Stamps - Unique, precious and loved.

Look at this awesome stamp. Can you believe it is approximately 100 years old?

This stamp was used in the days when horses and carriages traversed the streets, and when people wrote with nib and ink. Just think... your parents had not even been born yet. 

Before computers and email, sending a letter was the only method of written communication. People put their messages in an envelope, paid for a stamp and then placed the stamp on the envelope before posting them. Their letters then went through the postal service, to be delivered to the address on the envelope. Have you ever used a stamp?

When you see an old stamp, take a moment to reflect and imagine. Who held that stamp? What message did it carry? Who created it and why was it made?

Every stamp represents a journey and a value, and people who collect AND LOVE stamps become “detectives” who try to understand the history of the stamp.

Can you see the word “Australia”? This means that the stamp was created in Australia.

Can you see the words “Postage 3d”? This is how much a person had to pay for the stamp. In those days they used Shillings and Penny’s.  “3d” means “3 Penny’s” or “Three-pence”.

Can you see the black ink-mark on the stamp? This means that the stamp has been “cancelled” and cannot be used again. It is a “used” stamp. At the post office, each paper stamp gets an inked rubber stamp pressed onto it, and the imprint often reveals something of the journey and origins of the stamp.

Some of the most valuable stamps have unique “flaws” or “imperfections” on them. This means that the stamp is unique. Stamp collectors will pay staggeringly high prices to get one of these special stamps… stamps often sell for $1000 to $100,000 or more. This is how much some people love stamps.

In reality, every stamp is unique. Each stamp has its own journey and carries its own special message. When you carry a stamp in your hands, you connect with history and you contribute to the journey of that stamp.

When you think about it, we are all like stamps. We are unique and have a journey to travel through in life... but we don't always comprehend that we are valued and precious.

When I read the Gospel story and how Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”, I am reminded of the incredible price God paid so that I could understand my value to him. 

If you’d like to know more about this, check out Luke 15:8-10 (in the Bible). A cool story how a coin is discovered and how much happiness there is when it gets found again.

Why write, when there are Crazy Cat YouTubes?

An overview of my first serious attempt at writing.

Last year I spent hours and hours, and many months writing and creating my short novella “Little Kite and the Compass Tree”. After I had done my best to write the words, I decided to make it into an audiobook, complete with music and sound FX. For me, the whole project started because I had an idea, and I wanted to convey that idea to the best of my abilities. I also felt that this was something God wanted me to do.

Crazy Cat YouTube.

Unfortunately, to convey that idea, I needed to write and craft words into meaningful language and narrative. For me this was a challenge as I have never been good at English and have had no training in writing. It was a case of “learn as you go” as I ventured into the deep pool of literature and fashioning words into ideas and images.

Crazy Cat YouTube.

Throughout the writing process I verbally read out my words, to see if they felt natural and correct and inevitably I decided to create an audiobook. I found that the recording process inspired me to keep writing, whilst hearing the words helped with editing and language. I’ve always been passionate about music and sound production, so incorporating my natural skill set into the creative process kept me motivated.  I also hoped that having it as an audiobook might make it more appealing for other people to proof listen/read my story.  I desperately wanted input and the fresh perspective of other people to guide me as I undertook the hard task of editing.

Crazy Cat YouTube.

Eventually, I finished the first full “beta-version” of the audiobook and it was a great day for me when I loaded the three hours of audio onto Soundcloud to share with people. 

I was excited as I thought people would soon be offering suggestions and comments.

I promoted it on a few social media sites and waited…

and….

Crazy Cat YouTube.

Well, I have had my audiobook on Soundcloud now for over 2 months and in that time not one person has listened to it. Zilch. No-one has listened through the entire story via the Soundcloud medium.

I have contacted many people and asked many for help, etc. etc. but I can honestly count on my fingers the people who have actually read/listened to the book through the CD-ROMs I created.

The silence has been deafening.

Crazy Cat YouTube.

Questions filled my mind. “Why are people not interested? Is the idea really that bad? Was I wrong in thinking this was something God wanted me to do? Am I presenting the idea in the wrong way? Are people just way too busy these days? Has this been a complete waste of time? Is writing worth it?”

Crazy Cat YouTube.

One thing I have noted over the years, (and this is something that I discovered from my previous experiences in audio and music creation), is that people react instantly to visual art, because they perceive it instantly, whereas  for music and literature, people need to invest time in the work before they can perceive it. (An obvious no-brainer). Consequently, people need to be motivated enough to invest time to perceive the literary or musical work before they can respond.

This begs the question. What motivates a person to invest time in reading? 

If a person is unfamiliar with your work, what will cause them to invest their precious time with your writing…? Would a visual help?  How about a Crazy Cat YouTube?

Crazy Cat YouTube.

In today’s climate of social media, people perceive and respond to visual media in exceedingly short time spans. They watch a YouTube, have an emotional reaction and comment… all within the space of 3 minutes. People will spend hours and hours doing this over and over; watching brief media snippets of crazy cats, funny bloopers, emotionally charged moral issues etc. or similarly, reading and responding to social media comments and Memes.

Is this why no-one is interested in my audiobook? Can’t people handle longer narratives these day? Are they  too busy watching Crazy Cat YouTubes?. Am I destined to be the only one who loves my baby?

Crazy Cat YouTube.

Recently, after having a few months off from the project, I listened to the entire audiobook again. The break from the project meant that I had “fresh ears” and I was able to identify places where my writing needed improvement.  I found some mistakes and some issues with the first few chapters that need serious adjustment.  Nevertheless, I still felt that the idea had been adequately expressed and the emotions and story conveyed effectively.

Crazy Cat YouTube.

Will I go back to the drawing board and fix the problems with the script and then re-record the edits? Time is a limited resource and I’ve spent enough time on this. Financially, this is crazy. I could have spent the time doing something that payed cash money. Has the venture been worthwhile? Will I continue?

Crazy Cat YouTube.

The answer for me is a resounding “YES!  Of course I will continue”… (Although it will be a slower process as I put life demands in priority)

Why? Why continue when you don’t get money from it?

Because… I believe.

Crazy Cat YouTube.

I believe in my story. 

Crazy Cat YouTube.

I also believe that writing has helped me clarify my own thoughts and helped me grow as a person.


Crazy Cat YouTube.


I believe writing has improved my ability to read and communicate.

Crazy Cat YouTube.

I believe in the intimacy of writing, and that it communicates feelings and thoughts in ways no other media can.

Crazy Cat YouTube.

I believe in God’s beauty being expressed through his creation and through his people using creative arts and skills.

Crazy Cat YouTube.

And I believe ... there is something even more crazy than all the Crazy Cats put together. 

Would you like to know what that is?

...

... ... Listen to my audiobook and I will tell you.


Brian Maunder.

 

Run in from the Storm by Brian Maunder

I wrote and recorded this song last week. It is my first "music video". It was recorded only using my phone and a microphone. I also added piano later to the sound. I love this song and just needed to record it. I hope you like the song too.