In which I write about writing while biting my own teeth…the craft, my attempts at it, and the industry.
Happy Anniversary! What?! You forgot?! Yep. This internet version of Lucy’s psychiatric advice booth has been up for two years. It’s been two very fine years and all of my thanks go to you, our ever-growing digital dysfunctional family.* Last year I spent a few articles giving this website a colonoscopy and inviting others to [Continue]
Chuck Wendig is a man of many talents and a one prolific, profane, and prodigious penmonkey.Last week’s Seven Act Flash Fiction Friday Challenge proved to be the framework on which I hung an idea that I’ve had for some time. While more cute than chaotic, all should fear this horrific attack on America… Wrong Numbers [Continue]
“Humans are the only creatures that actively seek out fearful experiences. We take roller coaster rides. We skydive. We go to scary movies. We even pay money to do these things.” – Dirk Eitzen The Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image Like most married Americans, I watch television with my wife. We usually [Continue]
“Writing…is like shooting with a rifle; you may hit your reader’s mind, or miss it…” -Oliver Wendell Holmes As with last fall, I’ve loaded up my cerebral six-gun with the Six Word Stories of our recent adventures. In this fashion I serve three ends; It is a writing exercise for my literarily minded readers, [Continue]
As Randy Pausch said in last month’s article “It’s Not About Dying,” we should get a feedback loop, and listen to it. I published my own feedback loop, a few months back, with the article critiquing the website. Now I offer you the “listen to it” portion. There have been some changes to this ever [Continue]
Two articles ago (Before the Saturday Morning Cartoon interlude) I had three unbiased professionals review the first year of this website. I asked them to pick their favorite articles, and they did a fine job. Now it’s my turn. Here are my top five articles which—just like Velma from Scooby-Doo (according to Can’t Hardly Wait)—never [Continue]
“Whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.” -Buddha The look back; it’s crucial to enlightened and introspective living. The look back helps us internalize and value our product [Continue]
My flash fiction tale, featured in the Terrible Minds Vacation Hell Contest is below. Skip to the Post Mortem section if you’ve already read it and just want to read the behind the scenes. For all, please remember that if you like this tale best, make your vote count in the contest, when the time [Continue]
How to begin creatively? Hm. The direct question approach? “Are you creative?” Nah. Too infomercial. The smug, know-it-all way? “The only creative thing about creativity is the definition by those who don’t have it of those who do.” Blech. Creative beginning, creative beginning… Creativity is like masturbation. Everyone does it, few harness it, and fewer [Continue]
“The revolver rules, the revolver is triumphant.” -Walt Whitman quotes Six bullets can change the world. Red Dead Redemption and my current research into the Civil War have proven that to me. Both the Old West or the Civil War were ruled by the six-shot revolver. With that as an inspiration, and the understanding that some [Continue]
