Why do I write? Why do I do this day after day? Another question: why do I read? That's easy. I read because I love learning. I love a good story. Plus, books can give an escape from life. But reading is easy and enjoyable. Writing is difficult. So why do I do it? It’s... Continue Reading →
My Anxious Subconscious Asks: What Makes a Real Writer?
Last night, I dreamed I was back in college. Do you get those dreams? You know the ones I mean. You’re back in university, unprepared for the final exam… or you’re giving a presentation in a crowded lecture hall and look down to see you’re naked… or you need to submit your thesis but the... Continue Reading →
Character Ideas, and Remember Magic Eye Illusions?
Do you remember the Magic Eye pictures? Those colorful, grainy optical illusions were everywhere in the mid-1990s. I was in 11th grade, and the art teacher had a Magic Eye book in the art room, propped up on a table. (This was the same art teacher who told me I was “too left-brained to do... Continue Reading →
Writers’ Inspiration in a Graveyard
The sunny weather lured my son and me out for a long afternoon walk. We walked three miles and ended up on a main road. We caught a public transit bus home. The interesting bit is that we discovered this tiny cemetery along our route. I’ve driven past it tons of times but never noticed... Continue Reading →
Gaining Words and Losing Pounds
There must be a corner of hell that is all burpees, all the time. That’s how awful burpees are. They belong to the realm of torture. Yet twice a week you can find me sweating through combos of running, jumping, planks, squats, crunches, lifting weights, and yes – even those hellish burpees. Some time ago,... Continue Reading →