STUFF TO SHARE

  • Writer’s Feedback Groups

    Writing is a solitary endeavor often taking place in a workspace carved out in a bedroom, the den, or perhaps the basement (or attic) of the writer’s home. The more co-occupants in the residence, the smaller and more remote the area set aside for her creative sessions. An author can spend hundreds of hours alone Continue reading

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  • Climate Change 101

    What part of “climate change” and “global warming” don’t people understand and continue to deny? Are they the same people who still believe the Apollo moon landings were faked and filmed somewhere in New Mexico? Even individuals who reluctantly acknowledge the existence of global warming refuse to believe that humans have caused the changes. In Continue reading

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  • Retirement: Things to Consider

    Retirement used to mean an individual stopped working and spent the rest of their days bowling, golfing, traveling, and doing other fun things. Of course, life-spans have increased over the decades. Now a truly retired life-style requires personal financial resources beyond Social Security benefits, such as savings, pensions, investments, or a rich relative. For a Continue reading

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  • Falling Off the Thought-Train

    There is a common human disease, which I have decided has nothing to do with age, gender, religion, race, country of birth, country of residence, or financial status. As for many humans, this disease disturbs and frustrates me and so I have given a bit of thought to the phenomenon.  Here is what I’ve come Continue reading

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  • Writer’s Conferences: Ten Reasons to Attend

    Hundreds of conferences for writers are held each year in the United States. If you aspire to a career in writing or simply want to expand your expertise in the field, you must consider attending. Expending the funds—including conference fees and travel—to go to any conference must be weighed against what will be gained. Here Continue reading

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  • Packaging from Hell

    Are you as frustrated by product packaging as I am? From over-the-counter drugs to batteries to hair dryers the war against the consumer goes on. If you’re like me, you’ve wondered why packaging is so difficult to breach. Are the designers trying to wield their power? Are they stupid? Are they sadists? Do they think Continue reading

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  • Father’s Day

    Last month I discussed Mother’s Day and how important my mother was to me. Because my parents were divorced when I was still a toddler, my relationship with my father was necessarily different. I’ve never celebrated Father’s Day with more than a card and/or a phone call. It’s not a special day for me.  I Continue reading

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  • To Write or To Not-Write

    Being a good writer requires many skills, creativity the chief among them. In addition, an appreciation for rules of grammar, spelling, plot development, and character development are extremely important. It is also good to have a few reference books—ones about writing, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and atlases. Of course, today the World Wide Web—via Google and others—has Continue reading

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  • Donald Trump, what’s up?

    I must say over the years (1988 thru 2012) when The Donald expressed his intent or desire to run for president of the USA, I was skeptical. Generally, by the time I gave his running any thought, he had exited the race for whatever reason. His initial announcement in 2015 did not seem to be Continue reading

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  • Mother’s Day

    In my early years, it never occurred to me that my mother was special. I mean, I loved her and I appreciated her being around to take care of me, but I didn’t know how special she was until later in life. Okay, I knew she was a divorced, single mom with a low paying Continue reading

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