Category Archives: Writing and Blogging

Thoughts and tips for writers.

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, Fiction, Humor, Writing and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

Does God Ever Actually Answer?

Posted on June 26, 2025 by mitchteemley

God rarely tells me what he’s doing. But he’s always more than willing to show me what he wants me to do. Some years back I landed an invitation-only position in a CBS workshop for up-and-coming comedy writers. Was I … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir, Writing and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 87 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 Entertainment and Popular Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir, Movies, Music and Videos, Writing and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , | 53 Comments

Two Touching Father’s Day Monologues

Posted on May 28, 2025 by mitchteemley

Father’s Day is Coming! Pastors, teachers, and drama groups: These two Father’s Day monologues of mine have been performed throughout North America, as well as other countries. And both are now available from my script publisher SkitGuys.com for you to … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Religion and Faith, Writing and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

So, It Turns Out I Really Am a Novelist

Posted on May 15, 2025 by mitchteemley

When I was a kid I wanted to be everything. I practiced tight rope walking on the chain-link fence behind my buddy Jeff’s house in preparation to join the circus. Explored the city sewers, preparing to become a world-class archeologist. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Movies, Music and Videos, Writing and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , | 76 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 and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 95 Comments

Procrastination: A Nation of Procrastinators

Posted on April 30, 2025 by mitchteemley

Well, it’s Wednesday. Guess I’d better get started on that project I was gonna finish “by Monday at the latest.” “You can’t just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood. What mood is … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 51 Comments

Hey, It’s WordPress’s World…

Posted on April 24, 2025 by mitchteemley

…I’m Just Re-Learning How to Live in It Last year, all at once, after ten years of non-stop growth, and despite ongoing new subscriptions, my total subscriber numbers began plummeting. More importantly, visits to my blog site plunged over 35%. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Writing and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 100 Comments

Sometimes the Teacher Becomes the Student

Posted on March 31, 2025 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week This is a true story. I tutored writing students at a community college, and a suburban pop culture drone had just asked why she should “do punctuation.” “Because it’s the only thing that separates us from … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir, Writing and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , , , | 86 Comments

When the Truth is Suddenly Exposed!

Posted on March 26, 2025 by mitchteemley

I could wish this wasn’t a true story. But it is. A high school friend and I argued constantly. We had Gym class together, and one day we argued all the way to the showers and back to our lockers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Memoir, Writing and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 55 Comments