Archive for October 2016
Great first sentences (and an analysis of the first sentences of my own novels)
I have no definitive favorite first line of a novel, though I am partial to the first line of Slaughterhouse Five: “All this happened, more or less.” Also, Fahrenheit 451: “It was a pleasure to burn.” Of all my books, I like the first sentence of Chicken Shack, my unpublished novel that will hopefully see…
Read More“Yeah, but…”
I despise these two words. It’s not that I don’t say them, but when I hear myself saying them, I despise myself. I remind myself of how stupid I sound. I’ll even apologize for them if the moment is right. “Yeah, but..” is never good. It’s a disingenuous agreement. An artificial attempt to move on.…
Read MoreQuite possibly Bruce Springsteen’s most brilliant and perfect observation ever
Bruce Springsteen on Fresh Air: “Most people’s stage personas are created out of the flotsam and jetsam of their internal geography. They’re trying to create something that solves a series of very complex problems inside of them or in their history.” — Bruce Springsteen Springsteen is an obvious musical genius. A brilliant writer and musician…
Read MoreUnfair assumption #27: People who object to mothers breast-feeding in public are freakish, worthless prudes and more
It’s crazy that some people – mostly men – object to women breastfeeding in public. Some of these people are downright despicable about it, making passive-aggressive comments to these mothers or aggressively chastising them for exposing some or all of their breast. Their objections are inappropriate. Disgusting. Sexist. Stupid. Narrow minded. Ignorant. Inane, Cruel. None of those…
Read MoreThis Playmobil bicycle helmet does not appeal to me, and for good reason.
Two or three years ago, this prototype of a bike helmet would have meant nothing to me. I didn’t grow up with Playmobil toys. I wouldn’t have even recognized this as Playmobil hair. Now my house is filled with these tiny, plastic things. In fairness, most of them have been purchased by my seven year-old…
Read MoreHow Poor Were You?
I spent last weekend in the company of Elysha’s 94 year-old grandmother. We call her Nana, and I always love speaking to her. In the midst of our chat, I was reminded of a conversation Nana and I had a couple of years ago. Nana told me about a game that she had played with…
Read MoreUnfair assumption #26: Adults who drink milk are lunatics
There’s nothing wrong with an adult drinking white milk. Nothing at all. Truly. Still, it just seems so wrong to me. Insanity, really.
Read MoreSometimes a job is more than a job.
I have been teaching at the same elementary school in West Hartford, CT since the fall of 1999. The way that this school and its people have become intertwined in my life astounds me. Just over the course of the Columbus Day weekend: I went to a Moth StorySLAM in Boston with a former colleague.…
Read MoreThis is more important than selling shoes and books.
I have a friend who approached me a couple weeks ago and said, “Do you know why Michael Jordan never endorses political candidates? Because Democrats and Republicans both buy shoes.” He went on to say that he was surprised that I was writing so many politically-minded posts when I have books to sell. “Everyone reads,”…
Read MoreThe Moth: The Promise
In November of last year, I told this story about my high school sweetheart at a Moth GrandSLAM in Brooklyn. I was lucky enough to have the story air on the Moth Radio Hour and their podcast a couple months later. I can’t tell you what a honor and thrill that is. I hear from…
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