Tag Archives: tips

Ten Tips You Should (Never) Follow

Posted on August 13, 2025 by mitchteemley

More Useless Information. You’re Welcome.

Posted in Culture, Humor, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

How to Get a RISE Out of Your Readers

Posted on March 22, 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. In the previous post, we learned that a funny story begins with a crisis. Now we’ll talk about how to build … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments

How to be Funny: Using the DRIP Method

Posted on March 21, 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. In the previous post, I talked about the why of being funny. Now let’s look at the how. First and foremost, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

You Can’t Always Give What You Want

Posted on February 8, 2025 by mitchteemley

Tips for Writers Writers, you’re probably thinking, “Well, of course. When I’m creating characters and storylines, my primary source of advice is always the Rolling Stones. Or maybe not. But Jagger does have a point. Don’t build a conventional dramatic … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Humor, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

How to Greet People in Different Countries

Posted on April 26, 2023 by mitchteemley

My Featured Blogger this week is Angela of Suitcase Travel Blog. Whether you’re planning on travelling or just dreaming about it, this site is for you. “Exploring new places, meeting new people, and learning more about cultures and traditions brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

My 10 Biggest Hits of 2020

Posted on March 20, 2021 by mitchteemley

I’d normally post a list of best movies. But like everyone else during the Twilight Zone (or is that Toilet Zone?) year of 2020, I saw fewer movies and am still catching up. So I looked at my own “bests” … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Movies, Videos | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Tips for Writers: The Serious Business of Funny

Posted on November 19, 2020 by mitchteemley

It’s been said that the only difference between Shakespeare’s tragedies and comedies is this: at the end of his tragedies, everyone dies, and at the end of his comedies, everyone gets married. A Midsummer Night’s Dream could have been a … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Movies, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

A Walk In The Park: An Exercise in Characterization

Posted on July 8, 2020 by mitchteemley

My Featured Blogger this week is Laura M. Bailey of All the Shoes I Wear. Laura is a writer whose insights come from a colorful, wildly varied life. Her writing is informed, she explains, by “all the shoes I’ve worn…from … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Tips for Writers: Frustrate Your Hero

Posted on January 28, 2020 by mitchteemley

Writers, I know what you’re thinking, “Well, of course. I always seek the Rolling Stones’ advice when I’m creating characters and storylines.” Or maybe not. But Mick does have a point: Instead of building a conventional dramatic arc by having … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 26 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