Writing Samples
The beginning for a writer is the journal. I say this because it is the testing grounds for all your styles and ideas. If you do not keep a journal, it will be hard for you to be a good writer in almost any field.
You should write a little every day if you want to cultivate your literary skills. That's the beauty of a journal... because you don't need a revolutionary idea or original thought to write a successful entry into your journal. Other types of writing are not as forgiving; when you write poetry when you don't feel poetic or a story when you don't feel inspired, you will likely not turn out highly artistic words.
Featured Articles
Adventures with Del
In Memory of Delwin Olson
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![Olson family photo 2023](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4524_dji_0583.jpg)
![A Meal in Medora](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4473_20220829_140037.jpg)
![At the Medora Musical](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4500_20230607_192903.jpg)
![Corrine flies a drone](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4470_20210524_201341.jpg)
![Del Drives Duane](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4478_20220831_112340.jpg)
![Del and Duane](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4511_20230610_171314.jpg)
![Del Fuzz and Duane](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4492_20230604_141855.jpg)
![Delwin Laughing as Corrine gets Sake](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4480_20220830_195002.jpg)
![Delwin Secures Boat](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4477_20220830_121227.jpg)
![Del on Boat](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4479_20220830_173511.jpg)
![Del teaches Hayden how to run a riding lawn mower](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4509_20230609_153548.jpg)
![Driving Lessons from Delwin](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4505_20230609_165703.jpg)
![Eating in Medora](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4502_20230607_150854.jpg)
![Dog jumps on Del](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4526_213a6046.jpg)
![Delwin with Hadley](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4540_213a5647.jpg)
![Delwin and Jim at Garden](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4514_20230610_135134.jpg)
![Delwin and Kent Goof Off](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4474_20220829_181140.jpg)
![Delwin and Pam](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4529_213a5506.jpg)
![Delwin and Pam](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4538_img_3957.jpg)
![Delwin and Shawn](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4491_20220903_172000.jpg)
![Delwin and Shawn on Old Baldy](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4516_dji_0395.jpg)
![Shawn and Delwin on Old Baldy](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4518_dji_0390.jpg)
![Shawn and Delwin on mountain.](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4519_dji_0403.jpg)
![Delwin Olson](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4539_img_3841.jpg)
![Delwin Driving a Boat](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4531_213a5887.jpg)
![Delwin on Phone](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4517_dji_0328.jpg)
![Delwin climbs a rock](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4537_213a5520.jpg)
![Delwin on Tractor](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4494_20230604_110317.jpg)
![Delwin on Killdeer Mountain](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4527_213a6145.jpg)
![Delwin on a Hike](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4488_20220901_120256.jpg)
![Delwin on Killdeer Mountains](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4489_20220902_130254.jpg)
![Delwin sitting on mountainside](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4471_20210528_102438.jpg)
![Delwin on Killdeer Mountain.](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4525_213a6133.jpg)
![Delwin Olson on Old Baldy](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4522_dji_0596.jpg)
![Delwin and Granddaughters](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4515_20230610_184002.jpg)
![Delwin rescues the kids](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4521_dji_0589.jpg)
![Delwin Scans the Distance](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4484_20220901_082056.jpg)
![Delwin raises arms](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4530_213a5898.jpg)
![Delwin at Stove](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4475_20220830_095639.jpg)
![Delwin Cooking Breakfast](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4495_20230602_084517.jpg)
![Delwin with Granddaughters](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4513_20230610_183954.jpg)
![Delwin with Kids on Quad](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4541_213a5553.jpg)
![Olsons in Medora 2022](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4532_213a5840.jpg)
![Delwin, Duane and Shawn](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4520_dji_0545.jpg)
![Duane and Delwin](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4503_20230608_103708.jpg)
![Fuzz and Del](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4493_20230603_120227.jpg)
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![Group photo](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4535_213a5550.jpg)
![Del and Corrine](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4482_20220830_194152.jpg)
![Ice Cream in Medora](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4472_20220829_161106.jpg)
![Jim and Delwin with metal detector](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4528_213a6128.jpg)
![Last hike on Old Baldy](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4523_dji_0599.jpg)
![Meal at Buckskin](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4508_20230609_174144.jpg)
![Meal at Buckskin](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4506_20230609_174145.jpg)
![Olson Family Photo](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4542_213a5571.jpg)
![Shawn and Delwin on Mountain](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4497_20230604_155548.jpg)
![Shawn and Del](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4487_20220831_152005.jpg)
![Shawn and Del on Boat](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4481_20220830_173126.jpg)
![Shawn and Delwin in a truck](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4476_20220830_114632.jpg)
![Shawn, Ethan and Delwin on Old Baldy](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4507_20230608_125534.jpg)
![Thumbs Up](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4483_20220902_125007.jpg)
![family hike](/media/1/image/jpeg/tiny/4536_213a5536.jpg)
Photos and tribute to my friend and cousin Delwin Olson.
Latest Articles
Who is she
A poem about a father who abandoned his daughter almost 30 years ago.
The Call for Religion in Schools
An unpublished editorial on religion in the classroom.
My feelings on God
My personal views on God.
The Forgotten Philosopher: A Look at John Dewey
An essay delving into the educational philosophy of John Dewey.
The mind and body
Why we need to exercise both mind and body.
Discipline in School
A strict look at the need for strong discipline in the classroom.
The Hurry-Stop Syndrome
This editorial was the last Chalkboard editorial Shawn Olson wrote for the Columbus Messenger.
The other end of life
An emotional editorial by Shawn Olson about old age originally printed in the Messenger.
Human ability and prejudice
Prejudice is a part of our world fading, but never quickly enough.
Educational Inflation
A critique of the value of educational diplomas.