Sometimes procrastination pays off — I am a writer, but I’m also a writing coach and editor-for-hire who works with writers to improve and publish their prose. One question that often comes up is when to start writing. You’ve got a topic, a story or a person you want to write about. …

Here’s Why — My favorite six-year-old and a friend were on the playground. After an hour of running around and playing, the two of them ended up sitting together on the top of a climbing toy and having a rest. I, of course, was nearby, keeping an eye on them. This is what…

Besides the fact that he’s as funny on paper as he is in song — Randy Rainbow’s new memoir, Playing with Myself, is as much fun to read as his videos are to watch. It’s full of clever laugh lines, lots of attitude and Rainbow’s unique take on life. To whet your appetite, here are 13 things I learned about Randy from reading his book: …

What’s wrong with this headline? — In response to a recent piece I wrote about clickbait headlines, Mia Miller commented: We recently had catastrophic floods in Australia and one of the news headlines was “Elderly woman dies in her house from flood, alone.” Why did they have to say ‘alone’? It's so manipulative! I agree. This…

Or is it just me? — I’ve been on Medium since 2019, and all I really know about the Medium algorithm is that nobody really knows anything about the Medium algorithm. The algorithm puts stories in our feeds every day. Of the zillions of new posts that appear on the platform, how does Medium decide what…

There are some stories you just don’t need to read — Years ago, I was involved in a freakish tragedy so startling and heartbreaking that it made the front page of not only my local newspaper, but People and the National Enquirer. I’m not going to tell you anything about it. …

Don’t Be One of Them — I was leaving my house to visit a friend when she phoned to tell me that she was having a bad migraine. “Could you stop by the deli and pick up a Coke for me on the way over?” she asked. “Sure,” I said. I know that she’s often plagued…

And I’m keeping it that way — I’m 67. I’m semi-retired. I have enough money to live on for the rest of my life, if I remain frugal. And I don’t know a damn thing about crypto. For decades, I invested my money in stocks and bonds. Mostly mutual funds. My wealth, such as it is, grew…

Here’s What You Need to Know — I’m a writer, but I’m also writing coach and editor-for-hire who works with writers to help them improve and publish their work. One of the best markets I’ve found for my clients who write personal essays is Chicken Soup for the Soul. …