We're in 2019. Knowledge and information are at our fingertips in ways never before experienced in humanity's history. But, with this firehose of input, I think as a society we've learned to develop a type of guarded cynicism.There are certainly wolves out there, and we're wary of them.I think because of…
I hear it all the time."I don't do sports."Everywhere I turn I find more artists and creatives who turn up their nose at athletics because they don't understand them or they think it's just not their thing.I'm not sure what causes the indignation toward sporting events. Perhaps these folks…
I'm a bit of an Anglophile. Technically, I think that I can actually claim to be a citizen of Great Britain due to some of the Queen's citizenship laws. It's always fascinated me to see how much of western storytelling revolves around England during the reign of Queen Victoria or King Edward.I love that…
I'm a sucker for historical fantasy. I mean hey, that's the genre I'm currently writing in. There's something about the passing on of information and stories that shrouds reality in mystery. Plus, the collective world is much much to large to ever pass on to posterity in all its glorious variety and detail. In some…
Helene Wecker's 2013 title is a methodical, unhurried dive into a blend of novel magic systems, historical novel, and cultural commentary. Her story follows two mythical beings. The first is a golem, Chava, created in old-world Poland by a rabbi for a paying customer who wants a bespoke wife. But, when the customer tries to…
After fifteen years, I can finally say that I've completed the first draft of a novel. When I shared my news with my friend Kat, she looked at me excitedly and asked, "How did it feel?"Without a moment's hesitation I responded, "like crippling self-doubt."I started writing when I was pretty young. In fact, the other…
It's hard to imagine a field of business that cannot benefit from a healthy dose of lateral thinking and creativity. But, in our rush-hour, results-driven world, it's tough to find reliable methods that lend reliability to our creative faculties. Being creative is nice and all, but can we count on it in a pinch?Maybe.I'm not…
The first time I walked into The Three Broomsticks, I felt something really special. It's a really corny thing to say, but any Potterhead will get what I'm talking about. Universal Studios Hollywood did a great job recreating the interior of both Hogwarts and The Three Broomsticks, but the latter is more breathtaking inside in an "absorb…
When I was probably eight years old, one of my mom's friends gifted me the Star Wars Roleplaying Game and its accompanying sourcebook. As an intense Star Wars fan, I was immediately wrapped up in the pictures and the cool details of everything in the Star Wars universe. Years later, I discovered that the books…
Sometimes, it feels like all the good plots are taken. I wrote movies off completely for a couple of years because they started feeling like a re-microwaved piece of steak. The two-hour block format Hollywood has so subtly exploited had me sick and frustrated. I mean, with a basic understanding of the Hero's Journey, you…