Announcing The News from Poughkeepsie!
i would like to announce my latest project: The News From Poughkeepsie.
I get a lot of email from people who are afraid to join peer writing groups because they’re afraid someone will steal their ideas. I’ve heard authors say that they get a lot of people saying, “Hey, I’ve got this great idea for a book, how about I tell you, and you write it, and we’ll split it 50/50?”
And I’m here to say ideas are cheap - it’s the work that’s hard. And to prove it, I’m going to blog an idea a day for 1 year. It will usually be in the form of a blog post, but it may be in the form of an audio or video podcast, delivered to you if you’re subscribed to the Murverse feed.
You are subscribed to the Murverse feed, right?
These ideas are just that. Ideas. Free for you to use. I’m putting a Creative Commons Attribution license on these blog posts. You can change the ideas, morph them, remix them, and make money off of them. Just throw a little nod in there that you got the idea from Poughkeepsie. And link back to the blog post where the idea first came from.
(Oh, I may be using the ideas too. Just sayin’.)
Where MY Ideas Came From
The fabulous JR Blackwell was the initial inspiration, as she’s a photographer (among other things) who’s doing a self-portrait a day for 365 days. I have Day 18 hanging on the wall of my office. (She also gave me the idea for the name, “The News From Poughkeepsie.”) Her partner in life and crime, Jared Axelrod, soon followed by changing the format of podcast, Voices of Free PlanetX to be released daily. I recently interviewed Jared for I Should Be Writing and he heartily endorses forcing yourself to do something creative every day. Thanks to my dear friends for inspiration.
As for the title of the project, the author H*rlan E*lison was once asked “Where do you get your ideas?” His answer?
“Poughkeepsie.”
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Send me an email, treed, and I'll get you hooked up. 
group humiliation?? hell, i am in! might even get daughter involved and possibly wifey 
I'm in! Email sent :) 
Would wearing my Keepsie's Bar shirt in the video be considered cheating?
Comment by Kimi on 22 April 2008:
That’s awesome! I look forward to hearing it and stealing your ideas.
Comment by Scott on 22 April 2008:
Awesome! Look forward to it.
Comment by ElmoFromOK on 22 April 2008:
This is ambitious and exciting. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to being inspired..
I have often aspired to doing things on a daily basis, but do not seem to maintain momentum long enough. My podcast is a good (if sad) example of this. I think you will be much more likely to pull it off than I was. In any event, we will all be pulling for ya.
Comment by Thomas on 22 April 2008:
“Ideas are cheap - it’s the work that’s hard.” That is effing brilliant! I’m stealing that one - and sharing it widely.
So many people come to me with business ideas that they want to work a little on and then sell. It just doesn’t work that way, but hard to convince people of that. You’ve captured it perfectly!
Comment by James Palmer on 22 April 2008:
This is a great idea, Mur! I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Do you mind if we post ideas of our own in the comments?
Isaac Asimov used to tell convenetion-goers who asked this question that there was an idea bureau in Skenectady, and every month he’d send them a $20 bill and they would send him an envelope full of ideas. Good Stuff.
James
Comment by Scooter on 22 April 2008:
Sounds great, looking forward to it, of course I’m something like 30 episodes behind on Jared’s feed, but I’ll listen to yours, I promise!
For whatever reason, this post isn’t showing up on http://murverse.com/feed/
Comment by ceejaydp on 22 April 2008:
squeee!
i’ve been attempting something similar (not as “out there”) for this year. at least one complete drawing, a photo, or a blog entry; i’m not always successful.
so far, i’ve resorted to writing about the magazines that arrive each week, edits of photos on hand, and a ton of scribbles.
thanks for the boosters.
Comment by Jason Evangelho on 22 April 2008:
This is absolutely brilliant Mur, and I fully intend on utilizing it. Your blog continues to inspire, keep up the great work.
Comment by zianeu on 22 April 2008:
This is excellent– for someone, like me, who often looks at their own ideas and cringes while pushing them into the back of the notebook. I am really hoping to see what you share and be like, “Yes, this is how ideas work.” Or, possibly find something so inspiring that I have to give you so much pie you can never finish.
Comment by bRIAN hUNT on 22 April 2008:
Poughkeepsie? well then your ideas are the only good things from that particular burg(except for the chance rock club)…Ever try finding the exit for the through way north?
lol just kidding…im looking forward to these posts
Comment by Arkle on 22 April 2008:
I thought it was Vonnegut who had the Poughkeepsie line, but hey, eitehr way this is a great idea. Hopefully it won’t burn out fast like Rict.us did.
Comment by J.R. Blackwell on 22 April 2008:
Hey Mur! Thanks for the shout-out. I am really excited about this daily project idea. I think that your readers are going to be inspired as to what you come up with. You have such a delicious mind! (And I mean that, as a friend and a zombie.)
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Comment by JustTerry on 5 June 2008:
well it seems the whole earth conspires to get me to write. et tu mur