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STORY BUILDING FROM THE BOTTOM UP

Story building is something you learn through trial and error? Or learn from graduate programs and writing conferences? Or reading? Lots of Reading? Don’t be shocked to think it’s all of that and more. But, where to start? Why not the beginning?

POWER TOOTH FILLS THE GAP

The power tooth, as defined on this blog, is more than a tooth. It is all your teeth, a lifetime of teeth. Is that powerful enough for you to keep up with them? More importantly, powerful enough for me, the tooth blogger?

SURRENDER CELEBRATION FOR GIVING UP

Surrender celebration starts after you’re done. Whatever it was you were working on, when it’s done, you’re done. You’re not going to make anything better at some point. That’s when you need to know how to walk away.

STORY MEDICINE AND THE CURE

Story medicine is what you see and hear. Think of it like going out for music: Is it, “Let’s get tickets and go see Taylor Swift?” Or, “Let’s get tickets to hear Taylor Swift?” It’s both. Around here we call that, “The Deuce.”

LAST CALL? NOT FOR YOU

Last call for alcohol? Nope, not that one. If you don’t hear from yourself on a regular basis, check in. If it’s busy, make a recall.

FAMOUS PEOPLE MAKE BAD DEALS TOO

Famous people are like unicorns around here: I’d have to make one up. Besides, I like famous people best when I know nothing about them. Call it the Elvis Effect.

SHOPPING INSPIRATIONS: THE RIGHT TIME

Shopping inspirations happen, if you’re lucky, when you have money in your pocket. My shopping inspiration: ‘Buy one bottle of gas station champagne, get the second bottle half-price.’ That did it. Along with a box of hard seltzer with a six of trial-cider. What was I shopping for? A hangover?

BRANDED BLOGGER: WHO IS ON BRAND

Every branded blogger works their site like a farmer. They prep the page, sew the seeds (words,) and irrigate. But the best branded bloggers do more than irrigate. They irritate. It goes like this:

SELF-TALK SECRET? YOU’RE NOT THAT BAD

Self-talk proves one thing: You’re an easy sell if you talk yourself into trouble. Then what? Talk yourself out of trouble. What did you think? And that’s where opinions differ.

OREGON SPORTS ILLUSTRATED COVERS AND MORE

Oregon sports didn’t begin with Steve Prefontaine, but he was the first Oregonian on the cover of Sports Illustrated. At least that’s what the smart-guy talent online say. Sports Illustrated and I were born the same year. With the end of the magazine this week everyone is sad. I’m sad even though my subscription lapsed […]