The Virgin Can Be Scarier Than an Atomic Iguana (2/3)
I was under no delusion; the Virgin could still walk into my mom's room and ruin the plans I had for the rest of my life.
I was pleased when the Virgin decided not to talk to me all night.
When the sun came out, I took a 12-minute nap.
I donβ...
The Virgin Can Be Scarier Than an Atomic Iguana (1/3)
I still remember the last time I lost sleep. September 14, 1994. Okay, I made up a date, but I remember the night. It was the night before my first communion.Β
After six months of memorizing prayers and passages from the Bible, I was finally ...
Ramit Sethi, the financial guru from I Will Teach You to Be Rich, is one of those writers I have been following for a long time.
I first learned about him from the chapter he wrote for Tim Ferriss' book "The 4-Hour Workweek" in 2009. I bought my first course from him in 2012 and have continued to...
The answer might kill you.
Okay, fine, the answer won't kill you.
But I was hoping to heighten the tension by imitating how the media delivers almost every single piece of news imaginable.
But the answer might surprise you.
At least, I think my answer will surprise you.
And the answer is no. I d...
Artificial constraints and mindset shifts to overcome story paralysis
There are probably more than one million and one articles on how to overcome Writer's Block.Β
Typically, the essays or listicles are a variation of "How can I overcome Writer's block? Oh, I know, write about Writer's Block...
A Screaming Goat Wins Four Grammy Awards (3/3)
I am hyperaware of those things now with my daughters, especially with my oldest. I am complimentary of anything she does because I truly believe that kids (and adults) need less feedback and more encouragement.
If you pursue any craft long enough, ...
A Screaming Goat Wins Four Grammy Awards (2/3)
What strikes me most about this story is how often it repeats itself and how some teachers who are supposed to encourage little ones make unsupportive comments about their students' pursuits.
However, it is not only teachers who make these comments;...
A Screaming Goat Wins Four Grammy Awards (1/3)
I grew up one block away from Shakira.
Okay, let me clarify this: Shakira didn't grow up there. But I grew up a block from where Shakira bought an entire apartment building for her parents.
The building and the block it was on remained empty most of...
Shortcuts to mine, discover and edit your stories
The definitions below do not come from a textbook. They are the definitions of the types of stories I have developed for my craft.Β
When I'm editing or even brainstorming, it helps me understand what kind of story I'm working with.Β
Here are the f...
I am a sucker for a get-rich-quick scheme (3/3)
There I was, a brand new immigrant, newly arrived in California, ready to consume all the information to get me started on the oh-so-American path from rags to riches.
The seminar organizers were prepared to give me even more than I had bargained f...
I am a sucker for a get-rich-quick scheme
The stranger made a beeline for my wife and me through the sea of Christmas shoppers, drowning in the desperation to find the perfect last-minute gift in Walnut Creek's open-air mall, Broadway Plaza.
"Wow, you have an amazing smile!" He said.
"Here we go...
