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.
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 (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.
When I'm editing or even brainstorming, it helps me understand what kind of story I'm working with.
Here are the f...
Note to readers: Last week, I sent you an email with a link to this blog post. The link was broken. Moving forward, I will send my blog posts inside the newsletter. You can still find them on my website, but I wanted to include the entire body of the message of the email so you don't have to c...
In college, I competed in college forensics, a weird word for debate and not a competition to figure out blood splatter patterns.
But to travel with the team, you needed to have other events you competed on. I did after-dinner speeches and impromptu speaking. When you watch an Impromptu compe...
Editing and Honing the Universal in Your Story
I knew early on in my life I wanted to be a writer. Actually, I wanted to be a reader. I loved reading. But at that time, I didn't think you could get paid for that. So, I switch my dream career from reader to writer.
I wrote a lot during those tim...
Most of the time, I'm not thinking about whether or not I'm going to include someone in a story because when I do, it will end up being playful and in good nature.
But when an essay is a little more thorny or raw, and I feel uncomfortable about what I have to say about a person, I use a handful o...
TL;DR: it's complicated.
Tonight, I will be hosting my weekly free memoir writing workshop. Find details at the end of the email.
Last week, I hosted my free "Memoir Writing Workshop," and an attendee asked, "How much can I share about others in my stories?"
This is a difficult question to answe...
Oh, man. What is this word that I'm looking for?
What did this Miró painting evoked in me?
This painting is so...
So...
Oh, I know.
So dumb!
What a fucking dumb painting?
Listen, I have to admit to you. Sometimes, what critics call high art is just above my limited intelligence.
This canvas, whic...
Next week, I'm hosting a monthly in-person storytelling circle in Petaluma at Grand Central Coffee Shop. I'm producing this show with two friends, and one of them invited me to present it to a group of artists she guides through Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.
I thought, "I can pitch an event a...
I recently bought Mike Sacks' "And Here is the Kicker," and when I added it to my humor writing collection on Kindle, I saw that this collection has become quite sizable.
I have been reading on writing and humor writing for over ten years. I especially like interviews with comedic writers because...
