Category Archives: On Writing

Book Review: Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

I occasionally like to read books about writing, to see what other writers have to say about it.  I came across this book at a Seattle Friends of the Library book sale.  It was almost free so, since I had … Continue reading

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Writer’s Block

Near the end of last year I was on a roll.  I had been producing steadily throughout the year, with two novels and a long novella.  But the last few months of the year I turned my attention to short … Continue reading

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Mortality

Most of us, when we are young, give no heed to mortality.  Our sights are focused forward into the future, but the possibility of cessation of being doesn’t enter our awareness.  Instead, we strive to be older, more independent, more … Continue reading

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Hindsight – December 2015

I’ve gone beyond the point where I give much of a damn what other people think about what I should or should not write.  I will compose straightforwardly or I will experiment as it pleases me and as the piece … Continue reading

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Inclusive and Extractive Economies in Publishing

I have been reading a book on global economics, “Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty” by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson, and my thoughts, as always, turn to publishing. You don’t have to agree with … Continue reading

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Book Review: The Ballad of Beta 2 by Samuel R. Delany

I went to a Halloween party held by a local writers group and among the festivities was a book exchange.  I brought a suitably creepy Stephen King novel and came away with this one.  “The Ballad of Beta 2” is … Continue reading

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How the Film “All Is Lost” Reminds Me of My Writing Career

When I first began this website/blog I wrote a few essays on my favorite films, but early on I decided to steer clear of film reviews and focus on book reviews, memoirs, and thoughts on writing.  In writing about “All … Continue reading

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Love the One You’re With

I’m a writer.  I’ve made that statement in plenty of blog posts and told lots of people whenever the subject comes up of what I do.  A writer writes.  That’s a truism, of course, but plenty of writers have had … Continue reading

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Failure and Success

Recently I was writing an article about people who experienced adversity in life and went on to become famous and successful.  I’m sure you would recognize all of the names.  A number of things struck me as I pondered the … Continue reading

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Roadside Stands

While I was preparing to upload some short stories to Kindle for publication, somewhat ruing the fact that I could afford only the most rudimentary covers for them – a few bucks for an illustration from Dreamstime, simple formatting and … Continue reading

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