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To Write: A Song of Bones – A Sunday Essay

To Write: A Song of Bones – A Sunday Essay

I have had no real understanding of what bones were or which bones were which. That bone song about this bone being connected to that bone never stuck. Now I wish I could examine these cow bones and name them for you, but what’s in a name, anyway.

Name or no name, these ivory sticks play a pivotal place in the role of being a writer to me, and that – the song of bones – is what I want to drum.

The Surprising Reason Why Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Splits Went Viral
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The Surprising Reason Why Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Splits Went Viral

You’ve likely heard and seen by now the Volvo ad that went viral as Jean-Claude Van Damme performs his “epic splits.” But why did it go viral? Maybe if we took a closer look at what happens to most of us emotionally as we experience the 72-second video from beginning to middle to end, we…

On Our Resistance to Decode Magic: Sunday Essay
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On Our Resistance to Decode Magic: Sunday Essay

Note: Around once a month, I pledge to break blog decorum and essay = attempt to say something; a trial; an artful testing out on foot.  The essay more than any other writing form is the amorphous form of the writer’s quest. “The essay’s engine is curiosity; its territory is the open road….This is what makes…

The Post-Ecstasy Laundry List (Keep it Flowing!)

The Post-Ecstasy Laundry List (Keep it Flowing!)

Whoosh. You’ve returned from a creative retreat that cracked open your heart or a writing intensive that launched your spirit or a business retreat that clarified your vision. Boom. You return home and to the office. Your spouse reminds you that the juicer is broken. Your senior partner reminds you of the clients’ work waiting….

Tracking Wonder, Serendipity, & Creative Virtuosity on the Web
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Tracking Wonder, Serendipity, & Creative Virtuosity on the Web

The Cost of Creative Excellence Take an experiment with me. First, consider this. When it comes to production value, I’ve noticed we creatives can get trapped between extremes. By production value, I mean how well we execute and produce our final products, stories, designs, jewelry, services, presentations, or offerings – or even marketing. On one…

Publishing Options for Hybrid Authors Like Laraine Herring
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Publishing Options for Hybrid Authors Like Laraine Herring

This is a story about seeing beyond either/or. It’s a story about choosing friends and fulfillment and your readers while still forwarding your career. It’s a story about collaborative publishing. It’s a tale of two novels, too, coming out on the same day by the same author. But context, first. (Skip down if you don’t…

Why Book Design Matters More Now Than Ever
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Why Book Design Matters More Now Than Ever

Whatever publishing route you take, you need to know what choices for book design – inside and out  – can affect your book’s success.   How a writer thinks of design often distinguishes an amateur from an artist or professional. Why? Amateurs often fixate on what the writing does for them. Artisan-authors and professional authors, on…

The Heart of Story (any genre)
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The Heart of Story (any genre)

1. From A Taste of Fish to a Taste of Freedom Thelma wanted to go fishing for a weekend with her buddy Louise. Just the two of them cutting back, drinking beer, and soaking in the great outdoors. Problem? Her good ol’ boy hubbie wouldn’t hear of it. And wide-eyed Thelma complied. With savvier Louise’s…

When & How to Stop Business As Usual

When & How to Stop Business As Usual

Note: High summer seems an ideal time to hang low and retreat from the bright spotlight.While “hanging low” during high summer, I’m posting ideas and archived posts. Many of them have been related to the Art of Productive Loafing, a talent I constantly re-teach to myself as well as to creative professionals and teams.  But this archived piece…