John T. Allen

I am totally uneducated in the rules and regulations of writing. I must have been asleep during English class while I was going to school. I love to write, though, and am a voracious reader. Since I basically don't know what I'm doing I just keep writing and hope I'll get better and learn from my own mistakes, but a site like this is sure to help me improve exponentially. I have written six books that have all gone through at least two rewrites and still need editing. I have also written many short stories and hope to put a book together of just short stories. My goal in life is to open a roadside attraction where I will charge a fee to see my enormous button collection (political, gag, advertising, etc.; more than 10,000 so far) and my wife will bake bread and make jams and jellies for sale at the snack bar (which is what she wants to do). That way I can keep writing while I support myself. I'll publish my books myself and sell them at flea markets if I can't find a publisher or agent. Love to talk with other writers and will help you if you help me in the are of critiques, etc. Best wishes, long life and all you need is love, John P.S. Got my head smashed in at the Democratic Convention in Chicago in '68, felt the bullets whistle over my head at Kent State in '70 and then spent several years blowing my mind at festivals after wandering all over the place after that. Joined the Coast Guard, got straight, got married and stayed marrried and had three kids who are grown now but keep returning home since it's tough making it on your own. That's life. Nobody said it was going to be easy.