Chris Ryan

Soul Screaming, A weekly newsletter about how the love of stories endures

Posted on June 17, 2026 by chrisryanwrites

You will find peace of mind

If you look way down in your heart and soul

I don’t hesitate ‘cause the world seems cold

Stay young at heart ‘cause you’re never old at heart

-Earth, Wind & Fire

***

Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, podcasting, but most often writing fiction, poetry, and pop culture essays. Now I’m working to discover what more I can achieve and share with the world, and whether an older author can find a place in the storytelling business. Together, let’s see if I can get there.

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NEWSish Stuff

Upcoming live events

Thrills and Chills Book Fair, Middletown, NY, July 12, 2026

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Work commences on the next Soul Scream Antholozine

Summer’s almost here and that means Soul Scream Antholozine #8 is coming. Lots of new writers and some old friends deliver thrills, chills, and a few smiles. Gateway horror, author interviews, a few panels, and more are all on the way this July.

We might even do a cover reveal in next week’s newsletter. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, here’s a hint about something else that is coming soon:

***

This week’s Tell The Damn Story focuses on conquering Impostor Syndrome at StokerCon!

After episodes where we explored the struggles I was having with impostor syndrome and how it was endangering my attending StokerCon in Pittsburgh, and then the last episode, where we chronicled what was giving me hope, finally we get to show what happened when I faced down perhaps an author’s greatest nemesis – impostor syndrome. Lots of fun, pics, video interviews, clips from panels, and other positive aspects of getting out there and participating.

Here’s the link:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/0JcRbe_U35o?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

***

ON WRITING: There is no overwhelmed, just a need for strict scheduling opportunities

So I came back from StokerCon feeling more confident and ready to tear through my WIP…only to discover I have not one, not two, but five WIPs currently cooking, all at the same time.

This can happen to the best of us, and can easily lead to feeling overwhelmed and unable to move forward on any of them. What can an ambitious but swamped writer do?

Try scheduling. I know it sounds obvious but sometimes we need to remind ourselves of the obvious to get ourselves moving.

First thing to consider is deadlines. What is due first, second, etc.? If you have a deadline breathing down your neck, focus on that one exclusively, get it down and out, then move to the next deadline, of course.

But if you are your own boss and you did this to yourself, it might be time for a meeting. Call yourself in your office and ask yourself:

Publisher me: What the hell were you thinking?

Writer me: I was thinking of being creative for you, ya ungrateful bastard.

Publisher me: No need to take that tone, I appreciate your efforts—

Writer me: Then why am I in a meeting when I could be writing?

Publisher me: Um, to commend you on all your ideas and ask you how you plan to get all these great projects done.

Writer me: Damn, didn’t think you’d turn the tables back on me so easily.

Publisher me: Just one of the many skills you need to develop in this job. Just like you need to—

Writer me: Get writing. Got it boss.

Publisher me is never as helpful to writer me as he thinks he is. Which leaves me to fend for myself with scheduling. I am finding that these days, early in the morning is the most productive, so my most demanding work is scheduled then, followed by a second session after Glorious goes to work, and editing when the creative energies are lower. Not trying to denigrate the creativity needed for editing, I just find I can meet those needs later in the day while writing original stuff doesn’t tend to happen in the afternoon or evening.

That’s what works for me. To find what works for you, get a planner or even a blank piece of paper, write the times when you can write (whether it be a full at a desk writing session or typing into your phone on your commute to and from work) and test what works best at the times available to you. The idea is to create an achievable schedule not a Herculean task that temps failure.

Schedule toward success and you’ll keep moving forward.

***

And now a look at a handsome fella

While writing this my head of security, Sonny Mehlman, keeps watch to make sure no one absconds with the author. Here’s his pattern of protection:

He always keeps an ear out for trouble…

…then there is the standard visual check…

…and at the first sign of trouble, he moves to close body work to keep me safe. Badass!

BONUS PIC – how I wrote this issue:

Isabella Crumple will not be denied.

***

POP CULTURE FUEL

Books

Yes, it won the Pulitzer (reportedly the first time a horror novel has done so), and yes, that’s why I read it. And I am so grateful that I did. You should treat yourself to this incredible classic.

I followed up the Pultizer winner with an emerging writer’s triumph. I’ve been a John Collins fan for awhile and this short story collection rewards my faith. Great stories by a superb storyteller.

Music

This has been on my turntable since it arrived as a pre-order. A three-sided double album (perfectly Peter Gabriel), it chronicles a great concert during one of my favorite times to see him live.

Knicks, baby.

***

That’s the way of the world

Plant your flower and you grow a pearl

Child is born with a heart of gold

The way of the world makes his heart so cold…

-Earth,Wind & Fire

***

Awright, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.

Posted in writing | Tagged # writing tips, #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #books, #pop culture fuel, #publishing, #scheduling, #Storytelling, #writerslife, #writingtips, creative-writing, fiction, writing | Leave a comment

Soul Screaming, a weekly newsletter about pushing past fears to get to the other side of writing

Posted on June 4, 2026 by chrisryanwrites

Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.

– William Shakespeare

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NEWSish Stuff

Upcoming live events

StokerCon, Pittsburgh, PA, June 4-7

Thrills and Chills Book Fair, Middletown, NY, July 12, 2026

***

This week’s Tell The Damn Story dives deep into writing process with Teel James Glenn.

A great, informative episode for writers at all levels. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Here’s the link:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/wtoNe2kMGXk?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

***

ON WRITING: Imposter Syndrome can be a true monster; here’s how to beat it, hopefully

Tomorrow morning, I’m supposed to get in my car and drive about six-and-a-half hours to Pittsburgh for StokerCon, the Horror Writers Association’s annual convention and awards show.

I plan on doing that.

I expect to go.

But, brothers and sisters, it has been a battle. A complex, multi-faceted mental and emotional war that has exposed to me all my fury, doubts, fears, and aspects of self-loathing I was gifted by a parent way back when I was just a wee lad.

It has been a dark period, and I’ll admit here and now that I’ve been a burden to my incredible wife Glorious, my brother-from-another-mother and podcast partner Alex Simmons, and, I’m sure, too many others.

Why?

The answers offer some insight into how impostor syndrome works, and maybe, just maybe, some ways we can all deal with it when it comes for us.

My work sucks. I should sell shoes. Most creatives experience some version of this impostor syndrome trope. Uncontested, it can eat away at a creative’s confidence, and output. Solution: Most times asking this interior voice to list specifically what sucks, in detail, will defeat it because this is really fear of rejection, and everybody gets their work rejected. Creatives are like baseball players; hit 3 out of 10 attempts and we’re in the hall of fame.
Actual rejection. This stings, always. Even perennial bestselling authors know to stay away from reviews or online commentary because just one negative comment in a dozen can haunt. Sure, the math doesn’t add up, but when it comes to creative self-doubt, math simply doesn’t apply. Worse, when a particularly well-regarded work, even if only by an inner circle, that a creative holds dear, can become an atom bomb when it gets rejected by peers. I’ll admit I am struggling with this right now. It’s Been a Privilege, my horror tale told in verse, didn’t even get long-listed as a possible nomination for a Stoker in poetry. That hurt. And it opened the floodgates: It didn’t get nominated because you suck, it sucks, your whole family line back to Irish cavemen suck, you incompetently handled the nominating process, nobody respects you, you belong under a rock, a large rock, okay a boulder, nah, under Mt. Everest-that would be doing humanity a service… See? It can get out of hand very quickly. The cure here is (well, some reading this might say years of therapy, but) to consciously acknowledge that I can name a list of people who did enjoy the work, I believe in the work, and the judges were under no obligation to see my work as we do. Panels assessing work look for all sorts of things, and I write closer to Bukowski (kinda, sort of, sans the alcoholism, sexism, and crudeness) that many of the poets being honored with nominations. The only aspect of all this to be true to myself. Same goes for all creatives.
I’m too old, too bald, too fat, too nerdy to go. This is silly self-doubt. There will be many people there older, or balder, or fatter, or nerdier than me. We can all calm ourselves about such self-loathing with the knowledge that, statistically, we are, at best, probably somewhere in the middle of the pack of all these attributes. To quote the great philosopher Bill Murray, “It just doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t matter…”
Hell with these people. I’m better than them!” Here my super-ego steps in. “As your psychiatrist, I must prescribe these chill pills, and a large dose of get over yourself and your ego’s self-defensiveness.” And SE is correct. I’m not better or worse than anybody. I’m just me, doing what I do to the best of my abilities. Nothing else matters. We can all benefit from seeing ourselves and our work from that point of view.
I’m not going! Why not? Who does that help or hurt? Nobody. What does that gain me? Nothing. And what does going despite all the doubts get me? Most probably a dissolution of the doubts. Most probably, some interesting panels. Most probably, a few laughs or some cool chatter with friends and colleagues.

We can’t cut ourselves off from experiences and opportunities. brothers and sisters. Even if nothing comes from it, we will prove to ourselves that we can face our fears, shut down our self-doubt and move forward.

Special thanks to The Glorious One, for all her patience and support, and my brother-from-another-mother Alex for the same, and the writers group for key words at the exact right time.

This was an especially trying bout of impostor syndrome. And I’ll probably reread this a few times to make sure I get out the door, into the car, and on the road tomorrow. I hope this helps anyone with similar struggles work through their bouts as well.

***

And now a pic of a handsome fella

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And three cheers for well-deserved praise

My son Sean was named Coach of the Year, and honestly, I can’t think of anyone more deserving. I’ve seen the binders of plans and exercises and strategies he puts together in the off-season, the meetings with his coaching staff, the dedication to putting the roster together, coaching the players to be their best, play the game with both grit and dignity, stay focused on game-by-game goals and the bigger picture, and to always put family and education before playing. He’ll always be my Coach of the Year.

***

New head shot celebrates more face and less white, white, white hair

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Every once in a while, we accidentally capture magic

When a neighbor comes a’calling

The other day, I happened to see this squirrel considering this faerie door and windows, and multi-colored pebbles leading up to them. It seems like he either just knocked or is considering doing so. I had to take and share this pic.

What you can barely see are those colored pebbles. They were purchased from an ad offering much bigger glow-in-the-dark discs to decorate a human-sized front garden, etc. The actual product was ludicrously smaller.

I had purchased them as a nice surprise for Glorious as she came home from work. When I saw how small they really were, it became a challenge. This was my solution. She loved it, and apparently, local animal neighbors are intrigued. Win-Win.

***

Pop Culture Fuel

Books –

I wanted to love the new oral history by Paul McCartney about his band called Wings, a group I loved for several albums (until Speed of Sound ruined it for me, and some many other fans). However, this oral history seems to include everything everyone even remotely connected to Wings ever said about any aspect of the band and their work. It is repetitive to the point of torture and easily could have been 200 pages shorter. I am so disappointed. Hopefully, the documentary of Prime of Paramount+ will be better.

Oh well, I still have the albums.

TV –

We’re still binging our way through Daredevil and related materials. Netflix’s third season was dark and Matt Murdock unlikeable for most of the season, but he comes around big time.

We finally saw an Indiana Fever game I am intrigued by Caitlin Clark as she reminds me of one of my all-time basketball heroes, Pistol Pete Maravich. Looks like she’s getting the kind of treatment he did when he got to the NBA. This is a dumbfounding mistake and waste of talent. Let her cook.

Looking forward to the Knicks in the finals. I’m admittedly a fair-weather fan, but it is good to see them go this far and their fast-paced, clear-headed and confident style of play is a treat to watch.

Music –

Still all over the place. Developing a playlist called “fun” and once it is set I’ll share.

***

Doubt is a thief that often makes us fear to tread where we might have won.

-William Shakespeare

***

Awright, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.

Posted in #amwriting, impostor syndrome | Tagged #America, #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #books, #impostorsyndrome, #publishing, #Storytelling, #writerslife, #writingtips | Leave a comment

Soul Screaming, A weekly newsletter about writing through the challenges

Posted on May 27, 2026 by chrisryanwrites

In a world that keeps pushing me ‘round

I’ll stand my ground

And I won’t back down.

-Tom Petty

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NEWSish Stuff

Upcoming live events

StokerCon, Pittsburgh, PA, June 4-7

Thrills and Chills Book Fair, Middletown, NY, July 12, 2026

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This week’s Tell The Damn Story offers an AI discussion about AI dangers in the publishing industry

This week on TTDS, I beamed into the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention in Philadelphia to join a panel discussion on the multi-faceted dangers of AI in the publishing industry. We covered many issues and concerns on the topic, raised more questions than we resolved, of course, but both the panel and the audience participants truly demonstrated how strong a need there is for policy and professional guidance on this topic. If you are curious about the do’s and don’ts of AI, this episode is a damn good place to start.

Here’s the link:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/lv67Y4fRYZg?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

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On Writing: As debate heats up among writers about the crime of using AI to write, we’ve got much more to talk about on this topic

The vast majority of authors with integrity agree that using AI to write our work isn’t writing as much as it is distilled plagiarism. Most hold a zero tolerance policy for using AI for writing.

That’s a majority, not 100 percent.

The same policy exists for cover and interior art in our community. Zero tolerance for using AI.

That’s a majority, not 100 percent.

More discussion and demonstration and policy on both areas is needed.

But I suggest we need to go even further.

We also must hold discussions about what is acceptable to use in executing the other requirements as authors (especially those who are indie and/or traditionally published by small or mid-list houses) because writers most often are expected to do every job in the industry to sell our books:

Writing.
Proofreading.
Editing.
Layout and design.
Overseeing cover design and art.
Publishing.
Distribution to book selling entities.
Marketing.
Promotion.
Researching public events, booking, travel, and public appearances.
Protection of our work from a world full of those willing to steal it for their own profits, including AI.

And most of us do it all ourselves. Without training. Without vast resources.

Meanwhile, even the least whiff of suspicion can ruin our career whether we are guilty or not. Feels like the Red Scare days.

What can independent, small, and mid-list authors do about this? What we always do; research it, discuss it, make decisions, and move forward honestly and passionately.

Proofreading and editing seem to fall under the writing policy. Same for cover and interior art.

How about marketing and promotion? Which apps/programs are acceptable for usage on those fronts?

I ask this because AI is creeping into every corner of the tech world. For creators wanting to do the right thing in every facet of the publishing industry, it is getting more difficult to escape AI.

How do I know? I stand accused, that’s how I know.

I was recently—and politely—accused of being an AI supporter because my Tell The Damn Story podcast partner used AI to create an illustration for a promotion for one of our over 400 episodes, all of which which we offer for free. I didn’t even know he was using AI for those purposes. But the person who contacted me seemed ready to terminate our relationship, both business and as friends, based on something I wasn’t even aware had happened. Honestly, it was heartbreaking.

Addressing that issue created more heartache.

The debate between myself and my co-host nearly ended the show. To his credit, Alex pulled any AI usage out of our promotional materials. Now he does everything the old-fashioned way. Sure, it takes longer, we are significantly more limited in what we can do, and it doesn’t have as much impact, but that’s the most most honest way I think we can proceed at this point. (Thank God for Alex, he always means well and he’s a good friend.)

I bring all this up to illustrate two important points that are impacting so many of us in this industry.

One is the AI Red Scare is creating animosity in our community. Yeah, yeah, I wanna be a Bronx tough guy, but, honestly, it does still bug me that a person I thought was a friend and business colleague seemed ready to cut me out of their lives for something I wasn’t even aware was happening. On top of that, their confronting me created even more serious friction between me and my co-host—a friend for about forty years! That’s how heated this conversation is becoming. All respect to both of these people, but I think these incidents between friends are a pretty good indication that a wider ranging conversation is necessary and guidelines need to be established.

The second point is the AI Red Scare is treacherous because it is getting more difficult to avoid AI. Most apps we might use for promotion or marketing already utilize at least some components of AI. As far as I know, all the social media platforms utilize some elements of AI, whether it is to judge who sees our posts, or whether our posts are even allowable. It makes me wonder whether my publishing platform is AI compromised. It very well could be; how would I know? For that matter, email is. Try composing an email and see how quickly AI offers to do it for you. It makes me want to look around for Rod Serling.

How about what editors use to edit? How can we know for sure they aren’t using AI? Damn, the AI monsters have definitely arrived on Maple Street, eh, Rod?

Even word processing programs offer AI help now. How about spell check, or grammar check? How do we know for sure what is acceptable usage?

Meanwhile, many of the larger publishing companies have adopted or even required the use of AI to lower production costs and time, accentuate marketing, and get an edge of the competition.

We pure hearts are getting left behind.

We’re used to it.

But we need to make some decisions about what can and cannot be acceptable paths to travel in trying to get our work out there before all of us find ourselves accused, shamed, and/or ruined.

I would love to know your thoughts on any or all aspects of this issue. Let me know what you think in the comments section at the end of this newsletter.

***

And now a picture of a handsome fella

Deep Thought McGee!

***

POP CULTURE FUEL

BOOKS

Memorial Day weekend was drenched. Left a ton of time to read. Here’s what I used to fill all those hours:

And credit where it is due, Slugfest was chosen after seeing that Brian Keene was reading it, according to his newsletter. If you aren’t reading that one, I highly recommend you give his Substack newsletter a shot. He is consistently fascinating.

MUSIC

Mostly summer playlists. Dave Grohl’s are pretty cool. The one I mentioned last week that Rick Beato did an episode on got repeated listens as well. And I am putting one together now that I’m calling “Fun” – no political songs, no heartbreak songs, just upbeat fun. When I ‘finish” it (are playlists ever really finished?) I’ll share it here.

MOVIES

Having seen it twice before and having both read the novel, Glorious and I went to Project Hail Mary again last weekend. It still hits all the feels. It is still gorgeous, well cast, well acted, and a basically perfect film. Plus, the theater was packed for a film that has been out for weeks. Yay!

Sadly, we also saw The Mandolorian and Grogu. It was a good couple of TV episodes that didn’t need to be a movie. Not bad. Just not a movie.

On a Marvel’s Daredevil kick. The Netflix shows hold up. The Defenders was fun but goofier.

***

Welcome, my son, welcome to the machine,

Where have you been?

It’s alright, we know where you’ve been…

-Pink Floyd

***

Awright, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.

Posted in writing | Tagged #AI, #AIconcerns, #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #books, #publishing, #Storytelling, #writerslife, #writingtips | Leave a comment

Soul Screaming, a weekly newsletter about writing in a weirder world

Posted on May 21, 2026 by chrisryanwrites

“When you’re born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you’re born in America, you get a front-row seat.” – George Carlin

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NEWSish Stuff

Upcoming live events

StokerCon, Pittsburgh, PA, June 4-7
Thrills and Chills Book Fair, Middletown, NY, July 12, 2026

***

This week’s Tell The Damn Story focuses on the many benefits of writing short stories, and gets me to run my mouth wayyyy too much

I’d like to blame a Barry’s Irish Tea O.D., but that wasn’t it. Or perhaps a case of BlabberMouthVirus, but no cases have been reported recently. It was just me too amped about the topic. a bit too amped.

It is fun and relatively short for us, and amusing. Check it out. And, yeah, I apologize for going on and on and on and on….

Here’s the link:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QvziNpuYLlM?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

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ON WRITING: To refuel your writing, read! Watch! Walk amongst humanity!

Many creatives go through that cycle of creative high and post creative lows, when our productivity plummets and guilt sets in, remind us we’re the worst ever!

When that happens, know that we’re lying to ourselves. Or telling a different truth.

Think of it this way; when a car is running on empty, it isn’t demonstrating that it is the worst hunk of metal ever and should never even have been considered a car. Most of the time, it just needs gas.

When a baby is screaming and crying at 3 a.m., they aren’t arguing that they suck as being babies and should be immediately returned to Amazon,com. Most of the time they are just asking for help with a diaper, a meal, teething, or gas.

Or when a politician makes a bunch of promises to get elected and then, once in office, does the opposite of keeping those promises, that doesn’t mean they are terrible leaders … well, two out of three examples isn’t bad.

My point is, a lot of writers and creatives that are experiencing that horrible plunge into doubt and self-loathing are actually just running on empty. Creating artistic works of any kind takes energy, some physical, most emotional and mental, and, yeah, spiritual on some level. Once all that energy is expelled in creativity, the tank has to be refilled or our energies wane and we spiral into doubt, or depression, or utter spiritual darkness.

You know what often helps at that point? Favorite old records, or comics, or books, or movies. They remind us what we loved about creativity, and why we ventured in to this community.

What also helps are new records, or comics, or books, or movies or shows or art. Often, they connect with us, remind us of the power such works have to energize, renew, and inspire.

So next time you are feeling the rollercoaster plunging down, feed yourself, be good to yourself, treat yourself to what you love.

And tell that negative inner editorial voice to go suck eggs.

***
And now for a pic of a handsome fella, who is apparently doing promotion this week

Legendary security chief Sonny Mehlman shocked the world by leaping into book promotion … and not for any books from his employer, Seamus and Nunzio Productions! The scandal almost created irreparable damage at the beloved tiny publishing company … until we all saw which book he was promoting. Since everyone at Seamus and Nunzio Productions is a Teel James Glenn fan, we all good.

***

Pop Culture Fuel

Music –

Rick Beato dedicated a recent episode of his You Tube show to an obscure album from 1973. Brazenly called Superstars of the 70’s, it was basically a Warner Brothers’ promotional collection, but Beato successfully argued that it is also an incredible time capsule of the diversity and depth of just this corner of the music world early in an inarguably incredible era of music.

Also, few copies are affordably available. However, some gem of a person named Deborah Campbell recreated the album’s track order on a playlist (see below). Additionally, in tribute to Beato’s video, pandakicker made his own YouTube playlist of the same.

Check out this track list:

School’s Out – Alice Cooper

Summer Breeze – Seals & Croft

Surf’s Up – The Beach Boys

Sail Away – Randy Newman

Both Sides Now- Judy Collins

Tightrope Ride – The Doors

Lonely Days – The BeeGees

Fire and Rain – James Taylor

Truckin’ – Grateful Dead

Where is the Love – Roberta Flack

Love the One You’re With – Stephen Stills

Roundabout – Yes

Light My Fire – The Doors

White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane

Marrakesh Express – Crosby, Stills, & Nash

Purple Haze (live) – Jimi Hendrix

To Love Somebody – The BeeGees

Lola – The Kinks

Anticipation – Carly Simon

American Woman – The Guess Who

We Gotta Get You a Woman – Todd Rundgren

Ventura Highway – America

Run Run Run – Jo Jo Gunne

Tumbling Dice – The Rolling Stones

(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding

Hush – Deep Purple

If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack

Foxey Lady – Jimi Hendrix

Whole Lott Love – Led Zeppelin

Take It Easy – The Eagles

A Horse With No Name – America

Cowgirl in the Sand – The Byrds

Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell

These Eyes – The Guess Who

Domino – Van Morrison

Amazing Grace – Judy Collins

Listen to the Music – The Doobie Brothers

Woodstock – Joni Mitchell

In the Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett

The City of New Orleans – Arlo Guthrie

Doctor My Eyes – Jackson Browne

Paranoid – Black Sabbath

One Way Out – the Allman Brothers Band

(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin

Stay With Me – Faces

Chicago – Graham Nash

Happy – The Rolling Stones

Lucky Man – Emerson, Lake, and Palmer

This collection is well worth your time if you like 70’s music. If you are curious about how rich the era was, here’s a great place to start.

Highly recommended.

Books –

A great story, well told is among the best of gifts to the world. Teel James Glenn’s Paradise Investigations series is one of those experiences. Yes, it is a crime series, and a horror series, and a mystery series, all at once. But it is also one of the most delicious “what if” projects I’ve ever come across in years.

The question is “What if we followed the creation of Frankenstein after Mary Shelly’s infamous book ended?” Glenn’s answer is an exquisite exploration of literature, philosophy, spirituality, and, most of all, humanity.

And he does it all in page turners that entertain throughout.

Most highly recommended.

Social Media –

It has been a trying time regarding current events and any of us find ourselves looking for reliable sources that aren’t doomscrollers. Amandasmildtakes does that exceptionally well. She takes no guff, but also refuses to get sucked into the BS of the day. And, most importantly, she backs up her points with legit sources, references, and facts in a way that what’s really happening comes forth in a somehow relaxing way.

Recommended.

***

What matters most is how well you walk through the fire. – Charles Bukowski

***

Awright, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.

Posted in writing | Tagged #America, #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #books, #publishing, #Storytelling, #writerslife, #writingtips | Leave a comment

Soul Screaming – A weekly newsletter about going through it to write with renewed vigor

Posted on May 13, 2026 by chrisryanwrites

You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

-Bob Dylan, Masters of War

***

NEWSish Stuff

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Upcoming live events

StokerCon, Pittsburgh, PA, June 4-7
Thrills and Chills Book Fair, Middletown, NY, July 12, 2026

***

ON WRITING: Promotion for the latest episode of Tell The Damn Story really stresses me out

There is a very quiet, polite war going on at Tell The Damn Story. My-co-host and a co-founder of the podcast has decided to experiment with AI for promotional purposes. NOT in his writing. Just promotion.

I am uncomfortable with this.

My discomfort deepened a few weeks back when an author I had published (I’ve published around 50 authors in Soul Scream Antholozine and other projects under my Seamus and Nunzio Productions imprint) seemed ready to cut ties with me because they assumed I was all in on AI due to my co-host using AI in our episode “cover” and promotional material.

I had no idea what they were talking about and had to look up the promo myself. Sure enough, my partner had used an AI rendered illustration of me in the promo. That was enough to inspire this writer to contact me with the serious problem they had remaining associated with me as an AI user. Even though it wasn’t me.

Such is the state of our industry these days. The rich and successful can utilize AI but us blue collar creators are once again living with a completely different set of rules, with a slight whiff of Red Scare about them.

My partner, friend, and co-host discussed this. Debated it. And after stressing my discomfort with this and taking actual photos of myself simulating the illustration, he switched it out.

So, that was settled. We each understood and respected our differing opinions on AI. We could move forward.

And then this happened:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/nZFKhG1_byg?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

You can tap that link to listen to our latest episode, which has nothing to do with AI. This is a good, short one, about pitching and preparing to pitch. Worth your time.

The issue is with the above promo “cover” for the episode. Not the handsome mugs on either side (they’re just dreamy, ain’t they?). The conflict is sitting right between us. That illustration.

It’s AI-generated.

Here’s a close-up of the AI image used:

I don’t know if this is right or wrong, if it hurts my standing or provides a way to market the work we do for free as a service to the writing community. All I know is I was confronted about it last time and am stressing about it now. Because I do not know what is right, allowed, accepted.

As for my dispute with my co-host, I truly thought this had been settled. That it was clear my reputation was being doubted by my co-host’s use of AI.

We discussed it. Again. I understand his position; he’s demonstrating it right here. And he understands my concerns. And we’re going to search through alternatives. Again.

But the AI issue is here. Right here, right now, in this business and all others. Not just between us. But surrounding all of us, everywhere, whether we seek it out or not.

Try writing an email—AI wants to help.

Utilize the listen option on a news story—AI generated.

Adds on our social media. Lego-looking political parody. Ads. Book promotions. Indy animated or cinematic projects. Large-scale animation, film, commercial, print, or audible projects. All of it is tinged with AI. Worse, war targeting, governmental and business programming and decision-making, and so on, all now laced with AI.

And not always to positive results. Consider an entire school of Iranian girls was blown up because an AI-enhanced program suggested it as a target and the people in charge of confirming the targets as legit…do not seem to have.

It gets overwhelming.

And I can really use the help AI services can provide. I’m not good with ads for my books. AI-reliant services can do that for me. But it would tarnish my reputation. Maybe. I just don’t know the rules. Few of us do. But some are acting on rules from somewhere, questioning the reputations of honest, hard-working, non AI-using people. It feels like falling into a dystopian novel.

An author recently got dropped from Hatchette Books because her book showed some evidence of AI, seemingly on the editing end. The author denies using it at all, but their dreams are shattered now. I don’t know for sure, but I did not read about any editors or publishers getting fired over this, just the creative.

My co-host even sent me an article to further explore the issue. The article is interesting. The comments afterward serve as a good example of the fiery debate that continues.

Here’s the link:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/frankgoodin_as-many-of-you-know-im-an-emmy-award-winning-share-7459574933614911489-oG2m?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=android_app&rcm=ACoAAAEyOAsB6PUVDgsKV7QBBQOd8g_xun3zh3Y&utm_campaign=messages

We need a large-scale ongoing discussion and exploration of what indie or small or mid-list writers can utilize to give their work a fighting chance in this insane market. Like pens, paper, printing presses, mass production, computers, personal computers, the internet, ebooks, online selling, email, video, and social media have all enhanced what an author can do to get their work out there, AI must be discussed as a marketing tool, a business tool, and we need clear parameters that apply across the board.

Indie, hybrid, and working creators shouldn’t have to live with the twin nightmares of being accused of something we are not doing, and simultaneously seeing others benefit and succeed utilizing those forbidden tools.

Until then, I have to refrain from utilizing AI at all, even if it would ease the business end of my tiny company. But it is tearing rifts in my longtime partnership, and has already caused stressful accusations against me even though I didn’t use AI.

Full disclosure, I understand the guilt by association argument here; my partner has used it more than once to promote us. So, what is my moral obligation here? Must I end my participation in Tell The Damn Story after 412 episodes? Is that what is expected of me? What is fair? Honestly, it feels like right now the expectation is zero tolerance for some, me included, but not others.

I just want to do the right thing.

Your comments are welcome.

***
Here’s a pic of a handsome fella

My sister snapped this pic of the legendary Sonny Mehlman at a high school varsity baseball game. He’s expressing his enthusaism for the sport. The team my son coaches won their league despite Sonny’s lack of support.

POP CULTURE FUEL

The Punisher One Last Kill is a masterful exploration of PTSD that many veterans suffer, as well a exceptionally well done transition from Frank Castle’s deepest pain to repositioning him for the wider MCU.

I was going to write a longer review arguing the merits of this violent, incredible journey (completed impressively by Marvel Television in less than an hour of screen time), and complimenting Jon Bernthal’s incredible acting and credible writing on this project, as well as gratitude for lifetime favorite Judith Light’s quietly furious performance. But then I read the spoiler-free review below and it said all that I wanted to say, and said it well.

If you check it out, please give it a like and a share. Credit where it is due. Here’s the link:

https://screenrant.com/the-punisher-one-last-kill-review

Highly recommended.

Music

Listening to a Chess Records boxed set. Incredible, song after song.

Highly recommended.

Books

Same as last week. Plus Bukowsky. Been busy.

Social Media

If you haven’t checked out Omar Holman’s pop culture short videos, give yourself a treat. Here’s a link:

***

“…maybe, I can, baby girl… maybe I can keep going…”

Frank Castle

***
All right, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.

Posted in writing | Tagged #AI, #America, #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #books, #publishing, #Storytelling, #writerslife, #writingtips, writing | Leave a comment

Soul Screaming: Writing on instead of clutching my chest at the world

Posted on May 6, 2026 by chrisryanwrites

Sheer heart attack
Sheer heart attack
Real cardiac
I feel so
Inar-inar-inar-inar-inar-inar-inar-inarticulate

-Queen, “Sheer Heart Attack”

*** Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, podcasting, but most often writing fiction, poetry, and pop culture essays. Now I’m working to discover what more I can achieve and share with the world, and whether an older author can find a place in the storytelling business. Together, let’s see if I can get there.

***

NEWSish Stuff

***

Upcoming live events

StokerCon, Pittsburgh, PA, June 4-7
And I should be at other places, but first things first….

***

The latest episode of Tell The Damn Story features Teel James Glenn

It’s an hour with master storyteller Teel James Glenn, what else do you need? Big fun!

Here’s the link:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/VnS7b5Wy020?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

On Writing: Let the World in, it can set your creative soul on fire

I can’t do it on command, and I don’t want to. That would be like pimping the world. But every once in a while, things happening in the world take over my writing and I’m here to encourage you to let that happen with yours, even if it is only as a writing exercise. Every time I have, my best writing was the result.

I am a Kolchak The Night Stalker fan and years ago wondered “What if supernatural shenanigans happened in NYC, how would NYPD detectives deal?” I also wondered what a modern Dante’s The Divine Comedy would look like in modern New York City. Letting my imagination explore those questions resulted in my award-winning novel City of Woe and its sequel City of Pain, featuring my characters, detectives Mallory and Gunner.

When our current president was in the White House for Round One, the thing that were happening made me wonder where we were heading. My right brain asked “What if…” and the result was the novel A Simple Rebellion.

As Round Two came around, poetry suddenly took hold of me and I went with it, twice. The results were the horror tale told in verse It’s Been a Privilege and a last date/love letter to my beloved birthplace, America, We Need to Talk.

After I sort of found my footing as a member of the Horror Writers Association’s New York Chapter, and found the experience to be more welcoming than the sadly colder Mystery Writers Association, I wanted to pay back HWA’s initial welcome by creating something to support/contribute to that community, which lead to Soul Scream Antholozine, which will be publishing its eighth volume this summer. Then I asked how could I make this gateway Horror fest aimed at readers 12-to-100 more fun, which resulted in the Soul Scream staff and the adventures of The Revenants.

These days I have two WIPs that are really cooking in very different ways, and a finished novel getting prepped for market. Am I grateful? Every day.

And all of it happened because I ignored the internal editor’s negative nonsense and just went with the possibilities.

Did I need to do rewrites? Hell yeah. Lots of them. And then a few more. But it sets my soul free, and it can set yours free, too.

Let the world inspire you, and keep yourself open to “What if…” and you’ll love the results. Will it take real work, too? Yep. But I’m betting you wouldn’t have it any other way.

***
A now a pic of a handsome fella

Sonny Mehlman, pictured left, has been getting selective about how he goes for walks and with whom. When it comes to me, he tends to step out of our house and sit on the porch. That’s it. Maybe he wants to give the geezer a break. Tuesday was such a beautiful day, I agreed. I made a video about it that does not want to upload here. It can be seen on my Facebook page. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CCEbmKkAk/

As you can see, Sonny wasn’t really that pleased about the video.

***
Pop Culture Fuel

Currently reading a lot of Bukowski, some Marvel paperback collections, and the Stephen King editorial study I spoke about last time, Monsters in the Archives: My Year of . And listening to the audiobook The Franklin Scandal: A Story of Power brokers, Child Abuse & Betrayal by Nick Bryant.

Currently listening to The Traveling Wilburys (still) and Starz (still!).

Currently watching a lot of Marvel – Daredevil: Born Again and rewatching The Punisher, Seasons 1 & 2, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and The Thunderbolts. Good escapism for a weird world.

And, of course, I’m watching my wife Glorious constantly. I hope to watch her for another century. What a constant blessing!

***
Well it’s alright, even if you’re old and gray
Well it’s alright, you still got something to say
Well it’s alright, remember to live and let live
Well it’s alright, the best you can do is forgive

-The Traveling Wilburys “End of the Line”

***
All right, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.

Posted in writing | Tagged #America, #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #books, #publishing, #Storytelling, #writerslife, #writingtips | Leave a comment

Soul Screaming, a weekly newsletter about finding inspiration as the world spirals

Posted on April 9, 2026 by chrisryanwrites

You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy

-Bob Dylan, “Masters of War”

***

Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, podcasting, but mostly writing fiction, poetry, and pop culture essays. Now I’m working to discover what more I can achieve and share with the world, and whether an older author can find a place in the storytelling business. Together, let’s see if I can get there.

***

NEWSish Stuff

***

PHOTO NEWS

Artemis shares great moon shot!

Bro, I know Yankees Opening Day was on Good Friday, but c’mon…

Upcoming live events

StokerCon, Pittsburgh, PA, June 4-7

***

The pacing continues

My most recently completed WIP is in the hands of wise industry veterans who generously agreed to give it a read. The sensation is kind of like continuously hearing the soft ticking of either a beautiful watch or a devastating bomb… lol

***

New WIP is getting invigorating nods from my writers’ group

We never really know how a new story/poem/novel is going because writers live with a metaphoric split personality, one side is the passionate, hopeful writer, the other is the infernal editor voice that hates whispers “impostor” at every turn. When that is happening, a writers group can prove invaluable.

Writers groups members aren’t in your head. They aren’t getting paid. They are all there for the same reason—to get honest feedback they can use to improve the work.

And in this case, while they are pointing out opportunities to expand, deepen, or insert additional punchlines, overall the majority seem to be enjoying this WIP.

That is energizing.

I’ll show my gratitude by working diligently to keep the quality up for the rest of the tale.

The lesson here is that when writers groups are working, they are fabulous.

***

Tell The Damn Story features an intriguing guest in a fascinating interview

Brandon Easton is experienced, honestly outspoken, and has the receipts. He dynamically engages is a wide variety of topics from breaking through to racism in the creative industry, to the value of being seen and engaged with as a creative of value. Plus, he discusses his incredibly fun and fantastic projects. Really worth your time.

Here’s the link:

***
Handsome fella seen around local baseball games, thrilling fans

Our own Sonny Mehlman has been attending local baseball games to support some of his favorite coaches (my son Sean, as well as Tyler’s wonderful girlfriend), earning oohs and ahhs and compliments about his undeniable good lucks. He did, however, receive one image-shaming comment despite months of diligent dieting. Sonny is seen here rising above such coldhearted insensitivity. Behold dignity, brothers and sisters!

***

POP CULTURE FUEL!

Books

My addiction to great storytelling continues. Here are my latest obsessions:

The Stranger by Jim Donohue is a weird western horror treatment of the “stranger comes to town” plot and the author handles it well, offering a fun, fresh, quick reading experience that starts with a great horror tension and keeps it going throughout (well, I haven’t finished yet, but so far, so good!)

Recommended.

I stumbled across The Name of This Band is R.E.M. in my favorite way -by wandering the aisles of a book store letting books call to me. It is well-written, doesn’t demean itself with gossip, and allows readers to experience the evolution of this fascinating band from arms distance. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Recommended.

Yes, I started reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir following two totally thrilling viewings of the film, and I am so glad I did. Weir has a knack for creating engaging characters we find ourselves routing for, and for weaving very human humor through the science fiction. I am grateful that he smoothly explains the science in short, simplified bursts that do not slow the addicting pace of the narrative and that he never backs away from reminding us what the best aspects of humanity can be.

Most highly recommended.

MUSIC

Peter Gabriel In The Big Room came out this year, capturing a recording made in 2003 at the performance space in his recording complex. Great sound, thrilling performances, and well worth your time.

Recommended.

U2 released the EPs Days of Ashes on Ash Wednesday and Easter Lily during Holy Week, making a combined statement on top of each EP’s individual messages. Days of Ash is dynamic, thrilling, and political, exploring many of the horrors going on in the world these days. Easter Lily is spiritual, hopeful, and gorgeous, exploring our better angels, and offering a potential path to peace for all of us.

Both are most highly recommended.

THEATRE

Glorious gifted me tickets to see Jon Bernthal as Sonny Amato and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Sal DeSilva in an adaption of the 1975 film Dog Day Afternoon. Mostly faithful to the film and the Life Magazine article of the true story of perhaps the wildest failed bank robbery in New York history, the show captures the time (Brooklyn, 1972) through music, costumes, and an inventive set, combining to lay a foundation for solid performances and great timing from the cast. Bernthal demonstrates range far beyond the tough guy parts he is known for and Moss-Bachrach displays the courage to pull back and deliver a restrained, dissonant, haunting performance.

Recommend.

***

The power of the people is so much stronger than the people in power

In the streets with children playing

-U2

***

All right, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.

Posted in writing | Tagged #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #books, #horror, #movies, #publishing, #Storytelling, #writerslife, #writingtips, film, writing | Leave a comment

Soul Screaming, a weekly newsletter for writers going through it

Posted on April 9, 2026 by chrisryanwrites

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Suzy Kassem

“…imposter syndrome involves much more than just feeling fraudulent and that it presents itself in a long list of different ways. It may appear as insecurity, self-doubt, fear of failure and perfectionism. Or as self-criticism, low self-esteem, an inability to accept compliments or a focus on where you’re falling short.” – Dr Jessamy Hibberd

***

Hi, I’m Christopher Ryan, a hybrid author with forty years of experience in journalism, education, sketch comedy, indie film, unions, community service, parenting, public speaking, acting, podcasting, but mostly writing fiction, poetry, and pop culture essays. Now I’m working to discover what more I can achieve and share with the world, and whether an older author can find a place in the storytelling business. Together, let’s see if I can get there.

***

NEWSish Stuff

Upcoming live events

StokerCon, Pittsburgh, PA, June 4-7

The latest episode of Tell The Damn Story deals with doubt

Co-host Alex Simmons and I deal with one of the most stubborn issues for creatives: impostor syndrome. Here’s the link:

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/MXykzoFwPMQ?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

***

WIP Out to an Unique Readers Group

As it says above, I’m a hybrid author, but my track record for the past several years has leaned more toward indie. Maybe that’s a me problem; I have difficulty trusting the Big Machine, have an apparently unshakable disdain for the gatekeepers, how long it takes, etc. Probably, it can be explained by noting that I have over 40 professional years of overwhelmingly independent experience as an award-winning weekly journalist, founding member/head writer of Salsoul Comedy Troupe, contributing producer and best supporting actor-nominated in a few indie films, and teacher largely left to my own dedication in the classroom. For my whole life I learned it, got good at it, and then did it.

But as the legendary Joe R. Lansdale once told me “getting someone else to invest money in your writing changes how it is seen.” I want to be viewed in that way.

As a result, my latest novel, a YA adventure tinged with sci-fi, mystery, and lots of heart, is going out to market. And I admit that is daunting.

But I am blessed with some help.

A book club populated by publishing professionals, some veterans, some retired, have agreed to read my manuscript. Hooray. With a catch. Uh-oh. They require I attend a post-reading meeting with them for feedback. Gulp.

Am I excited. Yes. Am I nervous about the feedback. Yes. And no. I know the ideas, characters, and intentions are solid. Any rewrite feedback can only make it better.

Still, fingers crossed.

***

The Struggle is Real – Writing This in Yet Another Bout of Impostor Syndrome

Anything can trigger impostor syndrome: awards season, large traditionally-leaning book or writers conventions, good news for contemporaries, and most importantly, finishing a writing project.

All of those are hitting me right now.

The Horror Writers Association’s Stoker Awards nominees came out recently and It’s Been a Privilege, my most often complimented horror books (this one all poetry), a work a surprising number of friends and colleagues mentioned in the same sentence with the legendary awards, didn’t make the final nominations list. Honestly, I don’t even know whether it was even considered.

Second, the Horror Writers Association Convention is coming up in June, an experience that quietly fills me with dread and impostor syndrome to the gills.

Third, several of my colleagues signed impressive publishing deals or came out with cool new books. I applaud them for it, but I simultaneously hear that horrible inner voice silently screaming “And you? What the hell are you doing? Nothing!”

Third again, an email/newsletter from a kind and very supportive established author arrived this morning about his latest project, re-energizing that damned inner voice.

And of course, I’ve finished a major project. That is when impostor syndrome hits hardest for me. Every doubt conceivable haunts me, insisting the work sucks, that I shouldn’t be allowed near laptop keyboards, publishing, or storytelling of any kind. At this very second, it is screaming in my head that I shouldn’t be writing this, that no one will read it, that no one cares what I have to say.

It is exhausting. Debilitating. Depressing. A horror unto itself.

Yet, here I am, still writing.

I’ll take that sliver of hope.

If impostor syndrome hits you, keep writing. Hopefully, next week I’ll be in a better head space and will be able to give you more advice.

***
Why Bob and Grace Won’t Appear Here for the Foreseeable Future/The AI Nightmare

The above affliction isn’t the only horror haunting writers these days. Technology has added a new nightmare: AI.

Publishing is being flooded with opportunistic hacks publishing AI written books, AI-assisted books, or those alleged to be written by an author but showing overwhelming amounts of AI pattern errors.

AI absorbing traditionally written books to teach itself how to write, and the resulting lawsuits are also creating problems in the industry.

AI has created such turmoil in publishing that we now have almost a red scare going on wherein people are running other authors’ books through AI assessment tech which are reportedly only 78 % accurate (below the standard of accuracy required to be considered reliable in court), and using the results to cast doubt on the legitimacy of authors and publishers.

It happened recently to Mia Ballard who denies using AI to write her novel Shy Girl after exactly such accusations were made, moving Hachette Book Group to cancel its publications (for more, here’s a link to an updated report from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/books/shy-girl-book-ai.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

But this isn’t the only AI-related issue that scares me.

Recently, I received an email from a colleague I respect immensely. To my shock and horror, the pleasantly worded email reported that this author felt strongly that they might need to end our professional relationship because they perceived that I was pro-AI.

What? Me?

I am on record as extremely distrusting of AI in at least two (probably more) episodes of the Tell The Damn Story podcast. Additionally, I paid for a new cover for Soul Scream: Come All Ye Faithless once I realized the cover was AI-generated. Worse, I did my due diligence with writers associations, investigating their stance on using AI for marketing purposes, was told they do not see a problem with that usage, and yet I still cancelled Zeely, a marketing tool that uses AI to generate still and video promotions of books, because the author of the email was uncomfortable with the AI aspects of the promotion. So I took the financial loss, never used the ad, and cancelled my subscription to Zeely because I agreed with their discomfort. I was uncomfortable with it, too.

And then came the email. I couldn’t figure out why. So I asked. Apparently, Alex, my TTDS partner, used an AI generated image of me to created an ad for a book project I have coming up.

I was guilty by association.

I contacted Alex and explained the situation, then sent photos of myself imitating the illustration which Alex used to replace the promotion. I offer both here for illustration purposes only:

Why did I insist on the change? Fear.

Fear that AI would ruin my reputation without any merit. Fear that it was already clawing at professional friendships I held dear. Fear that all my hard work would be torn apart on unfounded, inaccurate, and wrong allegations.

Fear of being labelled an impostor.

It is so scary that Bob and Grace, a comic-like feature that is visually created using ChatGPT won’t be featured anymore because, as much as I love their banter, the fear of being labelled an AI hack ruins the joy they give me.

All this feels just like the red scare.

And it is only going to get worse. AI is everywhere. Try writing an email. AI offers to write it for you. Same with trying to do layout, or almost anything creative.

The monster is in the house. And I don’t know if we can escape.

***

What We Need Now is Picture of a Handsome Fella

This week’s newsletter has been a bit depressing. To raise our spirits, here’s a pic of Sonny trying to keep Glorious from leaving for work.

And one of him doing his job as Chief of Security as I wait to be connected for a business Zoom.

***

Pop Culture Fuel is the Same as Last Week And this is running long and I am too down to share this week. My apologies.

***

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” – Richard Bach

“Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse

“Creativity doesn’t have to be taught, it has to be liberated.” – John Cleese

***

All right, thanks for stopping by. Talk atcha next week.

Posted in writing | Tagged #amwriting, #author, #authorlife, #books, #publishing, #Storytelling, #writerslife, #writingtips | Leave a comment

The Blessings of Our Current President, part 9 – “final words”

Posted on March 27, 2026 by chrisryanwrites

All of us should consider the blessings that our current president bestows upon us. For example, the blessing of “final words.”

I began this series, and wrote nine parts, because I really wanted to be of some service to my fellow Americans. I do not think I am smarter, more insightful, or any in any way better than any other American citizen. I do suspect a lot of us are alarmed with where we are as a nation right now.

In this final entry, please understand that I don’t think we covered all the concerns that are present in our country and abroad right now. Not by a long shot. I do a hope the series provided something to think about. Any one of the long list of deeply concerning actions, accusations, convictions, or behaviors, would rightly give us reason to be concerned about our current president.

But his time is finite.

I am urging all of us to recognize that the aftermath of what he has brought into American life was not done by him alone. Most of our elected officials have some complicity either because they followed him in lockstep or due to hubris, over confidence, and carelessness, they allowed the chaos to get this far. And so did we as voters. The justice system has not been perfect, but it is served us better than any other branch of our government right now.

What that all means is that it is going to take us years (if not decades) to recover from everything that has happened already. The longer we wait to begin seriously considering what to do, the worse it will get.

We as a people are becoming so numb to our own humanity that we are destroying ourselves. The blessings of our current president makes that clear to anyone willing to see.

And the blessings of our current president are capable of opening our eyes to the blessings of Americans everywhere. Here are just a few examples:

The descendants of slaves have every right to say all this is “same as it ever was” and they have a strong and dismaying point. However, at the same time, they represent so much that is the very best of us. They saw this horrific hate, bled from it, many died under its inhumanity. And still, they persevered. They’ve spent their history in America leading by example, showing an unloving country how we can be better humans to each other. We need to learn from them.

The women of the country will say “way ahead of you, privileged white male” and they have a deeply shameful truth supporting the accusation. At the same time, they have a history of representing the most resilient of us. Not because they wanted to be, because they had to be to survive the scourge of male lust and lack of discipline, and so many men’s recognition and fear of women as the true source of life and humanity. The only path open to men is to accept that we need women to drag us away from the abyss we men have created. We need to learn what true power is from them and give up on our greed and politics and predatory failures.

Now we are being forced to see other groups we wrongly ignored. Those of color quietly doing thankless jobs at shitty pay because they know true wealth comes from love and each other. If we all leaned into their mindset a bit more and away from the rat race of wealth uber alles, we would be happier.

Thanks to the blessings of our current president, we can see anew that the answers are all around us, we just aren’t asking the right questions. It is not “how do we win the game of America,” it’s “how do we position Americans to win at life?” The answer is working together to make the promise of America become the reality of America, maybe for the first time ever.

We can do this. We just need to stop for a while to allow ourselves to think deeply and clearly about the madness that is currently America. If we did, we would be insane not to change direction toward the idea of “From Many One” we were always supposed to embrace.

At a time when the rest of the world is racing forward in medicine, science, business, and creativity, this once great nation is falling further and further into hate, revitalized racism, and a cancerous negativity about everything that once made us great.

I can no longer say with confidence that we will ever recover. But we have to try. And we can’t do that unless we really think about what’s going on and what each of us need to do and what we need to insist upon if we are going to give America a chance at fulfilling the dream we always heard about.

God bless America. Please.

Posted in writing | Tagged #America, #currentevents, #finalwords, #hopeforAmerica, #president | Leave a comment

The Blessings of Our Current President, Part 8 – Consistency

Posted on March 25, 2026 by chrisryanwrites

All of us should consider the blessings that our current president bestows upon us. For example, the blessing of “consistency.”

One of the key elements of leading is consistency. Whether it is in the office, at home, in school, on a sports field, or during an emergency situation, knowing that there is someone in charge who will be consistent in decision making and and solid follow through. Nobody enjoys working for a boss that changes policy on a whim, or a parent who is strict some times and indulgent at others, or dealing with special treatment for some but not others in a school setting, or a referee or umpire who calls plays inconsistently, or chaos during an emergency.

Calm, rational, consistent leadership improves every situation, keeps people safer, and costs less in the long run.

Our current president does not practice consistency in any facet of his leadership. Tariffs have fluctuated wildly, negatively impacting our global standing. Funding of several government agencies have been crushed, creating chaos in people’s lives. And some enormous policy changes have caused starvation, illness, and death here and abroad.

Internationally, our reputation for consistent leadership is currently in tatters. Were we always the perfect heroes we liked to think of ourselves in the past? Sadly, no. But these days, very few countries have been treated with consistency by our government. Whether it be fluctuating levels of the aforementioned tariffs, insults and mockery and accusations of other countries ripping us off, or threats to take over entire countries (Canada, Greenland, and Cuba, for example), our government has shocked and dismayed the world.

Additionally, our government either kidnapped or captured (depending on the news source you follow, another inconsistency) the Venezuelan leader and then took that country’s oil. We also allowed our own Puerto Rico as well as Cuba to suffer without power as we ignored people suffering on both islands, despite the USA’s history of being the country that supported people in need. And most recently, our government joined Israel to go to war with Iran “to protect us from imminent nuclear weapons” which our current president claimed to have “obliterated” months ago. As a result, Americans have been left reeling from the chaos.

So many of us are left wondering what the actual plan is, what decisions and/or reports, and/or presidential quotes can be relied upon, trusted, and/or believed. This is not consistency; it is a recipe for disaster.

But all of this does give us the blessing of being inspired to really look at what is happening. The best way to do this is by taking in a wide variety of sources so we avoid just being programmed by one point-of-view that might be more spin and public relations than truth. Once we gather a cross-section of sourced reports, we can see established patterns, make time to sit with what our current president says over a period of time on a specific subject (like the war with Iran), and see whether our leader is being consistent and informative, or inconsistent and confusing. We can reflect and make our own decisions from there.

We The People need to decide for ourselves what we are comfortable with and what we want our leaders to project for our country. Consistency expresses strength. Chaos expresses weakness. Where do you believe we are these days? And how would we prefer our country’s leadership to lead? The answer should be important to all of us.

Posted in writing | Tagged #America, #consistency, #currentevents, #president | Leave a comment

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