Recluse

Yesterday was a good day to write. And then there’s today. I was late in getting to the office, with my mind on taking up on writing where I left off. But right away I was contacted with a couple of emergencies dealing with the University’s website. In the middle of this, I remembered that … More Recluse

Early Riser

So here I am, sitting in my dark living room at 5 a.m. wondering why I am awake. Actually I woke up before 3:30 and have been trying to sleep since then. I’ve learned, however, that there’s a law of diminishing returns on sleep. After about 45 minutes of sleeplessness, it’s pretty much a lost … More Early Riser

Busman’s Holiday

I’m back in the office today; later than I should have been, earlier than I would have liked to have been. Last weekend was a quick getaway with my bride of 39 years to Broken Arrow Lake in Oklahoma, where we explored, canoed and swam for a couple of days. Before and after that, I … More Busman’s Holiday

Whose Story Is It?

I find enjoyment in visiting the website Quora.com and getting the answers to my questions as well as providing answers to those who are seeking them. Recently, someone asked a question about writing that I thought I would respond to here. The question was, how do you determine which story idea you will turn into … More Whose Story Is It?

The Obstacle Course

I’m sitting in the library classroom at our university, where I teach my Narrative Writing class. The final exam is scheduled for 7:30 Wednesday morning, but I have offered to let students take the final exam this morning and get it out of the way. One caveat: they have to have their final project done … More The Obstacle Course

Seeing the Elephant

The phrase “seeing the elephant” or “he saw the elephant” makes me think of old war movies, especially ones with the British Army bivouacked in a remote area, with references to first combat. But as I research it, it actually originates in Georgia (United States) in 1835. The phrase “seeing the elephant” was originally tied … More Seeing the Elephant

Baby Steps

For those who have been reading my blog on a regular basis, you probably know that I have been struggling with a form of writer’s block. I have said many times that the way to deal with writer’s block is to recharge your batteries by reading and watching movies, always watching for technique and ideas. … More Baby Steps