I attended a writing seminar by Chicago author Charlie Newton, author of Calumet City and Start Shooting, at Second Story Books in Louisville. I learned more at this seminar than all others I have attended combined, from a practical sense. If you ever get a chance to attend one of his presentations, do so. Mr. …

Continue reading A Tip I Learned from Author Charlie Newton

We all know THAT kid. You know him. The one that strikes out in softball. The one always picked last for basketball. The one who looks like a fish out of water trying to do a push up. I was never THAT kid. I did well at all the sports I tried. If I was …

Continue reading How To Ruin a Good Golf Shot In 7 Easy Strokes (or how writing is like golf)

Clerks. We see them, some of us daily. Some of us know a clerk. Or you have at least seen the movie Clerks. Over the past several months, I've had interactions with clerks I would like to share. This is not an indictment of all clerks. Some of you may even be clerks. This post …

Continue reading Clerk Stories (Or maybe I’m just crazy)

Let me start by saying Miss Williams was one of my favorite teachers in high school.  I had her for English my junior year and creative writing my senior year. She taught me many things about writing that I still remember and use on a daily basis. The problem is that she taught me one …

Continue reading Contraction Reaction