July 14, 2026 I am - well, somewhere in here (NASA photo) For the last few weeks, the local weather has whipsawed between stifling heat and the short but fierce downpours we Southerners call “toad stranglers.” My writing has gone through similar highs and lows that stranded me in my personal doldrums, like a sailing… Continue reading On writing: Escaping the doldrums
Tag: Short stories
Short story success!
May 18, 2026 I thank the Atlanta Writers Club for recognizing my short story “Everything Must Go” in the club’s annual writing contest. The fiction portion of the contest is named for Terry Kay, the award-winning author of “To Dance With the White Dog” and other great Southern novels. My piece is about a woman… Continue reading Short story success!
Writing: What you know, remember, and dream up
March 9, 2026 The real beach where my fictional characters hang out. Photo © Dave Swan. If you've been writing for any length of time, you've heard "Write what you know." In fact, you might've been inculcated with it, which is the ten-dollar way of saying, "had it knocked into your head." Often attributed to… Continue reading Writing: What you know, remember, and dream up
On writing: Tools for the hand and mind
February 6, 2026 When I retired from my last regular job in communications, my wonderful colleagues sent me off with a nice dinner, lots of shared memories, and best of all, a toolkit for my new writing career. It includes all this: A little notebook, which any writer worth their salt should keep within reach.… Continue reading On writing: Tools for the hand and mind