Tag: writing

3 Reasons Why Men Make Breakfast

Many Saturday mornings my Dad made waffles. Real waffles. Waffles on a gigantic waffle iron the size of a sheet of plywood. But Dad’s waffles weren’t normal. They had personality. They often resembled Mickey Mouse, butterflies, and I vaguely recall my alpha/omega initials “AZ” being burned into those wonderful little divits. Breakfast is magic. What other… Continue reading 3 Reasons Why Men Make Breakfast

An E-Mail from Yourself: Creative Life

From: You Subject: Your Creative Life Date: Today To: You ——————————————————– Dear You: Remember me? I’m you, but it’s 20 years down the road. I know this is kinda weird because you don’t remember writing this e-mail, but I’m sending it anyway. I wanted to remind you that you’re amazing, you have what it takes,… Continue reading An E-Mail from Yourself: Creative Life

How to (not) Write a Blog: Biggest Blogging Mistakes

Blog Mistake Number One: Poor Title The best way to keep readers from enjoying your awesome posts is to write a poor title. Your title should engage the reader, build value and provide them with a possible answer to a question they’ve always wanted to know. For instance, you’re reading this post (most likely) simply… Continue reading How to (not) Write a Blog: Biggest Blogging Mistakes

Creativity, Rule Breaking, and Growing Down

Mastering the art of when to break and not break the rules is a never-ending exercise in creativity. As creatives, we live with the privilege of learning that tightrope walk. Today’s my birthday. I’m 36. I used my birthday money to buy this… Yes, it’s a remote control toy helicopter. Yes, I’ve played with it a lot. Yes, it’s amazing.… Continue reading Creativity, Rule Breaking, and Growing Down

Celebrating Mistakes

There are multiple mediums of artistic expression: oil on canvas, word on paper, film on screen, status update on Facebook. Regardless of the medium, at times our initial vision may get distorted by a glitch (or two) during the creative process. The clay is too dry. The paint is low quality. Writer block. Fear. In… Continue reading Celebrating Mistakes

Friday Light: McDonald’s Dollar Menu Temptations

I’m weak. Like a girl at a hip-swiveling Elvis concert. Can’t say no. Willpower shot. I hear from within me a whisper of sinister rationalization: You deserve a break today. To which I answer “yes. Yes indeed I DO deserve a break today.” And then another voice… You want it, you need it. Another answer… Continue reading Friday Light: McDonald’s Dollar Menu Temptations

Friday Light: Big, Superfluous Words Make Us Seem Smarter

As creatives, we’ll often bend toward the serious side of life. Our temperaments embrace the melancholy, rainy day, James Taylor-esque “You’ve Got a Friend” sadness that, for some reason, makes us feel comforted. Not happy, but comforted.Sometimes we gotta chillax. In an effort to blend balance into our creative lives, I introduce to you Friday… Continue reading Friday Light: Big, Superfluous Words Make Us Seem Smarter