Blog

We writers tend toward solitude, especially when we work. Writing takes focus and dedication. Becoming a professional writer can be a huge commitment, one that I sometimes treat as seriously as a marriage. It takes work to be a good writer. As such, those of us who were bit by “the writing bug” can find… Continue reading Do They Have a Twelve-Step Program for This?

Picture it. I’m sitting in an armchair, watching the Games of the 31st Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro. The Olympics are a family tradition ever since my dad started watching them regularly from Los Angeles 1984. And since Salt Lake City 2002, I have been mesmerized by the majesty of the Games, the global community,… Continue reading Going for Gold

One of the best ways I’ve found to improve as a writer is to not just be a writer. I dabble in photography, graphic design, theatre, even painting when I find the time. And I find that all of these additional artistic skills--even ones I don’t ever claim to be proficient at--are extremely useful to… Continue reading Express Yourself

One of the most consistent pieces of writing advice I see and hear--from blogs to conferences to writing manuals to podcasts--is read, read, read. It’s a tip I fully endorse. To be a strong writer, you should become a strong reader. Why? Writing is like music. We take sounds and tune them into notes we… Continue reading Just One More Chapter Please

For the past month, I have been scaling the seemingly impossible summits of paperwork attendant to my life as a writer/director/producer/business owner/novelist. Boy, that’s a lot of slashes. We’re talking about dozens of forms from contracts for actors and directors, vendor agreements, tax paperwork, financial statements, and the list stretches on until it becomes a… Continue reading If You Need Me, I’ll Be Climbing Paperwork Mountain