The Writing Life
Many people talk about having a work-life balance. I’m not one of them. I don’t believe in a work-life balance. Life and work are too messy to be in balance. The two can’t be placed in some sort of ledger and be made to cancel each other. They are not parts of an equation that can be balanced. I’m not even sure that they need to be balanced, at least not in the way the word “balanced” usually is understood.
[Read more…] about Your Life Is not a Checkbook – Quit Trying to Balance It
When my friend Yuvi Zalkow challenged his readers to write about their fears or failures, I knew I would take part. One, he’s a friend. Two, the assignment is a creative challenge. Three, said assignment frightens me. I know I write about my fears on this blog at times, but Yuvi’s challenge seems of an entirely different caliber.
I’ve submitted my proposal to SXSW, but I now need your help. Will you vote for my interactive session idea at the SXSW PanelPicker? Voting opens today and closes on August 31.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about misplaced modifiers. I used “misplaced modifiers” and “dangling modifiers” as synonyms; however, they are not synonyms. My friend Estella Ramirez explains.
There’s an old Groucho Marx joke that goes:
“I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don’t know.”
If you can get the joke, you can understand misplaced modifiers. The modifier here is “in my pajamas,” and well, the sensible thing to do would be to put that modifier next to “I” as in “In my pajamas, I shot an elephant.” It’s clear that Groucho’s wearing the pajamas. It’s clear, but not funny at all.
[Read more…] about Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers: Who Cares?
I’m often asked how I publish as often as I do. It’s hard for me to understand the question. How can I not publish as often as I do? My rhythm would be out of sorts if I were to publish less often. I then wonder what the motive behind the question is. Is the person merely curious or does he or she want some sort of magic pill?
[Read more…] about How Do You Publish as Frequently as You Do?
“Dream big” and “work hard” are phrases often fed to kids. Kids are told if they work hard enough that their dreams will come true. They will find Mr. or Mrs. Right. They will get the dream job with the cushy salary. They’ll live the American dream.