On December 29, 2023, I did what I hadn’t done in five long years: finished the first draft of a new book. I know. I’m as surprised as you are. During most of those years, I didn’t think I’d ever write another book, that there was no point, that I’d burned out whatever sources of joy or inspiration I used to have. But those things weren’t gone – they were only dormant.
A Writer’s Midlife Crisis
There is a lie we tell our children. It goes something like this: “If you set your mind to a goal, you can achieve it. Anything is possible if you work hard enough.” We tell our kids they can be an astronaut, a ballerina, a basketball player, a physicist, or even the president. It’s not true. At least it wasn’t for me. I …
2016 Wrap-Up
Happy New Year’s weekend, everyone! Welcome to my year-end wrap-up, along with a few recommendations for amazing stuff to watch and read that I discovered in 2016. Although this year kind of sucked for obvious reasons, it wasn’t all bad. Here’s the proof. On to the wrap-up! In 2016, I published: I have two more books coming soon: I’m also planning …
Songs for Writers
I went running yesterday, and as often happens when I run, my mind turned to writing. I have a running playlist, but instead of using these songs as motivation to exercise, I usually apply them to writing. Yesterday, I realized my playlist mapped out way more of the writing process than the get-your-ass-around-this-track process. Why? I’ve been going through a spectrum …
The Juggler: Jack of All Trades, Master of None
Do you know how to juggle? I don’t. All this year, I’ve been trying to do way too many things at once. If you read this post, you know how it makes me feel (hint: like shit). It’s gotten to the point where I’d rather sit on the couch in yesterday’s pajamas than tackle any of the things on my …
How I Got Started as a Writer
Lots of writers get asked about their origin stories. For some reason, people want to know what prompted that all-important life-changing moment. What makes a person take that crucial step? It has to be something compelling, something important, something meaningful…right? For me, it was a soap opera. A soap opera with an alien. I kid you not. General Hospital circa …