Tag Archives: writer

Burying the lead


As I talk to people, looking for story ideas, I often have to wade through a lot of ho-hum suggestions before striking pay dirt. More frequently than not, those nuggets are buried in throwaway comments made as I am about … Continue reading

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Writing alone together


Writing is a solitary profession. Even when I’m writing a business article and interview people, my mind is sifting facts, separating the wheat from the chaff, discovering those kernels that can grow into a story. Finding that opening, building the … Continue reading

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What about Paul?


Everything is coming together: characters, setting, story and plot. I’ve even figured out the dramatic tension. However, one thing still hangs in the balance: What should I do about Paul? He could be on the lam, which would point to … Continue reading

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Deflecting the glare


Think about the kid next door. The one you’ve known since she was in diapers. The one that used to ride his bike with your son. The one that would hang out at your house while her mom ran errands. … Continue reading

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A matter of perspective


The 11 strangers began by sharing where they were from and an interesting fact about themselves. At the end of five days, after hours together in the van or in pairs on the river, they slowly revealed more. The conversations … Continue reading

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An awesome power


The choices we make, trials we face, experiences we have, people we meet, the countries and families in which we are born, even our innate dispositions tug at us throughout our lives, molding us into the people that we become. … Continue reading

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Back to business


It was good to get back to Clinton. I took today off to catch up with Paul’s family and to learn more about his old friends. Since Paul had moved away, a new middle school had opened, swallowing two others, … Continue reading

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When mom’s away…


No sooner did the lock click behind me as I headed to the airport than the word was telegraphed: Mom is gone. And you know what that means – PARTY! It wasn’t like they had been unsupervised. Leigh had stopped … Continue reading

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Learn from the best


I love to read, but I just don’t have time. My frazzled friends and I myself repeat this chorus. For me, reading is a guilty pleasure, something I try to sneak in when I’m not doing all the “musts.” But … Continue reading

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Meet Paul


Now that you’ve met Janelle, I’ll introduce you to Paul, a 27-year-old from Clinton, Iowa. The tall, blue-eyed veteran looks more like an all-American boy than the terrorist he’s accused of being. But, then, the jury is still out on … Continue reading

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