Once You Choose Your Blogging Niche, Can You Change It Later?
When you’re starting out writing online, the conventional wisdom is you must choose a niche right away. This niche isn’t only the general topic that you want to focus your writing on, but should also be the specific subjects at which you can write the best. Then, you pick a name for your blog or […]
The Importance of a Muse to a Writer
There must be a purpose when you write. It shouldn’t only be the topic that you wish to cover. Some of the best writing that I’ve encountered, whether my own or others, was a product of simply writing for a purpose besides covering one or more specific things. There are so many things that deserve […]
Reading is Good!
As a writer, it seems rather obvious that I should say that “reading is good.” But, let me tell you. As someone who didn’t pick up a book for a long time, until recently, I’d forgotten the truth of that statement. Sure, I’ll still read plenty of blogs and articles when I’m not reading books. […]
How to Spot a Bad Literary Agent: Five Warning Signs
Can a Bad Literary Agent Be Worse Than No Agent At All? Finding a literary agent to pitch your book to publishing houses is a major step forward in getting your book into print. Many publishers will not accept unsolicited queries from authors without an agent. So, finding a reputable agent is extremely important. This […]
Road Trips
Road trips are one of my all-time favorite pastimes. Adventures on roads less traveled are even more my favorites. Back roads often provide the most inspiring memories, but oftentimes less for the remarkable scenery and landmarks than the company shared between family, dear friends, and special loved ones. The conversations shared range from small talk, […]
Life is Not a Grade
I wrote a version of this piece for a Junior English writing assignment back in 2003. It has since been revised for clarity while still retaining the original flavor and essence of the piece. We’re taught in school to be responsible young adults. So, forgetting your English folder on a Friday morning, one in which […]
Is Everything That is Written Literature?
As someone who has written on thousands of subjects in many different niches over the years, I’ve amassed quite a writing archive. It occurred to me recently that I wasn’t sure what was worthy of carrying forward into my present. Tending to be one to go down rabbit holes on a whim, I started digging […]
The Quest for Immortality Never Ends in Eternal Life
Immortality is a human impossibility, at least as far as eternal youth in life is concerned. Even then, for millennia people have sought out the Fountain of Youth or whatever will bring them perpetual youth in the mortal world. But, what purpose does a life without death have? Our own realization of death’s imminence forces […]
Is Spanglish A Real Language?
What is Spanglish? Is it its own language, or rather something of a bridge between English and Spanish, constantly in flux? Spanglish is often considered a pidgin, a simplified speech used for communication between people with different languages. But, there is no one definite version of Spanglish. It is not so much a language with […]
What I Learned About Self-Discovery from “Heart of Darkness”
It has long been my particular fear of not being received well as a writer. No doubt, it’s the worst kind of fear that a prolific writer can have. As I found my own writing growing dense, I worried I’d get to a point where no one would understand what I had to say but […]