Thoughts on Living the Life Creative
So, if I start telling you about a small "voice inside my head", you won't freak out, will you? Because, while it's a problem, it's not THAT kind of problem. I promise. I call this voice "The Critic". Some of you are nodding your heads now. You know this nasty little swine, don't you? I... Continue Reading →
Managing Expectations A new year and with it a tradition of New Year’s Resolutions(NYR)! Let’s talk about my history with NYR. Like most people, my list of failed, foiled, and forgotten resolutions is longer than the list of resolutions completed. Part of this is my boundless optimism and expectation. In 2017, my NYR ran to... Continue Reading →
One thing that I felt was important when I moved this blog to a total focus on creativity was sharing my creative stuff. I believe that it's important for us to see not only creative people who are better than we are, but also those still growing themselves. (You thought I was going somewhere else... Continue Reading →
So I just realized, and I mean JUST realized, that this blog has gone quiet for over a month. Wow. That was so NOT the plan. The malaise I wrote about in my last post in July has been an ongoing struggle here. As I cruise around my social media groups, I discover I'm not... Continue Reading →
(I believe creativity is a journey of self-discovery. Some discoveries are wonderful, some are painful. This is part of my personal journey.) This is the hardest piece I’ve ever tried to write. It’s personal, it’s painful, and a little embarrassing. But I believe that I need to do it. A little background first. A couple... Continue Reading →
When we get together, the stories come out. It's what people do. For Christmas, these are three of the best, most beloved stories ever written in English. Together with the stories "Behind the Story", biographies of the authors, how two of them helped create Christmas as we know it today, and ways for your family... Continue Reading →
I'm Not Giving Either Up One of the great debates in writing forums today concerns the gentle adverb. For those uncertain of the topic, an adverb is a word that modifies a verb (it can also modify an adjective, or even another adverb! Tricksy little devils). So it changes the reader's understanding of the word.... Continue Reading →
The Reality Talk (Language warning about halfway through. Just FYI) One of the great blessings in my life is my supportive family. My wife supports me doing what makes me happy. My adult child was one of the primary forces in pushing me towards a more serious approach to my writing. They are happy with... Continue Reading →
In writing, we say “kill your darlings”. It means we must be willing to delete favorite characters, beloved phrases, special plot points, anything that we love, if it doesn’t further the story. It’s one of the hardest lessons for young writers to learn. When you craft a beautiful sentence, create a fully formed character, any time... Continue Reading →
The debate rages on. What’s the hardest part of being a writer? Some will tell you it’s the act of creation itself. Creating characters, settings, entire worlds, struggling with dialogue, building tension, making sure all the plot points are present, and polished. Others maintain that it’s the editing that is the true struggle. Reading and... Continue Reading →
Stories Are My Life 