Casinos seem to be popping up everywhere these days. They have an allure that brings in people from all ranges of social status.

1. Respect is earned, not freely given. It’s a two-way street. In order to receive, you must give. It’s the golden rule, and this applies in many aspects of life. 2. You do not owe an abuser anything, especially your silence. Take it from someone who’s been there at least four times. It’s a scary ...

November is finally here! It’s my birthday month. As I get older, the celebrations have become less extravagant, but they’ve also become more genuine and spontaneous. No longer am I eating a Barbie-themed cake with twelve of my friends at the local bowling alley or hosting a tea party with charades and costumes, that my ...

After starting a YouTube channel and embarking on the new and exciting journey of releasing content and gaining followers, what should you do now? From experience, recording, editing, and growing an audience is a long and slow process. There are tips and tricks you can learn in the interim that will help you to become ...

In Part 1, I pleaded my case for why it is essential to know how to plot. In Part 2, I’d like to discuss character. We can all agree that character is king in storytelling. Be it your protagonist or antagonist, developing them is critical for their appeal. And appeal plays a massive role in ...

To plot or not to plot, that is the question. A cursory search through Google or YouTube (they’re the same company but shh!) will show you endless results of ‘how to’s. From unknown to famous authors, they all value ‘plotting their stories.’ Whether or not you plot your stories, you should know how to do ...

When it rains, it pours. It’s kind of funny– I mean this May, Phoenix had a whopping total of zero inches of rain, yet I still found myself drenched the entire month. It was quite disheartening because I was never prepared. I never seemed to have brought my raincoat and I never invested in a ...

The plight of the blinking cursor is something that plagues me often. It usually means that every word I write seems like it was written by someone who is writing their very first sentence. My solution to this problem usually is to read some of my favorite authors. I started this because one of my ...

First impressions are everything. But are they really? What about last impressions? What about the impression you made last night when you strolled into the party? Champagne last resting in your hand. Shoulders back. Posture straight. Graceful gestures. Delicate smile and all. The last idea about you is the impression people have on you. I ...

The story of Kassandra stirred in my head since 1989. Now, thanks to school, I will complete my first novel of the series in 2020 with an expected release date around Halloween of the same year. Below is a rough chapter draft from my book, Hell’s Half Acre. Would love your advice/ideas on any improvements ...