"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”— Stephen King, On Writing Photo by Ed Ortiz I have seen many movie adaptations of Stephen King’s books over the years—The Shining, Carrie, IT, Pet Sematary, just to name a few—but the only … Continue reading Book Review: On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft
Tag: writing
A Year of Reading with Community and Purpose
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your family, loved ones, and friends. Mine was peaceful and quiet, and I did a lot of reading, but I also found 12 hours to watch the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns. If you are in the United States and … Continue reading A Year of Reading with Community and Purpose
When a Story Finally Finds Its Moment
I read an article this weekend in The Wall Street Journal and immediately thought about all my writer friends in my WordPress community. It’s a story of never giving up and of writing without worrying where your words will land. Maybe one day your book will be discovered and become a hit—but the writing journey … Continue reading When a Story Finally Finds Its Moment
Book Review: Jade’s Broken Bridge
Jade’s Broken Bridge, my notes, and a steaming cup of coffee. I’ve been following Michele Lee Sefton for a while, and her writing has always captivated me. There is depth behind her words, and her growth as a writer shines through in every blog post. Reading her poems and novellas, Her Coastal Cottage and Honeysuckle … Continue reading Book Review: Jade’s Broken Bridge
An Hour with Surviving Sue
Early this year, I read a wonderful book written by Dr. Vicki Atkinson titled Surviving Sue, and you can read what I wrote about her book here. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend an event sponsored by the Cultural and Performing Arts Department of Harper College in Chicago’s northwest area. I spent a little … Continue reading An Hour with Surviving Sue
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 12
When I first read Dr. Stein’s post and scanned all the questions he laid out for us, I thought about how great of an exercise answering them would be. One question, in particular, caught my attention right away—one that invited deep personal reflection. That question was: What have you learned about life that you didn’t … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 12
A Life Remembered, A Lesson for Parents Everywhere
I have been debating for a few days now whether to write a reflection on a recent loss in our family. I was thinking about just writing it in my journal, but then I thought that putting my thoughts on this medium could help someone out there, and if I can help even one person, … Continue reading A Life Remembered, A Lesson for Parents Everywhere
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 11
I can’t believe I’ve already worked my way through ten questions. Some of them took me back decades, reminding me of both the good and the bad in my life. It’s been a great exercise to reflect on where I was and where I am now, and the transformation is incredible. As I pondered this … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 11
The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 10
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” — Leo Tolstoy Ten years ago, I was a 42-year-old, overworked, stressed-out man and about 20 pounds over my desired weight of 165, something I felt every time I went for a run. I worked in a place where I couldn’t see … Continue reading The Questions We Don’t Ask — And Why They Matter, Part 10
To the Unknown Father
The world expects a man to lead and protect. After all, some say he is the stronger of the two.A man is supposed to care, to love— with the expectation that he’ll one day start a family.People of all kinds stress the importance of being a man, grooming him to become a provider, a teacher.And on the appointed day,he rose to the occasion:found … Continue reading To the Unknown Father
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 