The cynic is the most misunderstood character. He or she can be mistaken for a pessimistic asshole or whiny bitch. If a person is truly pessimistic, he would appear apathetic. Think about it. We all know that the world isn’t a great place and things are getting worse. We are all frustrated with leadership, government,…
Some people (such as a few members of my own family) seem to have this idea that writers “just write” or those in creative professions have taken a perpetual hobby of endless pleasure. That’s for hobby writers. In reality, it’s a mental workout with its rewards and efforts. Other than writing, there’s constant pitching, deadlines, marketing…
That’s a question, I ask all my clients. It tells me their intention and purpose. As an editor, that helps me ensure that their writing consistently aligns with their intended purpose or vision. And, the follow-up to the question is, “And, why should your readers care? What do you hope your readers will get out of…
Those of us re-watching Buffy since it came out in 1997, it brings so many chuckles, memories, and hot guys on screen. The reason Buffy was popular was because it captured the alienation a young girl feels for being headstrong, tough, and nonconformist. There’s a lot of pressure for teenage girls to be pretty, popular,…
I’ve been there myself—many times. There was a time when I simply couldn’t write and thought about giving up. I thought my aspirations must be a joke. I must be the dumbest person in my writing class. Everyone has been there, even those with the book awards. If not, either you haven’t experienced it yet or you are a liar. I still wouldn’t call those times writer’s block. I suggest avoiding the term “writer’s block” like the plague.
While on the topic of race and media, someone asks me, “What do you think about Apu?” I didn’t want to get into a serious discussion that time. So, my response about that stereotypical character was, “I think Apu is a fucking genius.” Think about it. While the rest of us spent our resources on college…
Being an ambitious, creative person with a high level of intellectual curiosity, yet having a body weakened by a chronic illness is a daily challenge. I’m natural-born visionary and ideas-generator. My eyes see more than my body can perform. There are many exciting things out there in the world to be explored. If I can’t appease my intellectual curiosity, it’s painfully frustrating.
I took Marvel characters for granted till now. My 7-year-old stepson is into superheroes and loves spiderman, X-men, Iron man cartoons, and of course pirates. My husband creates graphic novels. Since he was a teenager, he created his own universe of characters and worlds. We both love mythology. I’ve also been studying Joseph Campbell’s Heroic…
I don’t particularly like writing about spiritual topics. It’s not my writing forte. And, it requires wrestling through traumatic experiences. My past experiences with religion left me feeling empty, disgusted, and cynical. I’ll try to process my rage and be as diplomatic as possible. Name-calling and bitchiness is not helpful to me or anyone else. It’s…
I’ve been very quiet lately. That’s one drawback of being an extrovert. My coworkers and others have been asking me if I’m OK—because I’m not as chatty or energetic. When I’m tired, I’m quiet. I’m quiet because I’m trying to process in my mind. I feel exhausted, frustrated, and grieving. It’s been an intense, depressing…
As a freelancer, there is the flexibility in schedule, not having to deal with traffic jam, and creativity to build your own brand. It’s rewarding. However, it takes hard work. Unlike working for someone, I do not have a boss who gives me work or feedback, a marketing or sales team who brings me clients, a…
In each of our pen lives, getting into a creative rut is common. If that happens, it’s necessary to push through. I imagine a seedling pushing its way through the ground or a hatchling pecking its way out of the eggshell. There’s no other way out. At times, the daily grind of a writer can feel mundane. Don’t let…
