Writing Blog

If you’re interested in fine writing, I think you’ll enjoy this post. To me, quotes and literature and writing that make you take a step back and think are a big part of what makes life so worth living. I’m not sure where I’d be without them. In this post, I share some thoughts on what makes a beautiful quote and then I share a healthy handful of my own personal preferences. Please read what’s inside and then share some of your own favorites in the comment section at the bottom of the page. Continue reading…

In this somewhat uniquely styled post, I discuss various types of writing by various authors. I include J.K. Rowling, James Baldwin, Patrick Rothfuss, Stephen King, and even Edgar Allan Poe in the discussion. It was this last author the post was actually structured around. After reading a book of short stories, I decided to try my hand at one of the assignments found at the end of each section (the collection of stories was contained in a textbook of sorts). The assignment asked the student to change the point of view of a part of one of the stories. Or to put it more simply, to flesh out a character’s position that wasn’t already fleshed out. I chose to see things through the eyes of the old man in Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. What an outcome. Enjoy. Continue reading…

The Star Trek: Next Generation television series is my favorite of all Star Trek shows. I can relate to it much more than the Original Series and it’s more exciting than Voyager and Deep Space 9. I’ve also read quite a few Next Generation books. When I found Crossover by Michael Jan Friedman, which merges, or combines, some of the best features of the Original Series and Next Generation, I knew I had to read it. In this post, you’ll find an extensive summary of the book. At the end of each chapter, I offer my opinion on that chapter. If you’re a Star Trek fan, please click through to learn about this story. Continue reading…

Whether we like it or not, debating is a part of everyday life. A debate can occur between a husband and wife, coworkers, friends, or people on the street. Debating is a good thing. It means that there’s a free flow of ideas and that’s important for a healthy society. Many of the problems that surround the idea of debating stem from the fact that far too many folks have issues with gaining accurate knowledge, thinking critically, articulating ideas, and expressing ideas coherently. With this in mind, I decided to write a tutorial that can guide just about anyone through a structured debate. Mind you, what I’ve put together primarily focuses on how to host or participate in a real debate, whether that be in an academic or political setting. The ideas contained in this post can also applied to friendly debates between individuals as well. Click through to learn all about debating and debates. Continue reading…

When I was in college in my 20s, I thought philosophy was about sitting around with a bunch of guys talking about why we exist in the universe. It’s not really about that. I suppose some parts are, but more often than not, it’s about questions that touch on existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Yes, the “Why are we here?” dilemma will be discussed during the study of philosophy, but so will (to a greater extent) questions of values, ethics, and “right and wrong.” The study of philosophy also isn’t just a simple conversation to be had when the mood strikes. It’s a systematized study. It’s a very deliberate and organized field. It takes time and very careful consideration to appreciate and benefit from it. In this post, I offer the basics of philosophy, the way I see them. It’s a long post, but I encourage you to read through it if you’re interested in this topic. Continue reading…

The transition between high school and college can be a difficult one for many students. Yes, it’s tough to leave home (or commute) for the first time and it’s not easy to get used to an entirely new campus, but what can be the most challenging is how high school teachers and university professors compare. There’s an entirely new way of learning and producing in college than what a recent high school student is used to. High school teachers teach. College professors are experts in their fields. They guide. Students can find that alone something to get used to. High school is compulsory. College is voluntary. The cost of high school is somehow hidden away in taxes, while the cost of college is there to see. Click through for a much more in depth glimpse at what makes high school and college life so different from one another. Continue reading…

Sometimes there’s funny and other times there’s FUNNY. We’ve all experienced something that we found to be funny in our lives. Perhaps it was watching someone scare someone else, listening to someone tell a joke, or watching as a pet makes a fool of himself. Whatever the case, what we’ve likely experienced are mildly funny occurrences. In the post that follows, I’d like to take things up a notch. Instead of keeping things mild, I’d like to share a few of the absolute funniest things that I’ve ever been involved with in my life. Luckily, I have yet to be on the receiving end of such humor. I’d like to keep it that way too. Click through to get a good laugh. Continue reading…

There’s a trap many writers fall into while they write. I’ve fallen into this trap far too many times than I’d confess to. The trap can be explain as one where the writer considers only him or herself while presenting their thoughts to others, without giving as much consideration to those others as they should. It’s simple enough to fall victim to, but a real shame because of the wasted labor and opportunity. In this post, I discuss everything I mentioned above as well as what we can do about it. It’s not terribly difficult to fix. It just takes some thought. Click through to read the rest. Continue reading…

Once I get going with what I’d like to write, I think I do fine. It’s the starting thing I have trouble with. Have you even found yourself suffering from what’s referred to as “blank page syndrome?” It’s when you sit down to write something and nothing comes to mind. As I discuss in this post, you usually end up looking at a blank piece of paper or a computer screen for far too long. Don’t worry – this type of thing gets the best of us. In this post, I discuss this issue in more detail and then I talk about ways to work through it. It’s actually easier than you think. If you’re anything like me, you’ll use the enclosed tips to jump this troublesome hurdle and then write, write, write away. Continue reading…

Writing for the web is so very different than writing for print. There’s more involved and there’s lots to consider. For instance, how long do you have to capture a readers interest on the web? What will a reader on the web do if they sense you’re being dishonest? How do readers on the web behave and how can you best engage with them? Writing for print has been going on for ages, but relatively speaking, writing for the web is still in its infancy. In this post, I answer the questions I asked above and touch on much more. Please click through to learn how to and possibly become a better writer for the web. Continue reading…