Blank is Beautiful

Clean, clear, crisp, conducive, contemplative: these are words every writer should associate with a blank page.
Despair, dubious, daunting, doubt, drivel: are another collection of words that typically stick to the blank page like a stubborn sticky note and give these white building blocks a bad rap.
Part of the challenge in writing is moving [...]

“I Wish I Was a Writer”

During my college years my friends and I looked with awe at a woman who chased around nine children and still took time to welcome hordes of students into her home. Those who called her mother were far more than her nine children.
One friend mentioned that she always felt an inferiority complex around this woman [...]

Writing Reality Check

Barbara Ehrenreich brings the world of writing down from the clouds into the hard earth of reality. Her best advice: start small. For example:
“More to the point, most books don’t start as books. They evolve from humbler efforts such as magazine articles, doctoral dissertations, even op-eds or blogs. If you find yourself saying “I could [...]

Writing It Down Immediately

Revisions are an important part of writing. The more we understand revisions, the more we can enjoy the early stages of writing when an idea may be fresh and new, but unwieldy and awkward. Revisions give us the freedom to write down an idea or an entire piece as quickly as possible before we lose [...]

Eavesdropping

Many writers advocate that simply eavesdropping on other conversations is one of the best ways to learn how to write dialog. Finding a cafe, restaurant, or other public place can be a great way to study these every day interactions.
Teenagers have provided some of my favorite lessons on writing dialog. Their excessive volume makes [...]

The Chronicle of Sally, the Lonely Dental Hygienist

The other day a handsome fellow named Hank came into the office. He was courteous, cheerful, and most importantly “hannnndsome.” I prodded Cecily our receptionist with my pick to let her know that Suzie didn’t have a chance cleaning Hank’s teeth. Hunky Hank will be all mine.
I sat in the hygienist chair gripped in anticipation. [...]

A Theologian on Writing

It’s no secret that theologians can be fairly bad, if not horrible writers. One of the exceptions to that rule is Tony Jones of “Theoblogy.” Jones lists his writing habits in a recent post. I think every writer can benefit by incorporating these basic rules of writing.
For a more thorough treatment of these practices, I [...]

Email Newsletter

Each month I will be sending out an email newsletter with writing samples, some theological writing, and writing tips. Below is a privacy policy concerning these newsletters:
We have created this email privacy policy to demonstrate our firm commitment to your privacy and the [...]

Chiselville 2.25.07

Chapter Four

Tom of course had none of these things. With his back to the paneled wall of his cafe, he dipped a brillo pad into an old yellowed tupper ware bowl. The oversized price tags refused to peal off cleanly from the plastic lawn furniture he intended to use in the café seating area. [...]

Chiselville 2.19.07

We pick up with Chuck and Melinda at the Chamber of Commerce Office:
Looking up from the empty glass, Melinda raised her voice so Chuck could hear her in the next office over, “How about we go out for a drink once we close up? I’ll pick up dinner after that.”
“I don’t know Mel, I get [...]

Carry a Notebook at All Times

An enthusiastic cross-country skier told us that he always carries his skis around in his car so that he is always ready to ski whenever the moment presents itself. The same is usually true for serious photographers, who have a camera handy wherever they find themselves.
For a serious writer there is every reason to emulate [...]

On Writing by Stephen King

I have been pleasantly surprised by Stephen King’s book On Writing. At first I just dismissed it. What does a horror writer have to teach someone who writes about theology, fiction that reads like a Wodehouse novel, and other little memoir-ish pieces?
Well, a lot actually. For one thing, Stephen King is not limited to horror. [...]

Seth Godin on Powerpoint

It’s annual meeting time for many organizations and the powerpoint presentations are rolled out and droll on with endless clicks, poorly designed slides, and word upon word on a dim field. It’s a virtual flood of information that often stymies questions.
Thankfully Seth Godin has once again made his powerpoint  tips available since “bullets are for [...]

How to Jumpstart Writing: Get Out of the House

One of my latest strategies for writing has been to get out of the house as soon as possible. Staying at home may stunt productivity since a host of distractions abound.
While writing at home there is the temptation to throw a load of laundry in, clean up the bathroom, wash a few dishes, and dither [...]

Chiselville 1.29.07

“Making peace?” Melinda inquired.
“Nah, war is too much fun”
“Typical male,” she sneered.
“I was actually wondering, what with all of your free time, if you had any plans for our dinner tonight.”
“Typical,” she whispered. “Well it’s Wednesday, so I guess that means chicken. I’ll pick one up at the Shop and Wait.”
Chuck dreamed of the steaming [...]

Chiselville 1.6.07

No one really knew what exactly Melinda did at the small chamber of commerce office. She rarely answered the phone, stored nothing in her filing cabinets, and kept her desk meticulously, if not suspiciously free of paper. In fact, a computer, a few pens, and a slim planner kept a lonely vigil amidst a sea [...]

Chiselville 12.31.06

The phone began to ring for the eleventh time but a golden glass of chardonnay demanded complete control of her mouth. Swiping her straight black hair away from slim shoulders, Melinda sipped at her 4:00 pm tension tamer. Settling back in her chair she crossed her legs and admired the gleaming high heels that peeked [...]

Chiselville 12.11.06

“I’m all done with the sign Tom.”
“Thanks Clint. How’d it turn out?”
“Well, I really didn’t have a whole lot of space to work with. OK I guess.”
“Sure, but did you at least fit all of the letters in?”
“Oh, I got it all in, but I had to paint the last works about a quarter of [...]

A New, New Series I Call Chiselville

I had a false start this week. I began writing a series of posts that were aiming to become a mini-novel on this blog. Yet, after mulling things over for a few days, I decided to create a slightly different story that I think will fit my purposes perfectly. Same plan, different material.
I’m calling it [...]

Chiselville

It wasn’t the first time Tom intoxicated himself. Yet, he had never induced himself into such an alcoholic stupor at a wake.
He was sure no one minded all that much. He regarded Aunt Emmie in the same way as Christmas lights: he only put up with them once a year and wouldn’t come near either [...]