Tag: opinion piece
Lessons in Censorship
One of the classes I took during undergrad was Censorship. The purpose of the seminar was to overcome the hesitation of writing about topics that each writer avoided out of fear and judgment. It influenced me so much that I took it twice. The program was taught by Don De Grazia. He wrote a book ...Calm Myself, Calm My Child
I grew up in a household with a lot of yelling. My dad shouted at me. My siblings and I screamed at each other. We were raised with loud words as our primary method of communication during conflict. Our family had no tools to maintain calm. This made us feel scared. We feared our dad ...Hyperfocus or New Career?
Dreams are wonderful. They motivate people to accomplish things they never considered before. A person can stay on course if they continue to chase a goal. People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often tend to get into new hobbies or activities for a while and then drop them. This is known as hyperfocus. Ever ...The Author of My Dreams
The past few months have been an intense period of self-reflection. World events force people to have an opinion on something that takes the brain a while to fully understand. It makes one question their values. Personally, I am left with a few realizations about my career and the type of author I want to ...Writing Blues
Sometimes, when I write, I get nervous about what my readers will think if I decide to change the course of the story. They won’t know what changes were made unless I tell them. The draft may not convey the same story. Why concern yourself with future opinions? These are reasons you can’t write. Comparison ...A New Idea Emerges
New story ideas are one of the best moments in a writer’s life. It’s a new adventure to take, new lessons to learn, and new characters to meet. You feel alive, like you can’t wait to see how the story will unfold. Where do you start? Here are a few places that are fun to ...Why Embracing the Crooked Path Can Lead to Success
Life would be simple if every task was a straight line from A to B. The paths ahead are clear, with no forks or decisions to be made about the direction to follow. Alas, reality is more complex. More often, every problem involves multiple solutions and requires us to make complicated decisions. Success does not ...Rejection Happens
Sometimes I wonder if I will ever get a full-time job with benefits. My parents always encourage me to write full-time instead of pursuing traditional employment opportunities. This is partly because they believe in my talent. They worry about my inability to afford necessary care through regular insurance. However, I know they used insurance from ...New Year, Now What?
The holidays are busy for everyone. It’s a flurry of presents, loved ones, and memories. Honestly, after all the celebrations, I’m lost on how to move forward every year. Goal setting is helpful, but routines are difficult to keep. The first few weeks are good, and then life has other plans. Here are a few ...It’s a Different Kind of Christmas this Year
Christmas music is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. I have a strong emotional reaction to music. Lyrics speak to me in ways nothing else can. So, it is no surprise Mark Schultz singing “Different Kind of Christmas” opens the floodgates of my emotions every time I listen to it. It is ...
