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Writing Strategy: The Shifting Story of Widow's Bay and Why It Works

*Spoiler warning for spoilers up to Episode 8. I've had stories stall because I worried they were headed nowhere, or that they were too linear and caught up in picayune detail.

Tom Loftis: The Worst Guy We Still Want to Watch

Widow's Bay is a masterclass in writing unlikable characters.

Widow's Bay: The Little Horror Show That Could

Widow's Bay is having a moment. When it first came out, I watched the first episode while quite high on pain killers after a surgery. A few days later, I watched it again, remembering I'd found it surprising and hilarious. I wondered if it would hold up upon a sober viewing.

2024 Midyear Update: Readings, Classes, and More

I have a lot going on, I've been talking to some organizations about offering classes and retreats around Wisconsin, so I'll probably have more news coming soon. I will be reading one of my short stories at an event on July 28 at noon at Arkana

Feeding the Well

I traveled to New Orleans a couple of weeks ago to finish a novella I was writing and do some research. And, most importantly, to replenish my well of creativity.

What I'm Reading: Master of Poisons

This book has a lot going on. At its core it's a fantasy about people dealing with political and environmental catastrophe.

How to Head Off Burnout

My natural state is to push myself. To compete with myself. To always strive to work hard and to keep getting better. In order to heal from burnout, and to avoid it in the future, I had to learn how to go against what I consider to be part of my nature. I had to learn when not to push myself.

Programming and Classes Correction

I'm going to be teaching one class in person locally in Appleton starting in May, one class in person at The Loft on 6/29, and one class online for the Loft starting in July.

A Bit of Drash

Here is a cleaned up version of the drash (sermon) I gave during a recent Friday night service at my synagogue.

Project Management for Writing: Tools

Recently, I was asked what online tools I use for tracking my writing. The answer is a little complicated.

New Programming and Classes for 2024

I've been busy on my end, I have a couple classes I'm going to be adding to my summer schedule, and I've decided to take a retreat at The Christine Center in a couple of weeks.

What I'm Reading: The Warm Hands of Ghosts

I found The Warm Hands of Ghosts through the Fantastic Strangelings Book Club, and it was such a wonderful surprise of a novel.  This book by Katherine Arden was a ghost story, and a fairy tale, and a historical novel about the terrors of war all rolled into one.

Thwarting the Inner Censor

There are so many ways to make a writing process work, but the number one way to find what those are is to experiment freely and widely until the pieces fall together.

My Travel for 2024

I've added a conference for this year: 4th Street Fantasy!