. I swear I will understand what is going on there one of these days. Well, I am determined to take it one step at a time and learn (and pay) as I go. It bugs me a lot not to be able to maximize the potential that exists there.

Today’s JohnKu talks about trying your best to maximize your potential. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Potential by John W. Howell © 2019

You see it lying,

Almost within easy reach . . .

The hard work begins.

70 comments

  1. A good post, John. I can just imagine that deer playing in your house. All the best with your WIP. 😀 — Suzanne

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    1. Ha ha ha. I think confusion would be the order of the day. Thank you, Suzanne. 😄

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  2. Good poem. Those last few steps do seem to be the hardest.

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    1. Always. Like the SEALS say, “The only easy day was yesterday.”

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      1. That’s both a true and kinda sad saying.

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  3. Great JohnKu! Happy Friday!

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    1. To you as well, Jill. 😊

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  4. Friday greetings to you! Yep – Gotta have the vision before the work. Good luck in your quest to figure out Amazon’s service. Is this Twiggy’s first deer?

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    1. Well to confess. They are around a lot. I took some liberty with the story. They cause a bark-a-thon every time. 😄

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      1. Sounds like your liberty and the bark-a-thon have something in common …. Obama’s fault.

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      2. So true, Frank.

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  5. Perfect Johnku! Happy Friday, John ❤️

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    1. Happy Friday, Marie.

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      1. And it’s half over!!

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      2. Well, yeah. Easy peezy now.

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  6. You mean you wouldn’t let the deer inside? Jeez!

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    1. I know right?

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  7. Great JohnKu. I’m with you; AMS is confounding. (Especially if you aren’t self-published. It makes it virtually impossible to run ads.)

    Love the deer pic. Wonder what Twiggy would do if it showed up in your yard.

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    1. It does come through the back. She goes ballistic as you can imagine. Thanks, Staci. 😀

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  8. I am mind boggled by the whole Amazon promotion avenues available. I wish you well on figuring it out.

    Glad you had a good week and hope you get past the hurdle in your WIP.

    The photo of the deer is amazing. They really come close!

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    1. Thanks on all counts, Mae.

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  9. Today’s JohnKu is like you wrote it for me, John – exactly how I feel about my WIP. Happy Friday!

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    1. Ha haha. Go smack it.

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  10. Are you saying your WIP occasionally has you whipped? A weekend, a nap, and perhaps a tiny libation and you’ll be good as new — as will your characters!

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    1. Yes my WIP whips me. I try to whip it back but it usually wins the whipping contest. Thanks, Linda.

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  11. Good luck removing the clunker. Beautiful photo of the deer, but I guess your shrubs aren’t all that happy to have her nearby.

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    1. They are all deer resistant. She loves the neighbor’s grass though. Thanks, Dan

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  12. If you figure out Amazon you could write a best seller about it. Providing you’re fast enough to get it to market before they change everything again.

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    1. Ha haha. Amen brother.

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  13. A most excellent JohnKu! It’s so true. Take a listen to the latest #RRBCBringOnTheQuestions with Nicholas Rossis. He talks about Amazon Marketing and said he’s had good results with it. Good luck! Let us know how it goes. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Jan.

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  14. How lovely to have deer in the garden. I hope they don’t do any damage to your plants, John?
    Good luck with Amazon. I’m currently trying to find out why they haven’t paid me for my book sales. I know I’ve sold some copies, yet they’re not paying me. Grr! 😖

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    1. We have deer resistant plants. They will nibble a little off the buds but no real damage,

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  15. I am taking the plunge and buying a Kindle. I have a canoe trip planned this summer for Quetico Provincial Park and have been ordered not to even think about portaging books. 🙂

    While you figure out how to market books, I will figure out how to read them. 🙂

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    1. I’m sure you know Kindle and water are not best of friends. Good luck on the reading.

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  16. Friday . . . finally!! That’s a cute deer, but remind Twiggy they can be mean. Probably best to leave it alone. Sorry I can’t help you with the Amazon-thingy.

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    1. I can’t help myself with the thingy

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  17. Ain’t nothing easy if it’s worth it. But it’s worth it. 🙂

    Happy Friday!

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    1. Thanks, Marc.

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      1. Thank YOU John. 🙂

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  18. There’s nothing quite like seeing a deer in your own garden, John. If you discover the secrets of Amazon Marketing Service, please let me know. I have been toying with AMS ads of late with mixed results.

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    1. I am no closer to answers, Guy. I thought I was going to be successful but not. Have a great weekend.

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  19. D.L Finn, Author · ·

    I like your descriptive word for a part of the story that’s giving you trouble “clunker.” Perfect. I love the shot of the deer. I hope you figure Amazon out, I haven’t tried.

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    1. I am a long way from figuring, Denise.

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  20. Great pic, John! David Gaughran’s site is a wellhouse of information on AMS ads, as well as Bookbub. Worth checking out: https://davidgaughran.com/

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    1. Thank you so much, Jacquie. I just subscribed to his news letter and Amazon Decoded his book. 😀

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  21. Hey, that looks like Bambi! I love, “It’s Friday can she come in and play?” Ha, ha! That’s adorable. Ugh, those plot holes . . . The road to success is paved in sweat, tears, and LOTS of hard work. Great Johnku! Have a wonderful Friday and weekend! ❤ xo

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    1. Have a wonderful day too, Vashti. Thnaks for the nice comments.

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  22. Ah, too bad they didn’t get to play with the deer.

    I hope you figure out the in’s and out’s of Amazon Marketing and make it work for you.

    Happy Friday to you, and the family!

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    1. I think I’m lost, but oh well.

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  23. Happy weekend, John!

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    1. Thank you, Luanne. Happy weekend to you as well.

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  24. A lovely and true Johnku, my friend. TGIF hugs!

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    1. Thank you, Teagan. Hugs

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  25. Excellent JohnKu. Hard and important. Really nice to see a deer… although they eat your bushes. Mixed blessing?

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    1. They do eat bushes unless you plant deer resistant. Thanks, Jennie.

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      1. Exactly. We welcome the deer in Massachusetts, and our bush damage is minimal. Not the same story with our Pennsylvania relatives.

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      2. We like them too. We have one with a little fawn. She leaves it near our house when she needs a break.

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      3. Aww… that’s wonderful.

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      4. Yes. Except when she puts the fawn right near the backyard where the dogs can see her. Causes a bark- a- thon

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      5. Haha! 🙂

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      6. I know right?

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  26. I’m currently under siege by a virus that’s left me with laryngitis, John, so I’m definitely not maximizing my potential this weekend…

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    1. Hook with out a voice? Gad Zooks. Get well soon. 😊

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  27. You see it lying,

    Almost within easy reach . . .

    The hard work begins.

    Loved your Haiku, John (or is it a Senryu)?

    Either way, there was a delightful tension between “easy” and “hard” that kinda glues your poem to the mind.

    Jay
    http://bondingfyre.com/

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    1. Thank you, Jay. Let’s call it a JohnKu.

      Like

  28. Here’s another one that I know I read (probably from my phone as I woke up – and the damn thing won’t let me respond from the phone now. No clue as to why…)

    It’s already old news but hey… my two cents’ worth is it’s not as satisfying if it’s easy.

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    1. Thamk you, Dale.

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