Everything sometimes happens in threes. Sometime in my Third Grade year I wrote my first real story for a school assignment. That story was a cheese-laden commentary about animals playing on a major league baseball team. It was horrendous. My teacher at the time somehow saw some creativity in this and encouraged me further.
Good thing.....
Just as the fall was rolling along I met a neighbourhood kid who introduced me to heavy music. Hearing heavy metal was an awakening for me. I loved the sheer energy and raw talent involved in this music. My mind was suddenly open to a whole other world of music. My earliest musical memories were the music of Johnny Cash and the CBC Tommy Hunter Show. Although I still believe Cash and Hunter are wonderful talents, I was very happy to have my musical horizons broadened a bit further to the extreme side of things. It was close to Christmas that same year where I saw Rush's video performance of "Marathon" from their live record, "A Show of Hands". A long relationship with the bass began that day. As did my superfan status for Canada's prog-rock legends.
When I entered Junior High, I began to experiment with writing poetry. Much of what I wrote was an attempt to write lyrics for potential metal songs I would want to write. At 9th Grade I discovered the work of Leonard Cohen which would add further influence to the poetry writing and my perspective on life. It became more evident that writing was something worth exploring. I wanted to pursue music later in life, but it seems like writing is where I had something more going for me.
Even though my poetry input is not where it was, I continue to be influenced and inspired by great lyricists and poets. There are too many to mention here, but will mention Robert W. Service, Henry Rollins, Tom Petty, Gordon Lightfoot, Glenn Danzig Neil Peart, Chuck Schuldiner and Ronnie James Dio as some of my main poetic influences.
It was during my time in Calgary where I would catch a great break with writing. I started to take some writing course at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. During the few years prior my writing was sporadic but still creative. I also met the person who I still consider my first writing mentor, former Sun Columnist Paul Conrad Jackson. I often met with Paul during lunch hours at a nearby hotel bar and would get worldly advice that serves me well to this day. Through Paul, I learned that personality has to and should come through in every piece written. No matter what type of material is being composed. My poetry caught the attention of the Society of Poets, Bards and Storytellers. This would lead to publication in three anthologies and performances with the Calgary Stroll of Poets through three consecutive years.
In 2003 I was involved in a Car Accident in Calgary that left me pondering a new life direction. My employment resume was getting longer because I worked several different jobs. I was growing tired of going in circles and decided returning to school was the right thing to do. During my days at College, I received my first paid writing gig for the Christmas 2003 edition of the Bow Valley College newsletter. After that point I was further inspired to send out queries and approach publications with ideas.
Despite living an amazing life and now living in Ontario, in 2008 I reached a point where it felt like something was missing. My writing was output was minimal and I needed to make changes. I left a great cover band which was playing steady in order to pursue writing more during what little free time came my way. Through the encouragement of my wife and after receiving a book reccomendation from motivational speaker Susan Stewart, I changed direction, discovering New Age Thought. I began reading the works of great minds like Micheal Losier (Law of Attraction) Rhonda Byrne (The Secret), Charles F. Haanel (The Master Key System) and Thoughts Are Things (Prentice Mulford). Through studying these works, I am continually inspired to pursue more writing work and a positive life direction.
My work continues through Frogsong Productions today. I am pleased to incorporate writing, blogging, editing, social media management and recording some bass tracks every so often. There is a book in the works and always something happening at my blog. Thank you for reading!
William (Dann) Alexander