Inspiration for writers can sometimes be hard to come by. We’re all out there, grinding as best we can, but sometimes that doesn’t cut it. Sometimes it feels like being a writer is nothing but a huge exercise in futility. You write, you submit, you get rejected, rinse, repeat. After a while you can startContinue reading “Where Do You Find Inspiration?”
Tag Archives: books
Unsolicited Advice From an Unqualified Source
Well, I don’t know if I’d call myself *completely* unqualified. Partly qualified? Sure, let’s go with that. I just thought the title was catchy and went with it. What I’d like to do is offer a little advice/encouragement to writers at nearly every stage of their journey. And what gives me, a largely unpublished writerContinue reading “Unsolicited Advice From an Unqualified Source”
Proof of Life Post
I’ve never liked it when I read someone’s blog and the first thing the blogger says is “Sorry I haven’t posted in so long.” I always think, Don’t apologize! Life happens, it can be a lot. Post when you can. So I won’t apologize, but…It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted anything, so IContinue reading “Proof of Life Post”
Almost Published to Unpublished, Just Like That
So, last week I got some news about my debut novel that was due to be published by an indie publisher in Colorado. My editor decided to resign from the publishing company, and they said they simply had no other editors with room on their plate to take on another project. The publisher sent meContinue reading “Almost Published to Unpublished, Just Like That”
Let Me Tell You About the Most Valuable Book I Own
A quick disclaimer: this isn’t a story of me finding a first edition copy of The Great Gatsby or Moby Dick tucked away in my parents’ attic, or stumbling upon a rare, out of print pressing of a Stephen King book at a garage sale. This is a more personal story. If you’ve followed theContinue reading “Let Me Tell You About the Most Valuable Book I Own”
Hating What You Love
Netflix alert: There’s a highly entertaining limited series out now, called Pretend It’s a City. It features author/humorist Fran Lebowitz chatting with Martin Scorcese, giving her opinions on an array of topics. If you’re not familiar with her, Lebowitz is incredibly smart and almost unbelievably funny. The show is broken into half hour episodes soContinue reading “Hating What You Love”
Quarantine Pop Culture Recommendations
So, things are bad. Like, real bad. Bleak, dystopian-novel-bad. I live in Kansas, where some people are so hard-headed that they are ignoring the CDC and spouting “it’s just the flu” and mad that their gym is closed. I won’t get into a rant, but my point is that most of you are probably goingContinue reading “Quarantine Pop Culture Recommendations”
The Sisters Brothers—Patrick DeWitt [2011]
It’s been said that the best gift you can give someone is something they wouldn’t buy for themselves. Taking that into consideration, receiving a Christmas gift in the form of Patrick DeWitt’s second novel, 2011’s The Sisters Brothers, is made all the better. I’m not a huge fan of Westerns—I’ve never even read any fromContinue reading “The Sisters Brothers—Patrick DeWitt [2011]”
Scene From a Waiting Room
Two of my favorite hobbies have always been people watching and eavesdropping, long before I declared myself a writer and could claim such behavior as “research.” In fact, if I watch people long enough I’ll usually give them names, and sometimes even backstories. For instance: I have a neighbor I named Jim, who I decidedContinue reading “Scene From a Waiting Room”
A Night of Subverted Expectations
This is a sort of pop culture wrap-up for my Saturday (and again, my Saturday=your Sunday). I finished the book I was reading and my wife and I squeezed in three—count ’em, three—movies, and it turned out to be a mini James Gandolfini marathon. Aside from the movie Thirteen, starring Holly Hunter and a teenage EvanContinue reading “A Night of Subverted Expectations”
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