
Writing Lessons Learned at Mesa Verde
I don’t know that a National Park has ever impacted me the way that Mesa Verde in southwest Colorado recently did. A week later, I’m still trying to understand why my mind goes back to those ancient dwellings carved in the cliffs. The place gave me a message that I’m...

What Decision Will You Make on Your Mountain to Change Your Future?
Are you climbing a mountain of difficulty right now? What decision will you make on this mountain to change the direction of your future? Six years ago I was climbing one of the highest mountains of difficulty in my life. To clear my mind, I took a hike up Deer...

Your Words: Fertilizer or Coffin Nails?
Words: Fertilizer or Coffin Nails? Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never break me. – Childhood rhyme Did you ever sing that song about sticks-and-stones after someone insulted you? We both know that's not true, don't we? Words are either...

How to Write a Love Note
"My life is so much better today because of your presence in this room." An old man laying in a hospital bed said that to me 30 years ago and I recall that phrase almost every day. Today is a good day to tell someone you admire how much better your life is because of...

A New Twist to the 5 Ws and How of Writing
Let's put a new twist on the standard who, what, when, where, why and how questions that writers are supposed to answer and approach it from the context of our motivation for writing. Why are you writing? To whom are your writing? How do you tell the story? What tools...

Never Argue With Someone Who Buys Ink by the Barrel
"One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given was never to argue with someone who buys ink by the barrel." - Floyd Hammer Writing stuff down matters and it matters a lot. The original quote to never quarrel with a man who buys ink by the barrel came from...

Mixing a Love for Writing With a Passion to Feed the Hungry
I love to write and recently resumed the practice of handwritten letters. My favorite instrument of choice, hands down, is a fountain pen. Using a fountain pen on fine paper requires an entirely different way of writing than which I am accustomed. I am also a...

Why Handwriting Letters Again has Helped me as a Writer
My story of recently taking up the tradition of handwriting letters starts with a chunk of wood and a persistent son. My son, Isaac, is a fine woodworking craftsman, remodeler and artist. We both share a love of working with wood and he kept encouraging me to take up...

The Gift of Words
I wrote a poem for my first grandchild, Cailyn Joy McNary, and read it to her last night. She's snuggled her seven-year-old body beside me on the couch and I began to read. (She the one on the right) She came into my world one day With skin as soft springtime air A...
Why Your Story Matters to the World
You’ve been knocked down a time or two in life, haven’t you? What made you get back up? What is the most crushing blow you’ve ever received? Bad news about your health? Someone walk out on you? Your best friend betray you? A trusted employee take all your money? How...