A long time ago -- 40 years maybe, or 50 -- a young scribe wrote to Ray Bradbury to thank him for Ray's influence in the budding writer's life. The two had never met.

Ray told the young writer he could not repay him, that the way to thank him was to help some other young writer learning her craft. I am a recipient of that gift, and pass it on when I have the chance as another flame from Ray Bradbury's torch.

About that thousand words a day he encourages --I'm doing it, not just for my mentor and his, but for me -- words on paper, my fingers running across the keyboard as if they were wearing a pair of brand new sneakers!

Thank YOU, Ray Bradbury!

Wow, I knew Ray used the concept of "Pay it Forward" in Dandelion Wine but had no idea Heinlein popularized the term or that the concept was so old!