Dear EwingKlipspringer,
I do not usually play online. I play over the board. Although my USCF rating is low, it is because I have not played a lot of rated games recently. I took 2 years off from tournaments to grow the chess club and promote the game. I am getting back into OTB tournaments this year.
I disagree with the idea that journalism is dead. It is not what it used to be, but is continuously evolving. Newspapers as we have known them to be are dying away primarily due to the Internet, but journalism in the sense of informing the masses is still relevant.
The reference to my "gifted son" was not meant to brag. It is simply to put into context how he got into the game and then brought me in so the community will kind of know where I am coming from.
The idea for my book is primarily to hopefully inspire others to start at any age, and, if they are so moved to start their own club, these are ideas and tips to watch for.
Just like journalism, the idea is to inform through sharing of information. No matter what form it evolves to - internet or otherwise - that part of journalism is not dead and will never die as long as its central core is respected.
Thank you for reading and responding to my post.
I have been playing chess for more than six years since my son taught me the game when he was 7 and learned it in gifted class in school. I was 47 at the time and always thought about learning the game but didn't get around to it. Additionally, the perceived complexities of the game intimidated me.
It must have been the way my son taught it, but chess made sense to me and I learned the pieces and their movements and the general rules. I fell in love and made it my primary personal hobby. I formed a chess club in my community to share and promote the game and I am active in my state's chess activities. I now wish so much that I had learned at an earlier age, but I am where I am now and I want to make the most of what I have to participate, learn, and grow in the game.
(An aside for context: I am a former newspaper journalist with a degree in journalism and 31+ year career of writing and photography experience. I am now in public relations for a state agency.)
There is much more I can say, but here is my point for Chess.com. I have had friends tell me I should write a book about my experiences. I realize there are thousands of books out there about the game and the autobiographies lean toward masters who started young and chronicled their career.
I have thought about the idea from the perspective of someone who stared late in life and can show that it is never too late to learn and get involved. I can also give readers information about starting a club in their communities, what I encountered, and ideas on how to proceed.
So: What do you think? Is this the kind of chess book someone might read?