Published in Ask an Editor·PinnedMember-onlyNeed a Good Editor? Get in TouchIs There Anything Wrong with Creating a Medium Post That’s Just an Ad for My Services as a Writing Coach? — As anyone who has been on this platform for any amount of time knows, you can create a Medium post about anything from dogecoin to dirigibles. So why not create a post which is just an excuse for me to tell potential clients — that’s you — about my services…Editing4 min readEditing4 min read
Published in Crow’s Feet·6 days agoMember-onlyCher is 72. Her Boyfriend is 37.What could possibly go wrong? — Cher is 72. Her boyfriend is 37. Is this a trend? Are septuagenarian women dating Millennials now? I’m 68. Is there a 30-something boyfriend in my future? And would I really want to go out with a dude who was still in diapers the year I graduated from law school? …Aging3 min readAging3 min read
Published in Ask an Editor·Jan 13Member-onlyYour Title SucksHere’s How to Fix It — I’m a writer, but I’m also a writing coach and editor-for-hire. I work with beginning writers and accomplished writers, and every kind of writer in between, on projects ranging from 500-word humor pieces to 500-page novels. One of the most useful things I do for my writers is stop them…Writing4 min readWriting4 min read
Published in In for a Penny·Jan 2Member-onlyLove, Miss Universe, and the Hundred Years’ WarWhat I learned from magazines this week — I read a lot of magazines and I like to share what I’ve learned. Here’s what I learned from reading magazines this week: Greenpeace says it’s okay to stop recycling plastic. (The Week/11/11/22) Use of the word “love” in top 100 songs declined by 50 percent between 1965 and 2015…Humor2 min readHumor2 min read
Published in Crow’s Feet·Dec 22, 2022Member-onlyMy Resolutions for YOU in 2023How to make this world a better place — for me — Every year I make New Year’s resolutions, and every year I break them. So this year, I’m trying something different — resolutions for other people. Hey world — here are the changes I’d like to see YOU make in 2023. Cell phone owners? No more blathering on your phone in…Resolutions3 min readResolutions3 min read
Published in Ask an Editor·Dec 19, 2022Member-onlyOnce You’ve Published a Story on Medium Yourself, Can You Then Submit it to a Publication?Sometimes. Here’s How it Works — I’m a writing coach and editor-for-hire. One question my Medium clients often ask is whether they can submit work that they’ve already self-published on Medium to a publication, either on or off Medium. The quick answer? That depends on the publication’s submission guidelines. And each pub’s guidelines are different. Submitting…Writing4 min readWriting4 min read
Published in Crow’s Feet·Dec 2, 2022Member-onlyChange Your Name and Save the Planet!Is your middle name progressive enough? — Actor Rainn Wilson recently changed his name to “Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson” to highlight the dangers of climate change. “This is not a joke,” said Wilson. “I’m as serious as the melting Arctic.” Sorry, Rainn. It is too a joke. It’s also an entirely futile gesture. Even if…Activism3 min readActivism3 min read
Published in Crow’s Feet·Nov 28, 2022Member-onlyHow to Respond to Coffee Shop Space-HoggersTake a seat, hold your ground and don’t back down — You’re at your favorite coffee shop. You want to get a latte and a croissant and then sit for a while and enjoy your snack while reading a book or just people watching. But every table is occupied. There are couples at two-tops and groups of friends crowding around larger…Sharing4 min readSharing4 min read
Published in It’s a Hardback Life·Nov 22, 2022Member-onlyThere’s a Banana in the Book Drop!Well, at least it isn’t a frog — Life holds plenty of surprises, especially when you work at a public library. Last week, for instance, we found a banana in the book drop. Naturally, I logged onto my favorite librarian Facebook group to share the news. The first response? Curious George strikes again! Then: We once found a…Libraries3 min readLibraries3 min read
Published in It’s a Hardback Life·Nov 18, 2022Member-onlyAttention Library Patrons! Do NOT Donate Your Stinky Old Books and Textbooks to your Local Public LibraryWe don’t need your useless crap any more than you do — So you’re de-cluttering or Swedish Death Cleaning or Marie-Kondo-ing, which is to say that you’re finally getting rid of all the unwanted crap that’s been piling up in your home for years. Hurrah! That’s great! Well done, you! As a librarian, I’ve got just one small request. Please — whatever…Humor4 min readHumor4 min read
