Words are magic.
When the proverbial poop hits the propeller, people will inevitably attend to their base needs—the foundational items that make up the base of Maslow’s pyramid. These needs include shelter, water, air, and food. You’ve probably seen post-apocalypse movies in which […]
Spring thaw reveals a graveyard, dirt-spattered. The sole of a shoe, peeled from its upper, candy bar and condom foils, mummified dog shit now free to decay, seep, join the soil. An empty fifth of vodka catches my eyes, breath, […]
Growing up in northern Minnesota, you learn how to fish. When I was young, my dad bought me a fishing rod and reel, set up a five-gallon bucket in the middle of our yard, and had me practice my casting. […]
As part of the research for my Middle Grade work-in-progress, I’m learning as many survival skills as I can. My goal is to learn one skill per month in 2019. So far so…meh. To be frank, this past month didn’t […]
“My imagination isn’t what it used to be.” Amanda and I are standing around a kitchen island, catching up at a friend’s winter party. Most of the guests know each other through a local writing group, so talk often turns […]
This year, I somehow managed to take down 40-ish books (not counting the ones I edited), despite the craziness. Amid editing, ghost writing, and building my book coaching business, I found a few moments here and there to let my […]
Below me, a sea of humans jostle for space, chat, sip on amber-tinted beverages. They spread across a trough-like expanse, facing an enormous stage with several thirty-foot high screens stretching across it. There are 8,000 of us. I’m standing against […]
National Novel-Writing Month (affectionately called NaNoWriMo) is every November. The goal is to write 50,000 words of a novel in just thirty days, which breaks down to 1,667 words per day. Sound tough? It is. But it’s not impossible. I’ve […]
A few seconds of silences stretched between us as we stepped out the door and began walking down the long, white hallway. Past a few doors decorated with Easter wreaths. Past the dining hall which informed me that large print […]
Reading is an essential part of my work. As a writer, I’m constantly learning—expanding my vocab, picking up new techniques, studying clever ways to develop characters and plot lines. Reading helps me stay sharp, discover writing methods I like (and […]