Children… Oh, the Places You’ll Gather Memories 2 Jul 201213 Oct 2012 At Brenna Martin's high school graduation, she received a surprise that took her father Bryan 13 years to prepare: a favorite Dr. Seuss book filled with comments from all her…
Incubation… Your Writing is a Horse 20 Apr 201213 Oct 2012 What if your writing were a horse? And what if you didn't have to chase it down and manhandle it? Kafka said if you could only be still--"just learn to…
Humor… Calling Alaska 14 Apr 201215 Apr 2012 Flag Counter says this site's visitors include people from 102 countries and 49 of the United States. Naturally, we all wonder, Who is missing?? Alaska! So, hello, Alaska! How have…
Collaboration… Photo conversation 1 Feb 201215 Jan 2012 "This is the photo that launched a thousand ships, the photo that inspired VoiceThread. It might be the greatest photo ever taken." (An unidentified founder of VoiceThread) You might agree!…
Change the World… Branding the New Year 31 Dec 201130 Dec 2011 My favorite book designers had a brainstorm. They said, "For many people, 2011 was not such a good year in so many ways . . . . But to be…
Motivation… Friday Flick: The Key to Writing a Great Book 21 Oct 201121 Oct 2011 William Kenower reminds us that the "great books," the ones that change our lives, are not merely works of craft, but of love. He says, “What it takes to write…
College… What’s Your Style? 30 Jul 201115 Apr 2012 This one is for those of you who already write in complete, yet not inexhaustible sentences, and wonder whether you have any style. Of course, you do--just as you have…
Caring… Hamlet in Prison 12 Jul 201111 Jul 2011 Jack Hitt's hour-long report for This American Life on Hamlet performed by prisoners, originally broadcast in 2002, has inspired me all week with its deep insights about Hamlet and encouragement for…
Books… A Newsletter Worth Reading 7 Jul 2011 One e-mail newsletter I actually read is BK Communiqué from Berrett-Koehler Publishers. They publish engaging nonfiction, and their newsletters not only promote their own releases, they usually include interesting publishing…
Baby Boomers… Beginning Again? 18 Jun 201118 Jun 2011 Does it feel as though you're always starting over? I'm beginning new projects, new rounds of old projects, new teaching quarter. Therefore, clients and students are doing the same; some…
Collaboration… Friday Flick: Drew in Concert 10 Jun 20113 Jun 2011 Full disclosure: I raised this amazing composer. And I would still love his music even if I hadn't. Drew Nichols is a "third stream" composer, combining classical and jazz, so…
Books… How Do I Know? 6 Jun 2011 A friend asked today, "How do I know if anyone wants to read what I'm going to write?" Great question! Here are my first three thoughts about that: 1) You…