Some time ago, I wrote about a dream sequence; a white tiger chasing me all around. Sure, there is symbolism in the tiger. I could spend a bunch of time analyzing it, but it's all kind of bullshit, you know? I mean, yeah, our dreams are somewhat a reflection of our subconscious desires, fears and thoughts which we often let affect us in this way. But the truth is that we wander aimlessly, for the ...

So I say that because I actually hate the whole "Keep Portland Weird" and "Portlandia" hipster phenomenon. Sure, I guess that is kinda the way that this city has tried to create itself as a vibrant up and coming city attempting to attract young profesisonals.The truth is it should be "Independentlandia."But I guess that slogan isn't as easy to sell! But think about it for a moment; Powell's City o

Writing a book is sometimes like a major construction project. Even when you think that the end is in sight, there is something else in the way; another freaking hurdle. With my first book, I was kind of just happy to say I completed it, I pretty much gave it away and really only my friends and family knew about the book.Like many writers I felt that the book was just so damn good that people woul

Life would be so much easier if I were, in fact, Hank Moody. No cares, a bunch of worries, but money in the bank. Sadly, well, not really sadly, Hank Moody I am not. I get to work all day, write articles when I get home for the meager paying portion of my writing and then still try to make a novel sell somehow.But this is the price we pay to pursue our art, right. In a city full of hipsters, I am

A funny thing; we all think our lives are the most fascinating tales; Worthy of best selling novels and movie adaptations. The truth? Most of us are as dull as wet bread. We simply have no real excitement that would differe from everyone else in the world.What separates a good story from the mundane are conflicts not frequently encountered by everyone; or conflicts encountered in a manner or confr

So, it seems that I get inspired when I drive... not sure why the creative pictures fly through my head, but they do and they are usally a doozy of an idea!The last time I was inspired was a couple of weeks ago. that night I got home, sat down and jotted some notes about the concept. I had to do so because it is still a ways off before I get to that project. I have already begun work on novel thre

This weekend I saw another writer posit the question as to whether we as writers perform better in the task at hand with a drink or three; you know, follow the famed "advice" of Hemingway to write drunk. Remind me again how his life went? Sure, he was one of the best writers of the modern era, but there are bad things that can go along with the whole concept of artist creativity enhanced by drug o

It's a funny thing the sort of ultra-elitism that exists out there in the writing world. Hey, I get it, I am a bit of an elitist in some ways, favoring certain forms of writing over others. But that is about the art.How often do you hear a musician say "well, he doesn't really have a CD out because that was a self made CD?" While I am sure it happens, the truth is that musicians recognize the stru

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Writers. We are a strange breed. We have imaginations that run wild and are sometimes absolutely morose if not downright evil. And that is not excluded to what we put on paper, or digital bytes or any other form of written word; we live our lives with our heads in those clouds.I recently completed watching all seven seasons of the Showtime series "Californication" and, let me start by saying, I re