There are quite a number of relatively successful novels that I find to be nothing more than thinly-veiled autobiographies. Surely there are others out there who share my sentiment when they come across some book that smells like nothing more than the re-imagination of the author's life. Anis Shivani says, "Bad writing draws attention to…
Ginger & The Snaps – Spare Time [Lyrics]
Another one of my favorite teen doo wop songs: 'Spare Time' by Ginger and The Snaps, apparently released by Titan in 1961 on 7" 45 RPM vinyl. This apparently rare track floats around in obscure corners of the Internet with the artist (mis)labeled as Ginger & The Safaris as well. The original record is worth…
A Writer Or Father: A Fork In My Road
When I entered the classroom to begin another semester of workshopping my fiction, I felt a gentle warmth in my body. I smiled, which I rarely do. I said hi to a classmate from the prior semester, which I don't ever do. What I was feeling was love. I felt like I was at home.…
A Writer’s Mastery: Understanding The World
The more I write my novel, the more I am confronted with particular difficulties. I can see now why many novelists publish their better works when they're older. Age gives you life experience, and with it comes a greater mastery over the stories you write. For instance, if you wish to write a story depicting…
The Prison of Imagination
After all these years dedicated to developing mg writing skills, I find that I most often draw inspiration from the real world--and heavily so. Without the real world to stimulate my mind, I find it difficult to write about much of anything. Therefore it can be said that I am not truly creating anything. Rather,…
