I was once accused of bias in an opinion column I wrote. That this person took issue with my opinion appearing on the opinion page of the newspaper was not a first but it did get me to thinking about bias in news. There are several types of bias: institutional, bias by omission, spin, bias … Continue reading A totally biased look at the issue of bias

The Writer's Circle [sic] on Facebook (I know, it should be “The Writers Circle” because it's a circle of writers and not a circle that belongs to the writer—see the AP Style Manual, which covers “farmers markets” and “teachers lounges” in the same manner.) put out this 30-day writing challenge. Being that I have two … Continue reading Taking the 30-minute writing challenge

I think if a door-to-door insurance salesman comes into your house to try to sell you a term life policy, and he's wearing thick leather gloves the entire time, it's OK to ask him if he'd like a glass of lemonade. And then, while his back is turned, you should conk him over the head … Continue reading The butler probably didn’t do it

Why would you want to read the latest Oates or Grisham when you can choke down some schlubb's amateur musings? Good question. Does anyone else feel a non sequitur coming on? Which brings me to my next point .... lately, I've been trying to think of how to share some of my serious fiction work with … Continue reading Eat (Taco Bell) Pray (practice novel) Love (tentacle porn)

Are we about good with writing advice? Lemme be clear, I'm not talking about the gems handed down by bestselling authors and English professors (that's teachers of English, not people who say "Ello Guvna.") I'm talking about the many more thousands of articles written by novices, hobbyists, and self-pubbed shmohawks. (Note: not all self-pubbers are shmohawks.) … Continue reading I’m sick of (other people’s) writing advice