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Reflections
21 dispatches in this drawer. Pull one open to read the card.
Was Tolkien Writing Historical Fantasy Novels?
Was Tolkien Writing Historical Fantasy Novels?
The other day, my wife and I went to the movie theater for the 20th anniversary of Joe Wright’s film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Anyone who knows me—and my opinions on storytelling—likely kn…
A Farewell to Arms: Why Hemingway’s Work is More R…
A Farewell to Arms: Why Hemingway’s Work is More Relevant Now Than Ever
This blog post was originally featured on an old blog I managed called Back to Being Gentlemen. That site is now defunct, but on a quick read, I found the content worthy of republication here with …
Autumn Has Come a Month Too Early
Autumn Has Come a Month Too Early
Autumn has come a month too early. When I was flying down the road and a cool breeze slid from its hiding place to tug at the sides of my shirt, I could not ignore it. It was the face of a friend a…
Things Cancer Taught Me
Things Cancer Taught Me
Today is Cancer Survivor Day, which is a day I didn’t know existed until my mom texted me with a heartfelt message of gratitude. It’s been almost ten years since I was first diagnosed w…
The Picture of Dorian Gray: A Must-Read for Modern…
The Picture of Dorian Gray: A Must-Read for Modern-Day
This blog post was originally featured on an old blog I managed called Back to Being Gentlemen. That site is now defunct, but on a quick read, I found the content worthy of republication here with …
Why I Love David Whyte Now
Why I Love David Whyte Now
Once upon a time, I ran a blog that encouraged me to seek out and memorize meaningful poetry. For whatever reason, I gravitated toward poets who have anchored themselves in the annals of tradition …
My Summer as an Actor in Evermore Park
My Summer as an Actor in Evermore Park
This past summer, I spent my weekend evenings working as an actor in Utah’s Evermore Park. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s an immersive adventure fantasy park. The park is design…
The Silver Currant
The Silver Currant
In just a few days, The Silver Currant, sequel to The Crimson Inkwell will be available to readers. It has been a wild ride. Second installments of trilogies have a longstanding tradition of being …
From Your Politically Moderate Friend on FB
From Your Politically Moderate Friend on FB
The term “echo chamber” is enough to send chills down your spine. I know I just got goosebumps thinking about it. When I was kid, I saw The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey. If you have…
Don’t Fail Your New Year’s Resolutions
Don’t Fail Your New Year’s Resolutions
This week on Instead of Writing, I’m taking my background in business operations to offer you a strategic approach to actually accomplishing something through your New Year’s resolution…
From the Files: Early Memory
From the Files: Early Memory
My Marie Kondo kick is ongoing. I don’t think she ever suggested taking this long to go through her several-step declutter process, but here I am nine months later. It’s the “pape…
Respecting Leaders: Is there glory in obedience?
Respecting Leaders: Is there glory in obedience?
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…
Why Storytellers Should Watch the Women’s World Cup
Why Storytellers Should Watch the Women’s World Cup
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 th…
A Clever Writing Technique by Theodora Goss
A Clever Writing Technique by Theodora Goss
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 …
Two Reasons to Read The Gilded Wolves
Two Reasons to Read The Gilded Wolves
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 re…
Three Things I Wish Happened in The Golem and the…
Three Things I Wish Happened in The Golem and the Jinni
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 Fifteen Year Draft
A Fifteen Year Draft
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?&…
3 Tips to Develop More Creative Ideas
3 Tips to Develop More Creative Ideas
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 reli…
Why Writers Should Try Dungeons and Dragons
Why Writers Should Try Dungeons and Dragons
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
Finding Inspiration: Scythe
Finding Inspiration: Scythe
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,
Straw into gold.
Straw into gold.
I really meant to get this whole thing going a long time ago. I guess I can hang my hat next to the millions of other writers that know the fickle mistress "Procrastination" all too well. The truth is, I used to write more often-- then law school started.