• Why I Write

    “What does it take to lead a creative life?” This was a question asked and explored by the author and creator of #1000wordsofsummer, Jami Attenberg. She was the final speaker (of a dozen in the publishing industry) at the 2025 Deep Dive Virtual Retreat I attended over the weekend. The lineup of presenters that two

  • Man Bites Dog

    “If it bleeds, it leads” is what I heard applied to news stories. I think we can all agree that it takes much less these days to make news. One inappropriate comment on a late night talk show gets as much press coverage as a catastrophic hurricane. I learned about another journalism bit of wisdom

  • I Know What You’re Thinking

    I know what is on the top of your mind as we turn the calendar to August. It is not the record heat (which has been keeping us indoors longer than a frigid winter). It is not the presidential election (with all of the noise and moving pieces). It’s not the medaling athletes making their

  • Deer in the Headlights

    My moment on stage doing stand up comedy felt just like the saying, “Deer in the headlights.” I was, in fact, scared like a deer with a big spotlight on my face. My whole routine was about fear and facing it when a real live three hundred plus pound bear came crawling up the carpeted