I enjoy teaching writing, although as I freely admit to students, one does not actually “teach” another to write. You can guide them, make suggestions, demonstrate technique, but the bottom line is that one learns to be a writer, by, as someone put it, “applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the … More Dress Rehearsal
I will have to admit, there have been many times when I have cut corners with my own writing. I would have a flow of consciousness that I was following in my story, only to hit a speed bump when I got to a certain word that I wanted–but couldn’t think of. And that is … More Master of the Word
This is the sixth year that I have been sponsor of the Rough Writers, the student-led, student-run, student-participative creative writing group here on the campus of Southwestern Adventist University. During that time I have gotten to know some pretty great students, many of whom I am confident will go on to be great writers. I … More Brave, New World
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. –Ecclesiastes 1:9. Yesterday marked the first day of classes here at Southwestern Adventist University for a new school year, and once again I feel a bit of apprehension as I go into the classroom. … More A Word to the Wise…and Otherwise
I was a frightened 13 year old registering for high school for the first time. My mother was with me. When it came time to have my picture taken for the Funnybook, the student directory, they asked me to describe myself in one word. I refused to give a word, but when I left, my … More The Art of Living (and Writing) Dangerously
I first decided that I wanted to be a writer when I was in high school. I always had a difficult time in wrapping my brain around the idea that when I graduate from college I should be prepared to embrace a career for the rest of my life. Call it a short attention span. … More That Special Something
It’s been 20 years since my father passed away, but I still dream about him. I can read all kinds of Freudian interpretation into that fact, such as my mind seeing his image as a manifestation of my own manhood. But the fact still remains that he is still in my thoughts. My relationship with … More Those Who Went Before
One of the big reasons I wrote last week about multitasking and its effect on the creative spark as well as one’s relationship with God is because I, along with most of these United States, am caught up in the turnstiles of progress. I currently am coming up on midterm exams, which I still have … More Chasing My Tail
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
I have a young friend who sees himself as a writer of screenplays. He has education along those lines, with some of it coming from me. He’s currently working on a short film that he has high hopes for. I’ve read the script, and I also believe that it shows some promise. I’ve actually read … More Give a Man a Fish
The Great Adventure 