Antidote for Fifty Shades of Grey

Yesterday, I wrote Gina Barreca to thank her for her commentary on Fifty Shades of Grey. It’s a fine column, slamming Fifty Shades as a “…form of residue: It’s what’s left over when you extract the intelligence, wit, energy and originality from a book.” You can...
Soul Sense: A Writer’s Guiding Light

Soul Sense: A Writer’s Guiding Light

Near the end of last year, I spent some time reading my 2014 journal, flagging those entries that were a record of break-through and “ah-ha” moments. One of those moments came on a December evening when I sat with my guitar and started singing — playing songs I had...
An Act of Faith and Magic: The Opposite of Fate

An Act of Faith and Magic: The Opposite of Fate

Some years ago, by chance, I turned on the radio and heard Amy Tan on This American Life. She was talking about a time when she had been flat broke, and how a fender-bender had brought her the exact amount of money she needed to fix her cat’s broken leg. I...
A Lovely Getaway: Mr. Fooster Traveling on a Whim

A Lovely Getaway: Mr. Fooster Traveling on a Whim

One shelf in my studio bookcase is reserved for books on writing. It is a collection made up of a few writers whose books about writing have inspired and helped me; they have fueled my writing energy and aided my craft. Mixed in with those books are some plays and...
Saved by Story

Saved by Story

Welcome to Write Away, my blog for writers, readers, and book lovers everywhere. I am one of you, and must confess that I not only love books—I am just short of being a book addict. Yesterday, while walking down the main street of a small coastal town, I saw a shop...