Want this button? She actually did it this time. Robin made up a new poetic form, for real. This isn’t an obscure form that I’ve decided to blame Robin for inventing, as I have done in the past. This one is a Pensieve Original Creation, or POC. The form: A Pensieve. And it’s really, really cool. It’s essentially a sense-memory poem, where you use each of the five senses (one per line) to evoke memory and connection from the reader. Here’s Robin’s description: “What is a... Read Full Story

Wow, I didn’t realize that it’s been a month since the last Write What You See challenge. But here we are, nearly into August, and it’s time for another round of image-triggered storytelling. Last month, I was pleased to get a few takers. The submitted stories were all unique, creative and funny. This month, I hope you’ll consider joining in as well. Click here for a lengthier description of this bit of fun. The rules are simple: I post a picture each month, along with some prompt1 to get you... Read Full Story

I’ve been re-reading Orthodoxy, bit by bit, over the last few weeks and I came across a passage that continues to be just about the greatest thing I’ve ever read on paper1. If I feel so strongly about it, why wouldn’t I share it here. “But the new rebel is a Sceptic, and will not entirely trust anything. He has no loyalty; therefore he can never be really a revolutionist. And the fact that he doubts everything really gets in his way when he wants to denounce anything. For all denunciation... Read Full Story

“The world’s greatest lie: At a certain point in our lives we lose control of what’s happening to us and our lives become controlled by fate.” - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist On November 1st, 2007, I began two journeys. One to write a novel, another to become a writer. Today, one of those journeys is being laid to rest unfinished. To Become a Writer: The Calling The latter is a journey I have desired to embark upon for many years. I believe it is a journey of calling and purpose. Not to... Read Full Story

Yesterday, I mentioned that my regular pre-Kindle reading list posts were going to evolve into a monthly dump of what I’m reading on and off the Kindle. Here’s the update for July. A wide variety of books… One thing I’ve realized this year as I’ve been tracking my reading closely is that there is almost no rhyme or reason to my reading. I suppose some smarter than I like to read thematically, or with a set list that doesn’t change. I read like a near 30-year old with mild ADD and a impulsive... Read Full Story

So, after three months of patient waiting and reading through a pile of books I vowed to complete, I finally ordered myself a Kindle. The bad news is that I didn’t exactly read all 16 books on my pre-Kindle reading list. I finished 12 and had 4 remaining when I decided to stop waiting and pull the trigger. I cracked. I am weak. I’ve accepted this. The good news is that I will still read those books. Seriously. I’m realizing that the Kindle can’t possibly be a complete replacement for all... Read Full Story

It’s time for the results! On monday, I posted the photo for the first Write What You See challenge, with instructions to write a piece of flash- or micro-fiction1, post the story on your blogs and return here on Friday to throw them into the mix. Here’s the photo again: I know that you’ve all written wonderful stories and are now queuing up to let us know about them. That part is simple, enter your name and the URL to the post for your story in the form below. I’ve already gotten a couple... Read Full Story

If we’re Twitter friends, you may have noticed–from early morning tweets–that I’m working on edits for a short story. It’s not Until Durango, that one’s done… again. This one is tentatively called “The Silent Funeral,” and it’s actually part of the novel I started working on last November. So yes, I am finally working on my novel again. About a month ago, I got an idea for a key scene that was completely missing from the first draft of the novel1 and I decided to try to write this scene as a... Read Full Story

Last week, I introduced what I hope will be a regular spot of fun here at Words of Redemption: Write What You See - The Monthly Micro-Fiction Challenge. Click on the link above to catch the details and the general idea if you missed it. Or, I can give you a brief summary here: Each month, for WWYS, I’m going to post an image and (maybe) some background information to get you started. Your job, then, is to take the picture and write a short, short story about it. And I do mean short. Like 100... Read Full Story

Next week, I am rolling out a monthly writing challenge. My hope is that it will be a way for writers and non-writers alike to flex their creative muscles once a month in a separate stream from their work–be it your day job or that novel, story or article in-progress that is starting to feel a little too much like work. If you’re a fan of PENSIEVE’s Poetic license, you’ll understand what I’m going for here: A challenge to stretch yourself creatively. Even if you don’t consider... Read Full Story