Tag Archives: creativity

Writers: How to Use Dramatic Reversals

Posted on July 17, 2025 by mitchteemley

Source: The Phoblographer Tips for Writers 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, The Wishing Map, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

How to Hide in Plain Sight

Posted on June 27, 2025 by mitchteemley

Five years ago, fresh out of lockdown, we had mixed feelings. We wanted to go out in public again. But after months of quarantine we were understandably nervous about exposure. That’s nothing new for the animal world. This semi-serious photo … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Why I (Have to) Tell Stories

Posted on June 12, 2025 by mitchteemley

If I was a greeting card, I’d be illustrated, and have one of those little built-in music tracks too. I honestly can’t remember a time I wasn’t captivated by words, pictures and music. Or by wanting to create them for … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir, Movies, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Videos, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 53 Comments

Edit, Edit, Edit…and Then Edit Again

Posted on May 14, 2025 by mitchteemley

Some things never change: I’m currently working on the “final final” draft of my book. It’s all strictly scientific: First, I remove sequences. Then I put them back in. Then I remove them again. Then I move paragraphs, put them … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 95 Comments

A Perfect Calm Before the Storm

Posted on May 6, 2025 by mitchteemley

My Real Memoir I stood in the dark one final time, and said, “Look, if you’re there, just cough or something.” As always, there was no answer. I was angry at God for not existing (although I wouldn’t admit it). … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Welcome to Reality 2.0

Posted on March 14, 2025 by mitchteemley

Reality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Our external senses don’t tell us everything, just enough to function in the world around us, to pretend it’s orderly and makes sense. But meanwhile, there’s a whole other world inside of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

The World’s Most Astonishing Sculptures

Posted on January 31, 2025 by mitchteemley

This collection of unique sculptures surprises us with its scale (tiny to immense), its unexpected locations, its uncanny realism, its skewed perceptions…and its sheer unclassifiability. Enjoy! Click on any image to enlarge it, or to begin slideshow.

Posted in Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

How I Became a Bad Boy

Posted on November 12, 2024 by mitchteemley

©The Shakespearean Tavern Playhouse My Real Memoir I was young and unshackled. I’d launched a street theatre group, The Right Pithee Players, and in our freewheeling improv performances, I would flirt with the crowd, tousle hair, steal caresses. And so would my … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Cool Illusions!

Posted on August 9, 2024 by mitchteemley

Illusions are everywhere. The more we look, the more we see. In fact, according to modern physics, our entire perception of reality is an illusion. Still, as Jean Rhys reminds us, “The value of an illusion (is) that the shadow … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Tips for Writers: Are You a Vulcan or a Klingon?

Posted on July 10, 2024 by mitchteemley

Whether you’re a get-to-the-point communicator or a wild-and-wooly wordsmith, you’ll be a better writer if you tap both sides of your brain: the logical, pragmatic, Vulcan side, and the intuitive, sensory, Klingon side. How? By employing words from the two … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 36 Comments