Tag Archives: style

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

Here’s Why Being Funny Matters

Posted on March 20, 2025 by mitchteemley

How to Be Funny Whether you’re a writer, teacher, politician or mortician, this three-part series will help you be wittier — or I’ll refund every penny you’ve paid! My first career was about funny. I spent 13+ years in sketch … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 41 Comments

How to Be Cool

Posted on September 25, 2023 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week “See the bowtie? I wear it and I don’t care. That’s why it’s cool.” ~Steven Moffat ∇ I’m not cool And neither are you How do I know? Because you’re reading this Which proves you want … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Welcome to Teenage Boot Camp

Posted on August 30, 2022 by mitchteemley

My Real Memoir We were in junior high school, theoretically, to learn Math, English, and Social Studies. But we all knew the real reason we were there: to learn how to be cool, so they’d let us into real high school. … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Tips for Writers: Sin Boldly!

Posted on September 6, 2019 by mitchteemley

Martin Luther famously said, “Sin boldly, but believe more boldly still!” In other words, if you’re going to do something, don’t do it by halves! While editing my novel, I became aware that I’d overused the phrase “as if” and … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes, Story Power, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 34 Comments

Tips for Writers: Creating Dynamic Sentences

Posted on March 15, 2019 by mitchteemley

BAH-da-da-DAHHhhh! BAH-da-da-DAHHHhhhh! BAH-da-da-DAHHHhhhh, BAH-da-da-DAHHHhhhh, BAH-da-da-DAHHHhhhh! Even if you’re not a classical music fan, you know the iconic opening from Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. Ludwig van Beethoven is the ultimate pin-up boy for one of the most important of all creative techniques: … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments

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

Posted on March 1, 2019 by mitchteemley

“Words, words, words.” ~Hamlet Whether you are a prosaic 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 accurate, logical, pragmatic Latinate side, and The intuitive, musical, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 53 Comments