Category Archives: Writing

Let Me Tell You a Story

We love a good story. In fact, we are hardwired for stories.[1] [2] “And the elements of a good story are always the same,” says journalist Dan Gardner. “It has to be about people. And it has to have novelty, drama and conflict.”[3] “The elements of a good story are always the same. It hasContinue reading “Let Me Tell You a Story”

‘Twas the Night Before Deadline

I write a column called the Green Chain for the Lake County Record-Bee‘s environmental page, the Green Scene. The Record-Bee printed this yesterday. ‘Twas the night before the Record-Bee’s Green Chain deadline. I had writer’s block, and not for the first time. When up in the sky, riding the clouds like a boat, I spottedContinue reading “‘Twas the Night Before Deadline”

Draft #2-Timberati on the Graveyard Shift

Lee Lofland over at the Graveyard Shift has asked if I’d like to do a guest column. Lee’s a retired detective who’s “solved cases in areas including narcotics, homicide, rape, murder-for-hire, robbery, and ritualistic and occult crimes. He worked as an undercover officer for several jurisdictions, and he even spent a few years as aContinue reading “Draft #2-Timberati on the Graveyard Shift”

Timberati on the Graveyard Shift Draft #1

Lee Lofland over at the Graveyard Shift has asked if I’d like to do a guest column. Lee’s a retired detective who’s “solved cases in areas including narcotics, homicide, rape, murder-for-hire, robbery, and ritualistic and occult crimes. He worked as an undercover officer for several jurisdictions, and he even spent a few years as aContinue reading “Timberati on the Graveyard Shift Draft #1”

Writing an E-Mail Query Letter

Many magazine, literary agents, publishers, etc., are accepting e-mail query letters. E-queries use a different format than the standard query letter sent through the postal mail. And, if you’re like me (unpublished but taken steps to rectify that deficiency) you don’t know what a query should look like. I found an article at Associated ContentContinue reading “Writing an E-Mail Query Letter”

Writing an E-Mail Query Letter to a Literary Agent

Many magazine, literary agents, publishers, etc., are accepting e-mail query letters. E-queries use a different format than the standard query letter sent through the postal mail. And, if you’re like me (unpublished but taken steps to rectify that deficiency) you don’t know what a query should look like. I found an article at Associated ContentContinue reading “Writing an E-Mail Query Letter to a Literary Agent”

The Week's "What Next?" Contest

THE WEEK (motto: All You Need to Know About Everything That Matters) is a great weekly news magazine. We love it. It’s full of great writing from all over the world. Well, last week on the last page they added something new, a contest. The prize was one year’s subscription to The Week. We wereContinue reading “The Week's "What Next?" Contest”

The Week’s “What Next?” Contest

THE WEEK (motto: All You Need to Know About Everything That Matters) is a great weekly news magazine. We love it. It’s full of great writing from all over the world. Well, last week on the last page they added something new, a contest. The prize was one year’s subscription to The Week. We wereContinue reading “The Week’s “What Next?” Contest”