I am sitting in my living room in sweats. I haven’t shaven yet this morning, and I might not today. Beside my easy chair are textbooks for classes for the new semester, which starts in about 10 days. On top of that is the paperback I am trying to read as well. It’s quiet: my … More Eye of the Storm
I am in the first official week of Christmas break. Because I am a writer as well as a university professor, one would think I would be throwing myself into another writing project at this point, grateful that I am unencumbered by the many details of being a professor. Well, a couple of problems with … More Physical Therapy for the Soul
I’m bored. And there’s nothing I can do about it. Last week was a circus. I had finals, grading, three major projects to complete. And I was coughing the whole time. At first it was just a cold and that I could push my way through it. But by Friday, it had lasted a week … More Hurry Up and Do Nothing
1996. After a year of research and planning, and another six months of throwing myself body, mind and soul into the project, I was able to watch the first edition of the new national magazine ParentTalk roll off the presses. I, with my co-editor Randy Maxwell, were the proud parents of a wonderful new magazine. … More The Next Day
This has been a rough week for me. I have had a chest cold since last Friday. Trouble is, the world doesn’t stop when you’re sick. This has also been finals week at the University where I teach. In addition, three projects that I have been working on for months have been coming to a … More Under the gun, under the weather
One of the things I am trying to accomplish with this blog is to challenge myself to a new level of “honest” writing, something my friend and colleague Tim Lale recommended to me a few years. While I continue to contemplate what true honesty is in relation to writing, I am reminded of a story … More Beyond Pushing Buttons
There are distinct disadvantages to getting older, such as losing strength and stamina, looks (if you ever had them), and in my case, hair. But there are advantages too. Not necessarily of age, but of what comes with it: hopefully, experience. And you also hope that wisdom is born from experience. One of my virtues … More Hurry Up and Wait
We’re in our last week of classes in what has been a tough semester. I have accomplished a great deal, but not as much I wanted to, and not at the level of quality I would have liked. I taught Drama Writing for the first time, which as usual taught me as much as it … More Last Week of Classes
My good friend and fellow editor Randy Maxwell used to say, “Writers who are going to write will find a way, regardless of their circumstances.” That may be true, but there have been a lot better circumstances that what I have been through the past month. Last night ended my 30 days of madness entitled … More No Excuses
I swear, this is the last time that you will hear about NaNoWriMo from me this year. Well, maybe one more time… Tomorrow is November 30, the last day of my attempt to write 50,000 words of a novel in 30 days for National Novel Writing Month. I am at 43,333, within spitting distance of … More Eve of Destruction
The Great Adventure 