Category Archives: teaching

On Writing: What to Do When You’re Overwhelmed

Morning comes in the middle of the night way too often for me these days, and I know why. I’m overwhelmed. This morning, my “To Do” list included grading 150 college app essays, 40 reaction papers, 100 timed essays, answer … Continue reading

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On Writing: Making it through The Monster of Daily Life

Where have I been? Away from my blog for too long, and I woke up wondering what could have kept me away. Life. By that I mean wife, sons, death of friends, work, grading papers, writing lesson plans, orienting to … Continue reading

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On Writing: The Less He Writes, The More Elmore Leonard Teaches

Don’t let the blog headline fool you, Elmore Leonard writes all the time. He just doesn’t write anything “people tend to skip.” The result as been a career of tight, lively, fast-paced novels that have entertained for decades. Elmore Leonard … Continue reading

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On Writing: Joyce Carol Oates and Running Through Your Story

Years ago, I attended the South Hampton Writers Conference, and one of the best speakers there was Joyce Carol Oates. What a sight; she looks like a prettier version of Olive Oil and writes with such constant quality and voluminous … Continue reading

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On Writing: A Reality Check From Richard Price

Richard Price, author of literate bestsellers including Clockers, Freedomland, Samaritan and Lush Life, screenplays including Sea of Love and The Color of Money, and notable work on The Wire and NYC22, is the consummate New York writer. His dialogue crackles … Continue reading

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On Writing: Learning from The Big Boys – Stan Lee

I am starting a series of blogs recounting lessons I’ve learned from big time writers. Since the mega-blockbuster film “Marvel’s The Avengers” returns to theaters this weekend to end the summer like we began it, I am going to start … Continue reading

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A Guy’s Menopause Survival Guide

I love my wife. That needs to be said first, if we are going to do any good here today at all. I love my wife and she is going through menopause. As a result, I am learning a lot. … Continue reading

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Parenting: Hulk Smash, or War of the Dads

As a Dad-in-Progress, I am always working to improve my parenting skills. Okay, that’s code for “I am a worrier who obsesses on whether I am doing all I can for my sons, and as a result, I tend to … Continue reading

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How to Tell If The Spouse Loves You

The marriage arena is a dangerous subject to write about, I know. Big risk of ticking someone off no matter what I do. Lean too much toward the husbands, the wives will charge gender bias; too much toward the wives, … Continue reading

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On Writing: Why Smartphones Are A Writer’s New Best Friend

I used to plan out and gather ideas for novels and screenplays on index cards. Great system. One idea per card. The lined side was for the idea, be it bits of dialogue, character, setting, or whatever else came to … Continue reading

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