Home Page
The Write Stuff
Writings IndexDouglas Allan Bittinger (pen name Allan Douglas) has been writing articles, short stories, poetry and novels since the late 1960's. In that time a fair number of works have been published. Presented here are a selection of his works.
Trade/Instructional WritingRookie Gardening Mistakes You Can Avoid Things I found out the hard way, and tell you about so you can avoid those mistakes. Or so you can just laugh at the rookie! A Novice Gardener’s Notes on Growing Radishes A look at radishes and why they make a good choice as a first "crop" for novice gardeners. Building a Stone Fire Pit A look at how we used what was already here to enhance our landscaping and our enjoyment of our home. Romancing The Muse These articles, posted to The Write Stuff, help writers find inspiration and overcome writer's block. Selling Yourself These articles, posted to The Write Stuff, help writers sell and promote their work and their abilities. Technique These articles, posted to The Write Stuff, explore the craft of writing. Tips & Tricks These articles, posted to The Write Stuff, help writers offer tips on effectively using the tools of the trade, time management, and motivational tips. Uh-Oh! These articles, posted to The Write Stuff, explore problems I (and others) have encountered and their solutions. The Writer's Life These articles, posted to The Write Stuff, talk about getting the most out of life as a freelance writer. What to Do After Being Banned by Google AdSense You have been working hard to write and post as many great articles as possible on as many AdSense enabled web sites as possible in an effort to generate income that will be funneled into your Google AdSense... Going Pro As A Woodworker A 10 part series purchased by Highland Woodworking for publication in their Wood News Magazine. Furniture Construction Articles A series of photo-illustrated articles describing the process, techniques and reasoning of building an assortment of furniture pieces, published by Smoky Mountain Woodworks on their web site. Rules Of Thumb A series of short articles, some very short, discussing some of those hard won pearls of knowledge that we gain only through experience with a particular slant toward woodworking. Consumer ArticlesLED Light Bulbs: the Best Choice For Indoor Lighting? LED lights are an eco-friendly, long lasting and versatile choice in home lighting. Buying a 3D Television - What You Need to Know 3D Television; an exciting technology with huge potential for boosting your enjoyment of watching movies and sports. What is available, what are the good and bad points? It is time to upgrade? SBU: the Compact Personal Transportation of the Future If you're looking for a compact, ecologically smart form of transportation that requires less work and hassle than a bicycle and want something that can be maneuvered easily and parked anywhere, the SBU is for you Lights Out for Incandescent Bulbs – New Technologies Loom The incandescent light bulb is being outlawed in the US, to be eliminated from American homes by 2014. What new technologies are ready to step in and fill the void? Using 3D Printer Technologies for Fast Economical Modeling Using the latest generation of printing technology, you can now "print" 3 dimensional models of astounding complexity and detail. Multi-purpose Yard Tools Stretch Your Buying Power Combination tools help accomplish more with less. Australian Tourist Attraction Welcomes Klingons Report on an innovative multi-lingual cave tour program. The Concord Grill Brief Restaurant Review. The Muny Amphitheater Entertainment Review. VGA Planets 4 Game review. General Non-FictionDealing With Changes in Your Goals or Life Plans Sometimes even our most carefully thought out plans can end up taking us places other than what we planned. I should know... How to Find the Time to Start a Hobby Starting any new hobby requires some consideration and planning, but don't get stuck in the evaluation mode! Here is some good advice that is applicable to most any hobby you may be considering. Oh, Are You An Artist? Artist, artisan, craftsman, what's the difference? Here is a humorous look at how to make the distinction. Dealing With Power Outages in Rural Life Power outages are nothing new to rural residents. New technologies have helped reduce the number of outages and reduce the length of those that can not be prevented, but preparedness is still advised. Cold Camp – An Unforgettable Scouting Experience The title says it all! Melissa Venema plays Il silenzio with Andre Rieu This is an excerpt from a performance of the world-famous Johann Strauss Orchestra; directed by Dutch violinist, conductor, and composer Andre Rieu during the World Stadium Tour in Amsterdam Arena. Dirt Cake Halloween Centerpiece is a Scream! An easy to make and fun Halloween party treat doubles as the table centerpiece. A time-tested favorite! US Slides On Confidence Scale Transparency Internationals latest world corruption scale is bad news for USA. Twist Of Fate A true story that happened in the late 1970's. The kind of thing that Soap Operas thrive on. New Puppy Readers Digest style short about a trip to the pet store with Doug's young daughter, who has always had a way with words. Louisville Lil Another R.D. style short story about a co-worker who always managed to have her way. Ode To Fred A humorous short about a young fellow I know and his pet turtle. A Right Fine Settin' Porch A look at the lost art of porch sitting.Woodworker Wanderings A series of articles created for Rockler Woodworking and Hardware and published on their web site, but since they have been removed, we may post them for you here.
Mountain Man Wannabe An eclectic collection of short pieces inspired by the adventures of this middle-aged city couple as we move to the mountains to pursue our dream of building custom furniture.  The
Fat Lady Sings
TechnologyThe Down Side of Personal Electronics Modern electronics keep communication, entertainment, and information at the public's fingertips. What effect does this 'connectivity' have on society? Smart Grid Electricity: Blessing or Bane? A Smart Grid power system promises to cure America's electricity distribution woes, make our nation more energy efficient and reduce utility costs. Smart Home Networks: The Next Big Thing Smart home networks offer wonderful new conveniences, but we must make sure that proper controls and security measures are implemented as well. NASCAR Waves the 'Green' Flag on Environmental Issues You would think that a sport like NASCAR Sprint Cup racing; which uses the largest, heaviest cars in motorsports averaging only 4 to 5 miles per gallon of fossil fuel burned would have little interest in green initiatives or ecology. But you would be wrong. Is There a Robot In Your Future? Part 1 of 3. Is a robotic maid and nanny a possibility for your home? Human shaped robots that are capable of independent thought and mobility so they can perform tasks for us around the home or job site have been fodder... Is There a Robot in Your Future (part 2/3) Robots have been in service in industry such as assembly lines for some time, but they are not “intelligent” nor are they mobile. They are programmed to perform a single task – make a series of welds on... Robots of the Not So Distant Future There are some very interesting things hanging around the old robotics lab even today. Here's a look at robots on the cutting edge that may be members of your household not long from now. Road Racing Test in Solar Powered Cars The 2010 American Solar Challenge is a competition to design, build, and drive solar-powered cars in a cross-country time/distance rally which ran 1,100 miles along public roads. TVA Expands It's Sustainable Power Program As pressure mounts to reduce it's dependence on coal fired power plants, the TVA offers long term leases to wind farms around the region. HistoryWilma Dykeman: The Voice of the Appalachians as Tall Woman Wilma Dykeman presents anyone with aspirations of becoming a writer of history, culture and humanity with a powerful example of how this is to be done. The Real History of Hill Folk The history of the Appalachian "hillbilly" and popular misconceptions Mental HealthFighting Clinical Depression - Poem Lost In the Fog The effects of clinical drepression are often bewildering as they creep up on you. Like being lost in a dense fog. Confessions of a Clinical Depression Survivor With suicide rates on the rise worldwide, recognizing and treating depression early is critical. here is one survivor's story and some helpful information on what to look for. Identifying and Dealing with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) Social Anxiety Disorder is a common ailment that can disrupt your ability to socialize or perform your job functions. But it is easily treated. Happy Is As Happy Does Helpful ways to fend off the negativity that pervades modern society. InspirationalA Sure Formula For Finding Happiness How do you find happiness? Where do you look? Who will give it to you? Here is a simple formula. How to Use Failure as a Springboard to Success Failing to achieve your goal is never pleasant, but if we have the right attitude about it, we can come away better prepared to succeed next time. Dealing With the Speed Bumps in Life It has happened to all of us; we’re cruising along the boulevard of life, one elbow out the window, our favorite happy tunes playing on the radio, hand tapping the wheel in time with the tempo. Everything is going great, then... A Tale of Two Builders In Luke 6:46-49 Jesus tells a parable about two men who built homes. You know the tale; one man built on sand and lost his home in a storm, the other dug down to rock... Spiritual Athletes The Christian life is a lot like the life of an athlete. In fact this comparison is drawn several times in the Bible... A Religion of Convenience The ancient Israelites kept turning away from God and falling into paganism; why, and are we doing the same thing today? A Whisper Or A Brick? An important lesson learned the hard way. Driving Through Life A short comparison between living life and driving a car. RelationshipsArticles on Relationships at Simple Life Prattle. General FictionThe Boat Doug's first real story, written in his sophomore year of high school for a Creative Writing class. The teacher praised his use of illustrative allusions. Science FictionBlack Box Blues A sci-fi short story about a family of travelers who have car trouble; submitted for your review and commentary. Cyborg Invasion Was a work-in-progress, being created from the events arising in a game of VGA Planets. Primarily a creative outlet for pent-up fictional fission. Some tongue-in-cheek humor and a lot of spoofing well known Sci-Fi shows and characters. The Wager A cute Sci-Fi short story with a twist. PoetryPoem Lost In the Fog The effects of depression are often bewildering as they creep up on you. Like being lost in a dense fog. Walls Poetry - in any form - has never come easily for me. It requires my being in a highly charged emotional state or whatever I write turns out like a third rate Limerick. This was one of my first successful attempts at poetry. Angel A purely fictional fantasy concerning a young lady with whom I was once quite taken. Alas, the real life story ended quite badly. Beware One of many works inspired by a failed attempt at romance. Demons among us Inspired by a rash of media coverage concerning priests and ministers who had been exposed as child molesters. Audio / Video ProductionsYou may also enjoy our collection of audio and video productions:
|