Category Archives: Writing exercise

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”

The Week’s What Next? Contest/Feb. 20, 2009

The Week’s “What Next?” Contest (emailed entries are due to whatnext@theweek.com by 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, Feb. 16.) revolves around flight Aeroflot 315’s drunken pilot incident where passengers made enough of a fuss about the apparent intoxication of their pilot, they were able to have him removed and replaced. According to an article onContinue reading “The Week’s What Next? Contest/Feb. 20, 2009”

The Week's What Next? Contest/Feb. 20, 2009

The Week’s “What Next?” Contest (emailed entries are due to whatnext@theweek.com by 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, Feb. 16.) revolves around flight Aeroflot 315’s drunken pilot incident where passengers made enough of a fuss about the apparent intoxication of their pilot, they were able to have him removed and replaced. According to an article onContinue reading “The Week's What Next? Contest/Feb. 20, 2009”

Study Finds People Like Study Findings

THE WEEK magazine’s contest for this week involved studies that state the obvious: A new study has determined that the closer teenagers live to a lot of liquor stores, the more likely it is that they will drink. Astounding! Please invent another scientific study that proves the obvious and provide the headline for that study.Continue reading “Study Finds People Like Study Findings”

Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird

Epi-soda 16 A Magical Split “It seems we’ve been carting around in the double-decker deathtrap for months,” said Der Weasel. Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed. “Look, I told you about the ‘bookmark spell’ didn’t I?” she asked exasperatedly. She opened The Year of Magical Thinking at the place that she had bookmarked previously. “Actually,”Continue reading “Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird”

Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird

A Brief Retread, er, Recap As you may recall (and simply not care, you can be that way, if you like), Harry Splutter and his friends, Hermione and Der Weasel, are on a quest to find and then destroy Horcruxes (or Horcruxii in Latinate) in order to defeat the e-vile Count Wal D’Mart. While tryingContinue reading “Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird”

Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird

“Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so.” ~ Douglas Adams Epi-soda 15 “My word.” Bumblebore sighed. “It seems like we been riding the McClatchy—formerly Knight-Ridder—bus for weeks.” “It only feels that way,” said Hermione knowledgably and rather smugly. She reached her arm all the way past the elbow into her clutch bag and pulled outContinue reading “Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird”

Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird

“When in doubt, have a man come through a door with a gun in his hand.” (Raymond Chandler) Epi-soda 14 “Look out!” shouted Hermione shrilly while pointing and hopping from foot to foot. “Wha?” said Harry and Weasel unanimously and also stupidly thinking that she might need to use the little witch’s room again. “Mmmmph”Continue reading “Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird”