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Ballou's diary spans more than fifty years of his writing career and his attempts to get his plays produced. Throughout this diary, Ballou guides the reader through many of his projects and revisions. He shares his frustrations and inspirations as well as his thought process as he drops or adds characters, revises his themes, or wonders at the lack of theme, looks for production help and theater space, and constantly pushes forward. He also addresses the real issues of keeping up with changing technology and the harsh reality of finding an audience. He allows the reader an inside look into the sources of his ideas and often gives humbly honest criticism of his own work. His entries are very conversational and offer the reader an interesting glimpse into the life of a retired math teacher and lifelong playwright.
This collection comprises a series of diary entries, or blog posts, which sometimes come daily and, at other times, have long gaps between entries. They are extremely readable, although there are a few grammatical mistakes, but this isn't meant to be a conventional narrative. There is a fair amount of repetition within the text, but this is to be expected from an actual diary and not a fictional one. There is something touching and magical about the reading experience. Ballou's undying persistence and his love of pursuing his passion are inspirational. Readers who gravitate to that part of his narrative will find themselves fans of Ballou, and although his success would be rewarding, it is his positive and endless effort they will applaud.