I’d like to start off today’s blog by recommending another website: whereiwrite.org. I urge you to visit this website for your own curiosity’s sake and see Kyle Cassidy’s project to report and share the places where several well-known fantasy and science fiction writers crank out their masterpieces. What you will find is that is varies … More Where I Write
I started trying to get published as a writer in the 70s while I was in college. I was enamored by a new Christian youth magazine called “Insight,” and I tried and tried to get published in their magazine, to no avail. Finally, after receiving half a dozen blank rejection slips in a row, I … More A Spoonful of Sugar
It’s the day after the end of the NFL’s regular season. Twelve teams still have high hopes to end up with a Super Bowl ring in 2013. Twelve groups of fans still have something to cheer for. But for players and staff of 20 out of the 32 teams, the year is over with. My … More The Next Day…Revisited
Back in the 90s when I was a book editor at Pacific Press, we had a summit meeting to talk about the state of publishing. I remember raising my hand and offering the opinion that the editor of tomorrow–which of course means today now–would need to be a jack of all trades. He or she … More An Indie Author’s Best Investment
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
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
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
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
