Doug Bittinger has been writing articles, short stories, poetry and novels since junior high school, 30 some years ago.   In that time a fair number of works have been published, mostly non-fiction.   He has sold several technical manuals, a book on computer programming, a series of articles in COMAL Today magazine and one article in Parenting magazine, along with a number of shorts in Readers Digest and various trade-zines.

Presented here are a selection of works that lacked the literary greatness required for formal publication.   Still, they have been enjoyed by those with whom they've been shared, so we put them up for you to read and -- hopefully -- enjoy.

Technical Writing
• VGA Planets 4 Players Guide   An on-line guide for new players of this most excellent swashbuckling, spacefaring, roll playing game.   This was a Work in Progress, updated almost daily, while Doug was out of work for an injury.  Once recovered, this project was turned over to the gamers who would benefit from it.
Consumer Articles
• The Concord Grill   Brief Restaurant Review.
• The Muny   Entertainment Review.
• VGA Planets 4   Game review.
  Non-Fiction
• Woodworker Wanderings   A series of articles created for Rockler Woodworking and Hardware and published on their web site.
1. Giant City A delight for nature buffs of all ages.   Posted 10/16 until 11/15.
2. Martin Guitars history and manufacturing.   Posted 9/16 until 10/15
3. DeKlomp Wooden Shoe Factory in Holland Michigan.   Posted 8/15 until 9/15.
4. Furniture Alley, heartland of American furniture production.   Posted 7/17/00 until 8/14/00.
5. Louisville Slugger museum and factory. Posted 6/21/00 until 7/17/00
• Shop Tips a series of short subjects written for The Rockler Companies and used in their publications.
• Twist Of Fate   A true story that happened in the late 1970's.   The kind of thing that Soap Operas thrive on.

General Fiction
• The Boat   Doug's first real story, written in his sophomore year of high school for a Creative Writing class.   The teacher praised his use of illustrative allusions.

Science Fiction
• Cyborg Invasion   A work-in-progress, being created from the events arising in a game of VGA Planets.   Primarily a creative outlet for pent-up fictional fission.   Some tongue-in-cheek humor and a lot of spoofing well known Sci-Fi shows and characters.
• The Wager   A cute Sci-Fi short story with a twist.

Humorous Shorts
• New Puppy   Readers Digest style short about a trip to the pet store with Doug's young daughter, who has always had a way with words.
• Louisville Lil   Another R.D. style short story about a co-worker who always managed to have her way.

Poetry
• Walls   Poetry - in any form - has never come easily for Doug.   It requires his being in a highly charged emotional state or whatever he writes turns out like a third rate Limerick.   This was one of his first successful attempts at poetry.
• Angel   A purely fictional fantasy concerning a young lady with whom Doug was once quite taken.   Alas, the real life story ended quite badly.
• Beware  One of many works inspired by a failed attempt at romance.
• Demons among us   Inspired by a rash of media coverage concerning priests and ministers who had been exposed as child molesters.