When I think about a recent line I read, I can't help but pump a fist in the air and say a definitive YES! In the novel “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” (which was made into a film I recently reviewed), co-authors Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows had one of their … Continue reading How “flit-reading” among books inspired me to write
Woody Allen once said that "80% of success in life is showing up!" I believe he's right. This is why I'm showing up at my usual writing space now, sitting and waiting for inspiration to come-a-calling. So I can blog my next masterpiece. Right. The truth is, since taking a break from blogging in the … Continue reading Is “showing up” all it takes to be a writer? Not quite.
I'm probably going to regret publishing this. Oh well, as dame Doris Day once sang (yes I'm that old), "Que Sera Sera...Whatever will be will be". After all, the start of a brand new year is typically the time lots of people say lots of things right? Things that sound like resolutions. Or a promise … Continue reading This new year, I’m gonna lean into what scares me!
{The following book was officially launched last week on Reedsy. Also available on Amazon and author's website} A while back I wrote about being invited to join Reedsy's panel of book reviewers (see Thing #5 I learned after writing 200 blogs). As one of Reedsy's reviewers, I get advance review copies and exclusive peeks at … Continue reading Life Hack Book Review #5 — A man in motion
Everyone would agree it's an absolute gift to come into a new work week where the calendar looks pretty empty! For a writer, that's like a sweet promise of long, uninterrupted moments filled with blissful writing. What could be better? Of course, my daily parenting duties continue, so I'm not exactly "free". Still, since last … Continue reading My “Writing Heroes” #4/6 – Those who write. Or do nothing!
It's been said that beginner writers would be well-advised to write what we know. No major arguments there from me. After all, as famous writer Flannery O’Connor once opined, anyone who survives childhood has enough information to write for the rest of his or her life. Meaning, even as early as 12 or 13 years of age, … Continue reading My “Writing Heroes” #3/6 – Those who write what they want to know
{The following book was officially launched yesterday on Reedsy. Also available on Amazon and Goodreads.} A while back I wrote about being invited to join Reedsy's panel of book reviewers (see Thing #5 I learned after writing 200 blogs). As one of Reedsy's reviewers, I get advance review copies and exclusive peeks at independent publications … Continue reading Life Hack Book Review #4 — A journey to self-discovery
Publication. The mecca of any newbie writer's wildest dream. (Second only to being a New York Times bestseller) But THIS newbie writer, still wet behind the ears? Yikes! Look, I'll be honest. To harbor thoughts of publishing? It's THE scariest thing I can think of right now. In many ways, I'm even putting the proverbial … Continue reading Writing towards the world of publication with…hope?
So last week I started this mini-series to talk about how to retire well. You do that you know, when you're like me; a man past 50, increasingly living on borrowed time! In that post, I talked about the first of three important truths I've come to embrace: If we don't want to suffer retirement … Continue reading How to retire well #2 of 4: Know who you are and what you love
It's been a year since I wrote about my book-length memoir's rewrite process. And there's a good reason why: I've not (gulp!) been doing much of it! Notice though I said "not...much..." Meaning I have done some. So, not a complete lost cause. Then again, once you read on here to see what exactly I … Continue reading What REALLY happens when I rewrite!
