Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
Have you ever known a person you’d describe as hard-hearted? You know, someone who is closed, non-communicative, devoid of compassion, unfeeling, stern. Behind the stiff exterior are probably many factors related to how and why the person reached this point, but you’d likely never be able to crack through the layers of protective shell to […]
Last week’s writers conference was a mountaintop experience. Instruction, inspiration, connection—all combined to instill a feeling of being able accomplish anything. However, there is always a down side, literally, to being on top. No matter how hard you try to maintain the high, the inevitable coming down plunges you back into reality. Then, as is […]
I’m teaching at a writing conference in North Carolina this week. Attendees have gathered from across the country, and beyond, to learn and meet with editors, agents, and professional writers. Conferees come with hopes, dreams, and expectations. For some, hopes and dreams come to fruition; for others, expectations go unrealized. Writers are an interesting bunch. […]
As I left the gym Saturday, the teen sitting behind the reception desk stifled a yawn while wishing me a good day. “Sorry for yawning,” she said. “I graduated last night and didn’t get much sleep.” After getting in the car, I thought about what it means to be a senior and how seniority has […]
I just returned from several days in New York City for the American Society of Journalists and Authors annual conference. Attending the conference is akin to drinking from a fire hose. Information and connections came at me so fast I barely have time to swallow, much less digest, before the next flood of information washed […]
Last weekend, I held a copy of our new church history book in my hands, a project more than five years in the making. As I turned the pages, I recognized passages I had written as well as the writing of many others. I saw pictures of friends and family members no longer with us, […]
Several days ago, I pulled a wooden basket off a shelf and quickly realized the handle had deposited a splinter in my finger. It hurt, but not enough to slow down preparations for a family dinner. However, the next day, my finger demanded attention. I worked on it with a needle and some pressure and […]
One night, just as I was getting in bed, I heard the persistent whine of an alarm. After several minutes, I peeked out the window, slightly annoyed that someone was allowing the noise to continue for so long. But the sound seemed closer than a neighbor’s house. I walked down the hall and the sound […]
Spring is here in all its glory. This season, when nature dons a new green frock festooned with multicolored floral accents, is a time of warmth, renewal, and the refreshing prospect of new beginnings and hope. Perhaps winter with its drab, barren landscape, chill, and for some, illness, has taken a toll on you, and […]
When you hear the word “wisdom,” who or what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of ivy-covered halls of higher learning or the sage advice of an elder. By definition, wisdom means insight, good sense, common sense, levelheadedness, an accumulation of knowledge, the ability to discern. For some, gaining knowledge is the only component of […]