• Dirt: A Novel Update or The Universe Tells Me to Keep Writing

    Dirt: A Novel Update or The Universe Tells Me to Keep Writing

    Writing a novel is very different from writing a play. The story telling is the same, but the mechanics of it are different as I am finding out. I know the play writing process. I know it’s different for each story, but I have a good idea what I need to do to get to…

  • The Skillet Cookie: Chase Away the Monday Blues

    [Photographs: Emily Dryden] If I learned anything about food growing up down south, it’s that a cast iron skillet can work wonders for any recipe—even chocolate chip cookies. Slap a chocolate chip cookie dough in a cast iron skillet, and it’ll bake up crunchy around the edges, but soft and fudgy in the middle, like… via…

  • The Dog and the Train–Male Monologue 30s-50s

    This monologue is about 2 minutes. I wrote this character in his mid-30s, but he could be older or younger. Actors feel free to use this. Let me know how it goes. CHARLIE You like this place?  You like the work you’re doing?  Fixing the place up and all?  Helping to make it productive again,…

  • Walking New Hampshire Reblog

    Walking New Hampshire Reblog

    I have been enjoying reading this mother and son’s journey walking across New Hampshire. I am inspired by their fighting spirit. They struggle to walk, something I take for granted and look what they did. Read about the trip and then I encourage to read the blog posts in the order they occurred. Be prepared…

  • A Writers Gotta Eat: Raise the Steaks with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

    A Writers Gotta Eat: Raise the Steaks with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

    The Story It was dark outside. There was a loud noise and sirens. I remember being carried by my Mom down the street to Wendy Court. There was a bright spot,  huge flames and firetrucks. I was not yet 5. The flames appeared to be all over a garage. I heard the adults talking and…

  • A Simple Way to Find the Beginning of Your Story

    via Daily Prompt: Static It is good to mix things up and not remain static. Today my goal is to write this, proof it and post in 20 minutes. Go! Dramatic writers have many conversations about the status quo. A play or screenplay is stasis, chaos, new stasis. As a new writer, the idea of…

  • Write Every Day—it’s the best thing you can do to invite inspiration and hone your craft.

    Write Every Day—it’s the best thing you can do to invite inspiration and hone your craft.

    Write every day. It is my favorite piece of writing advice. The post  “Should You Write Every Day? A Close Look at the Oldest Piece of Writing Advice,”  by Nathaniel Tower on Juggling Writer made me re-think how I give it. Reading the post, I realized Nathaniel and his followers do not know why, “Write every day,”…

  • Viable or Invisible?

    via Daily Prompt: Viable Words have different meanings in different places. In New York, viable meant worth doing, possible. A new creative project; a play, a musical to consider. Or it was a solution to a creative problem a friend was having. It meant my advice was wanted and sought. I was viable every day…