Category Archives: Story Power

Monologues, drama, fiction, memoir

The Wishing Map (continued)

Posted on September 30, 2020 by

Note: To read the Preface and Prologue to The Wishing Map first, click here. The Wishing Map Chapter One: The Double Moon “Zachary Zinn rode like the wind on his faithful steed, El Furioso,” Zack narrated as he pedaled. Zachary … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Humor, Story Power, The Wishing Map, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Wishing Map

Posted on September 29, 2020 by

Yesterday’s quote from my fantasy novel The Wishing Map was warmly responded to. And I’m currently in the throes of editing the novelization of my feature film Healing River (to my editor’s satisfaction, I pray). And so I’ve re-posted the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Memoir, Story Power, The Wishing Map, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

The Old Man’s Ghost

Posted on August 22, 2020 by

A Strange-But-True Story As a theatre student, I once chose a charming but obscure play to direct. Loosely based on Gogol’s “The Overcoat,” the play concerned a Tailor in the Jewish garment district of pre-WWII London. In it, the ghost … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Story Power | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Thank You!

Posted on August 6, 2020 by

Dear followers friends: You have made Healing River a hit! Amazon updates show that viewings of Healing River tripled last month and are continuing to go up! It’s now being watched every day by thousands who neither follow this blog … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Movies, Story Power, Videos | Tagged , , , , , | 52 Comments

Now We Are Six

Posted on July 30, 2020 by

Today is My 6th Blogiversary! According to development experts, a healthy 6-year-old will: Speak in complete sentences of five to seven words. Actually, I’m working on getting it under 100 words: Q. “What’s that?” A. “Funny you should ask, because … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Story Power, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 102 Comments

Tips for Writers: The Power of Ironic Reversals

Posted on July 11, 2020 by

Dramatic tension is the key to an engaging storyline—or even an essay or blog post, for that matter. This takes the form of rising action, a series of reversals (escalating problems or crises) that must be resolved. These keep us, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Movies, Story Power, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

Telling Stories

Posted on May 18, 2020 by

If I was a greeting card, I’d be one of those illustrated story cards, the ones with the little built-in music tracks. I honestly can’t remember a time I wasn’t captivated by words, pictures and music. Or by wanting to … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir, Movies, Story Power | Tagged , , , , | 25 Comments

A Filmmaker’s Journal

Posted on April 14, 2020 by

My Feature Film is Finally Being Released! I’ve been updating readers for years about my first feature film as a writer-director, Over-the-Rhine. So I’m beyond thrilled to announce that it’s finally being released! And that its name has been changed … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Movies, Story Power, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 130 Comments

In Praise of Plotting

Posted on April 4, 2020 by

At the moment I’m holed up (who isn’t?), working on the “final final” structure of my novel, removing sequences and putting them back, adding sections and then taking them out. I know all the rules and apply them religiously, until … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Story Power, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

My Epic Quest for Toilet Paper

Posted on March 14, 2020 by

Due to the growing pandemic, most public gatherings in our area are cancelled. The public is making a run on local markets in preparation to stay at home. Toilet paper was the first thing to go! It all feels kind … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Story Power | Tagged , , , , , , | 89 Comments