Podcasts by The Writers Lens

”Godzilla” and the Monsters We Make from 2023-12-04T22:50:24

Godzilla is an international icon in monster movie cinema. Recognizable by millions and adored by multiple generations. His inception - to those unaware - was Japan's response to the first, and ...

”The Croods” and the Burden of Parenting from 2023-11-15T22:44:36

Parenting is an easy task, isn't it? I mean, even a caveman could do it. 

Dreamworks' "The Croods" features a family of cavemen struggling to survive in a world that is drastically changi...

”Super Mario” and From Man to Myth to Icon from 2023-11-04T23:50:19

The Super Mario Bros. franchise is beloved from the east to the west. Its longstanding run in the video game industry has spanned nearly four decades and as of 2023, appears to have never been s...

Stories I Like, Love, and Hate - ”Dystopian Edition” from 2022-09-12T22:39:14

The dystopian genre has grown exponentially in the Western world over the years. Book series like "The Hunger Gams" and "Divergent" have made people reconsider if the power structures in play ar...

Stories I Like, Love, and Hate - ”Futurism Edition” from 2022-08-21T23:16:50

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Abraham Lincoln. 

Writers have been trying their best to predict the future for generations. Hundreds upon hundreds of ima...

Stories I Like, Love, and Hate - ”Aliens Edition” from 2022-08-14T21:59:15

Aliens. 

You hear the term and you instantly get an image of something otherworldly. Be it little green or gray men with giant eyes or terrifying insect-like beasts with acid for blood, t...

End of Summer Comeback from 2022-08-06T13:59:08

Miss me? Well, even if you didn't, I have returned for this end-of-summer-return-to-podcasting episode. In short, my creative sabbatical has ended.

Within this podcast, I'll give you some...

Stories I Like, Love, and Hate - ”Dinosaurs” from 2022-03-06T12:10:13

As part of a short series I'll be doing this spring, here's the first "Stories I Like, I Love, and I Hate" - DINOSAURS edition. 

Ever since I was a kid, dinosaurs have piqued my interest....

Why We Relate to Villains More Than Heroes from 2022-02-12T20:25:47

A livestream follow up to my 2021 episode about the Heroes and Villains of our own stories. In this live episode, I look at why we might have more in common with the villains of our favorite sto...

It’s 2022 - Time for a Kick-Off Episode from 2022-01-30T17:09:43

Like the title implies, it's almost the end of January and I realized I needed an episode to kick things off. Get ready for some updates, looking ahead, and what to expect in 2022. 

EP83: The Heroes and Villains Of Our Own Lives from 2021-12-16T23:09:59

We all want to be the heroes of our own stories. So how do we deal with those who come against us? Is it right that we make them into the villains of our own tales? Or are there other ways to de...

EP82: ”Terminator 2” and Great Father Figures from 2021-11-21T17:40:42

James Cameron's sequel to "The Terminator", otherwise known as "T2", is virtually the same tale as its predecessor, minus one very important detail: the father-son relationship explored between ...

EP81_”The Sword in the Stone” and Fate vs. Destiny from 2021-11-13T11:36:42

What is one's fate? What is one's destiny? These two ideas often run side-by-side in our culture and are also oft-presented as a means to direct someone's path. So what's the difference? And how...

EP80: ”101 Dalmatians” and the Dogs That Teach Us Human Things from 2021-10-25T23:38:13

101 Dalmatians is a beloved Disney tale. And upon watching it again as an adult, I can say it's even more beloved. Why? Because of its portrayals of positive parenting, what a caustic marriage l...

Interview: Clay Myatt and ”Echoes of the Gospel in Harry Potter” from 2021-09-27T22:04:24

Clay Myatt is a new author and my latest guest on #TheWritersLens. His first foray into the book world brings a unique perspective: exploring the foundations of the most successful book series o...

EP79: ”Pinocchio” and the Adoption of a Real Child from 2021-09-15T23:46:52

Pinocchio is one of Disney's greatest animated films. And though it's been analyzed up and down for its themes of morality and lessons on life, there is one such perspective that has hit home fo...

EP78: How Do We Bring Value In Our Stories? from 2021-08-24T22:21:30

A reflection episode on what (most) every creative feels when it comes to the content we create. As a storyteller, I believe we are all part of a bigger story. But how can we be most effective i...

Live Show: "I, Robot" and the Logic of the Heart from 2021-08-21T23:55:43

Talking about one of my favorite A.I. films, I, Robot and more specifically, a scene where Sunny (the good robot), shares an exchange with V.I.K.I. (the bad robot) about her decision to lock up ...

Live Show: "Tenchi Muyo" and Delusions on Marriage from 2021-08-19T13:30:41

Going back to my teenage days and a popular show at the time. Tenchi Muyo! was a popular anime that caught my attention and has just recently been making the rounds again on social media. This i...

Hindsight is 2020: Star Wars from 2021-05-30T14:03:05

Ah, Star Wars. The biggest, the baddest, and the most heavily distributed franchise that Hollywood has to offer. What could go wrong with that arrangement?!

Anyway, doing hindsight on one...

Hindsight is 2020: Jurassic Park from 2021-04-25T09:21:35

Dinosaurs have been a fascination of human beings for a long time. They've inspired writers and creatives to imagine what life would be like if these massive creatures were still alive today. Pe...

Hindsight is 2020: The MonsterVerse from 2021-04-18T15:52:54

Today's episode on Hindsight is 20/20 is the recently finished "MonsterVerse". With Godzilla vs. Kong officially released, the four-film series has come to a close. Or has it? Or better yet, sho...

Hindsight is 2020: The DC Extended Universe from 2021-03-29T20:35:17

The Writer's Lens returns this spring with a new mini-series! 

For the next few (perhaps even more) episodes, I'll be riffing on some of my favorite franchises, films, and stories - doing...

EP77: "Cain and Abel" and the Origins of Heroes and Villains from 2021-01-23T20:31:57

Imagine two brothers trying to appease the ruler of the universe. One does what is asked of him while the other does what he thinks is best. As a result, the former is rewarded and the latter is...

EP76: "A Christmas Carol" and Whether God Blesses Us All from 2020-12-23T17:17:17

"God bless us. Everyone." - Tiny Tim 

It's the annual holiday episode of The Writer's Lens. And this one is packed with an analysis of the famous line from Charles Dickens' class...

EP75: "Terminator" and the Near-Extinct Macho Dad from 2020-11-26T10:37:26

The first Terminator featured an unstoppable killing machine. The 2nd film had a similar villain, but in a stroke of creative genius, the previous film's antagonist was transformed into the hero...

EP74: "TMNT" and the Fight Against Nihilism from 2020-11-15T21:26:53

You probably thought the Ninja Turtles' greatest enemy was the Shredder. And if you did, you wouldn't be alone in that assumption. The Shredder has always been touted as the greatest threat to t...

EP73: "Robin Hood" and the False Virtue of Stealing From the Rich from 2020-10-25T16:31:22

Robin Hood is a beloved, if not timeless, character that has become part of American folklore. Though the character's origins cannot be found in American culture, the idea of an outlaw who steal...

EP72: "Perelandra" and Gender, As Told By C.S. Lewis from 2020-09-02T08:34:40

C.S. Lewis is one of my all-time favorite authors. He's written many stories that are internationally known (and loved). But one in particular he's not as well-known for: his Space Trilogy. Thre...

EP71: "Tombstone" and The Necessity of Law and Order from 2020-08-23T10:18:45

Tombstone is one of my favorite movies of all time. Which is saying a lot as I'm not the biggest fan of western films. Packed with an ensemble cast, Tombstone tells the story of Wyatt Earp, his ...

EP70: "Dark" and the Mystery of Original Sin from 2020-07-08T11:45:10

Adam and Eve. Two people synonymous with what many consider to be humanity's greatest mistake. By taking fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Adam and Eve catalyzed humanity's fall...

EP69: "Forrest Gump" and the World as Our Villain from 2020-06-29T20:25:03

Forrest Gump stands as one of the great cinema treasures. It's a story about a simple man navigating his way through one of the most turbulent times in American history: the 1960s. And during th...

Review: Netflix's "Bodyguard" from 2020-05-31T14:19:01

Netflix's Bodyguard is a story about gentleman tasked with guarding the life of another human being. Hence the name, "Bodyguard." Short observations aside, I sat down and watched this show along...

E68: "Captain America" and the Freedom We All Want for Our Lives from 2020-05-24T14:06:29

In case you've been living under a rock for several years, there was this global phenomenon called "The MCU", aka the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that swept through movie theaters. Within that un...

E67: "The Great Divorce" and Why We Don't Take Hell So Seriously from 2020-05-09T08:29:51

C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors of all time. His literary works are popular outside of even the Christian community, for which he is most known. But one such title that is often overloo...

Review: Tiger King...and Some Other Observations from 2020-04-15T08:55:22

It's one of the most watched documentaries in history. Though I had no intention of ever watching Tiger King, I found myself tuning in this past week. Maybe it's been the quarantine; maybe it's ...

Is Art Valuable In a Time of Crisis? from 2020-03-23T16:27:53

Many Americans (and others around the world) are shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic. And by shaken, we mean that many are without work. Income streams are not as plentiful as they once were and the...

COVID-19 and What Story Do You Feel Is Being Told Right Now? from 2020-03-19T17:14:24

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting every human being on the planet. And in the midst of this crisis, voices are speaking to the pandemic in one way or another. Some are telling a story of fea...

Mulan and #MeToo from 2020-03-11T20:33:13

In case you didn't know, Disney has been remaking its animated classics into live-action films (well, sorta. The Lion King isn't exactly 'live action' but you get the idea). And if you're still ...

Narrative Wars 12: Marriage: Real-Life Fairy Tale? Or Just a 1-in-2 Divorce? from 2020-02-27T08:11:48

It's another Narrative Wars! And this time we're talking about one of the oldest institutions of human experience: marriage. 

There are a lot of narratives out there about marriage. There...

E66: "Bambi" and Initiating Boys Into Manhood from 2020-02-09T22:02:47

Question: can a story about a fawn teach us lessons about what it means to be a man? Well, I happen to think so. In this episode of The Writer's Lens, we're taking another deep dive into an oldi...

Narrative Wars 11: Humans - Advanced Breed of Apes? Or Something Divine? from 2020-01-17T23:35:59

Did we evolve from some breed of advanced hominid? Or were we plucked from the dirt by a divine being and made into the people we are today? 

The origin of mankind is one of the most hotl...

Update 2020 (It's a Short One) from 2020-01-09T13:40:48

For the sake of keeping algorithms in my favor, here's a brief update on what's going on with The Writer's Lens. I promised it would be brief and it most certainly is. 

Catch all of you s...

E65: "Star Wars: A New Hope" and the Allure of Uncharted Space from 2019-12-12T23:10:33

It's one of the most iconic; most recognizable; most pilfered-for-all-its-worth franchises of all time. If you were born on or after 1977, then you have probably heard of the film, "Star Wars". ...

E64: "Rudolph" and the Bullies, the Misfits, and Life's Harsh Lessons from 2019-12-06T23:47:11

Rudolph is as synonymous with Christmas as the jolly elf himself, Santa. But is this timeless tale of overcoming the odds really just a pale cover for a story that encourages bullying and non-in...

Narrative Wars 10: Should We 'Bend the Knee' to Our Critics? from 2019-11-27T08:11:26

The Narrative Wars returneth.... 

You may have never heard of Amelie Wen Zhao (or maybe you have?) but just in case you did or didn't, this episode was catalyzed by a recent ordeal involv...

E63: "The Fellowship of the Ring" and Finding Your Place in a Group from 2019-11-20T19:21:18

The Writer's Lens returns! 

In my first episode in over a month, I take a look at one of my all-time favorites: Tolkien's first of three stories in the Lord of the Rings trilogy: The Fell...

Interview 18: Despite Popular Belief, "Story and THE Story Are Connected" from 2019-10-02T23:39:08

My latest interview is with a couple of gents I got connected with recently. Erik Marti and Stephen Lauterbach are the voices of "Despite Popular Belief", a podcast that tackles several interest...

E62: "It" and Fear Through the Lens of Children and Adults from 2019-09-22T16:36:04

I'm not a big fan of scary stories. They aren't the type of story I indulge regularly. 

However, that's not to say that I'm antagonistic towards scary moments. If a story is good; if a st...

Interview 17: Sam Eldredge, author of "Killing Lions: A Guide Through the Trials Young Men Face" from 2019-09-09T14:32:31

My latest interview was with Sam Eldredge, co-author of the bestselling book, Listen

E60: "Dark" and What If Time Travel Was Possible? from 2019-08-23T19:23:46

In the first episode of a new series, I take a look at themes supporting popular books, shows and films. 

First up is the Netflix original, "Dark"; a show that puts a twist on time travel...

The Writer's Lens - E59: The Exalting and Glorifying of Ideas from 2019-08-14T23:27:28

After a couple weeks' break, we're back to finish this small series on Exploring, Exposing, and now, Exalting Ideas. What does it look like when an idea is glorified? And how might we be more co...

Narrative Wars 09: Why Is It So Hard To Change People's Minds? from 2019-07-31T13:37:54

Ever have a conversation where you couldn't convince the other party of something? You have all the facts. You have all the information. But for whatever the reason, the other person just won't ...

The Writer's Lens - E58: Can Telling A Story Expose Something? from 2019-07-25T07:57:16

In my last episode, I talked about exploring ideas in story. In this one, we'll talk about how stories can bring to light something that might be wrong. Whether it be from a personal, subjective...

Narrative Wars 08: What Is A Human Life Worth? from 2019-07-14T23:07:30

What is a life worth? More importantly, what is a human life worth? 

This episode attempts to explore the many narratives which surround this very energized topic. A bit on the ranty side...

The Writer's Lens Reviews: Stranger Things - Season 3 from 2019-07-11T16:28:12

Ah, Stranger Things. The biggest franchise on Netflix and one of the most highly anticipated binge-worthy shows of 2019. So how does Stranger Things do in its third go-round? Is it the best ever...

The Writer's Lens - E57: How Do We Go About Exploring New Ideas? from 2019-07-05T00:41:24

A writer may have a new idea and think it the best thing he's ever conceived. Yet if he is unable to make it believable, he's sunk. His audience will leave him before he even gets going. 

Narrative Wars 07: If We Buy Their Product, Are We Also Buying Their Narrative? from 2019-07-02T23:22:47

We get bombarded with commercials and ads daily. Buy this thing. Check that item out. If the tactics were that simple, no company would go to the effort of creating mascots or telling unique sto...

The Writer's Lens - E56: Does Cursing Make a Story More Realistic? from 2019-06-25T12:29:58

People curse and swear. It's a vice that's been popularized and acceptable when trying to make a point. Or when emotions are running high. Our favorite stories - and by default, our favorite cha...

Narrative Wars 06: We Are Told We Can Change The World - Can We? from 2019-06-19T11:20:53

Ever since I was a kid, I've been told I could "change the world". And like most writers-in-training, this concept spoke to me deeply. If my words were delivered well, then perhaps I could make ...

Narrative Wars 05: How Do We Develop Our Worldviews? from 2019-06-11T14:33:27

You may or may not know the story of the Hitchens brothers - Christopher, the elder, and Peter, the younger. Christopher was a prominent figure in the anti-religion, pro-atheistic worldview camp...

The Writer's Lens - E55: Pride Before The Fall, They Say from 2019-06-06T18:12:33

I'm proud to consider myself a writer. I throw ideas into the abyss and see what others think. It's fun, if not terrifying, at times. If you have something you enjoy, then you're likely to have ...

The Writer's Lens - E54: Needing To Clarify Some Things About My First Two Books from 2019-06-02T13:16:12

Recently, I've been talking about my first two books - The Epiphanies, Theories, and Downright Good Thoughts... series and I realized that I need to address a couple of things. Namely, 1) why I ...

The Writer's Lens - E53: Sloth And Writing...When You Can't Adult from 2019-05-29T10:10:35

Sin number six of seven is Sloth. Probably the one vice least associated with anything really bad. 

But since it's on the list, I unpack how Sloth and laziness - surprise surprise - thwar...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 16: Jordan Raynor, "All Writers Are Entrepreneurs" from 2019-05-26T17:06:48

Jordan Raynor is the national bestselling author of Called t...

Narrative Wars 04: When We Disagree With Big Narratives from 2019-05-20T23:35:33

We don't always agree with the stories we're told. Some we brush off as insignificant while some require further inspection on our behalf. But sometimes we might feel compelled enough to go out ...

The Writer's Lens - E52: A Writer's Lust Is Not A Labor Of Love from 2019-05-10T22:25:12

This is number five of seven on the road to completing the "seven deadly sins" series here on The Writer's Lens. And as such, I'm almost certain this week's topic will entice people's interest f...

Narrative Wars 03: Who Is Responsible For The 'Big Narratives'? from 2019-05-03T22:20:35

Ever wonder who is responsible for making the big narratives? Is it a person? Is it people? Is it merely an idea that gives a narrative legs and makes it run?

This episode of The Writer's...

The Writer's Lens - E51: Wrath And Writing from 2019-04-28T21:20:34

Two things that naturally seem to go together - anger and written expression. Many artists find their inspiration in the bowels of deep-rooted anger. And for good reason: anger can be a powerful...

Narrative Wars 02: Your Life Is Part Of A Bigger Story from 2019-04-20T11:42:26

Do you feel that is true? Do you feel like it's not true? 

Whether we choose to admit it or not, our lives are entangled in bigger stories. In this episode, we'll explore the concept of a...

The Writer's Lens - E50: Me? A Greedy Writer? Come On Now.... from 2019-04-10T21:31:58

This episode is all about Greed - another of the Seven Deadly Sins most commonly associated with a love of money. 

So, keeping that in mind, how might we avoid the pitfalls of becoming to...

Narrative Wars 01: What Is Your Life's Story? from 2019-04-05T13:42:07

Welcome to the #NarrativeWars. 

There are stories happening all around us. And they are all competing for our attention. Some are explored in book or film format. Others are occurring in ...

The Writer's Lens - E49: Can We Be 'Gluttons' For Our Writing? from 2019-03-26T15:38:54

Gluttony is yet another member of the seven deadly sins. A sin most commonly associated with eating excessively, but Gluttony can also be associated with chasing after status or symbols of statu...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 15: Austin Gohn, "Discovering Rest In A Restless Age" from 2019-03-19T22:30:24

Austin Gohn is the author of the (now available) book "A Restless Age: How St. Augustine Helps You Make Sense Of Your Twenties".

My interview with Austin focuses on his path to publishing...

The Writer's Lens - E48: How Can Envy Kill Our Creative Pursuits? from 2019-03-09T09:09:13

You may have heard of the seven deadly sins. There's Greed, Gluttony, Lust, Pride, Wrath, Sloth, and...Envy. Of those seven, I find Envy to be the least talked about. Or rather, it's the least r...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 14: EG Graves, "A Mistaken Identity" from 2019-03-05T08:03:51

"A Mistaken Identity"

That's the name of Eric "EG" Graves' upcomin...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 13: Brian Del Turco, "Your Digital Voice Matters" from 2019-02-26T10:28:19

"Your Digital Voice Matters"

With so many voices out in the Internet space, it makes for a confusing and LOUD environment. The casual podcast surfer or YouTube searcher could be overwhelm...

The Writer's Lens - E47: How Do We (Not) Handle Criticism And Feedback? from 2019-02-15T13:52:41

As a writer, I tend to handle criticism and feedback quite well. Nothing ever gets to me. There's no negative press I can't manage; no scathing review I can't brush off as nothing more than whit...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 12: David Ramos, The Long Road To Authorship from 2019-02-04T08:42:09

David Ramos has been writing for years. He's published nearly two dozen books (thus far) and for his efforts, has built a small community of readers around him. He even has a new book on the way...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 11: Loren Reash-Henz, "Does Music Tell Stories? And How Do We Value Art?" from 2019-01-28T12:00

Does music tell a story? This was a question I posed as the primer for my next interview with fellow creative, poet, and voice teacher, Mr. Loren Reash-Henz. 

Loren and I connected at a b...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 10: Willie Scott, aka FOLD from 2019-01-22T11:12:46

When it comes to using the term, "creative", I'm still a newbie. I happen to think I'm creative (I'm a writer, after all) so tying those two concepts together isn't a problem. When it comes to o...

The Writer's Lens - E46: A 2019 Confessional (With Goals) from 2019-01-14T09:28:56

It's hard to believe 2018 has already come and gone. So with 2019 here, it's time to do that age-old favorite: make a confession. 

Wait, you mean resolutions, right? Well, not really.

The "Pens of Steel" Group Discussion Special: Making A Digital Footprint from 2019-01-07T09:06

What is a digital footprint? 

In part 3 of this "Pens of Steel" group discussion, we wrap up our conversation about digital voices and what each of us is doing in our pursuits to hone our...

The Writer's Lens - A "Best Of" Interview Compilation from 2019-01-02T13:01:19

To bring in the new year, here's something a little different from The Writer's Lens. This episode deals entirely with soundbites from each of my various interviews. And though there are plenty ...

The Writer's Lens - Response Episode: "Is The Lord Of The Rings A 'Racist' Story?" from 2018-12-19T23:21:13

The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy tale that has inspired millions. Its story of good versus evil transcends generations. And it uses rather unconventional forms to do it: with fictional beings ...

The "Pens of Steel" Group Discussion Special: Competing In The Sea Of Voices from 2018-12-10T17:21:39

The Internet is a sea of voices and narratives. 

In part 2 of this group discussion special, the Pens continue the dialogue on "what is a digital voice" - while transitioning into another...

The "Pens of Steel" Group Discussion Special: What Is A Digital Voice? PART 1 from 2018-12-03T22:01:19

Welcome to the Rise of Digital Voices! 

In case you didn't already know, the Internet is FILLED with competing messages. Thanks to the onset of social media platforms, more people than ev...

The Writer's Lens - E45: The Affirmation of Finished Work from 2018-11-11T19:51:48

What does it do for us when we finish what we start? If you're the type of person that struggles with unfinished projects, then maybe you are in need of a morale boost. Or a gentle reminder of w...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 09: Kay Smith, How Can Art And Faith Work Together? from 2018-11-01T21:20:38

Kay Smith worked for 13 years at a reputable marketing firm in Cleveland, OH. And though she loved her work, Kay began to feel something tugging her in a new direction. A tug strong enough to ma...

The Writer's Lens - E44: The Anxiety of Unfinished Work from 2018-10-27T10:22:27

Anxiety plagues more people today than ever, it seems. We live in a fast-paced society with ever advancing technology. And as complex and impressive as our brains are, we can only take so much. ...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 08: Brian Del Turco, Owner / Operator of LifeVoiceQuest - PART 2 from 2018-10-08T09:09:29

Welcome to Part 2 of my conversation with Brian Del Turco, the voice of Jesus Smart: the Podcast, one-half the voice of SubstanceTV, and owner of LifeVoiceQuest Publishing.

Brian is a bel...

The Writer's Lens - BONUS: Netflix Wants Its Viewers To Dictate Endings...Is That Good? from 2018-10-05T09:52:45

I ran across an article recently with an "interesting" announcement. The ever-growing entertainment giant, Netflix, has decided to give creative license to its viewers. In other words, Netflix w...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 08: Brian Del Turco, Owner / Operator at LifeVoiceQuest - PART 1 from 2018-10-01T12:22:59

Brian Del Turco is a fellow creative based in Cleveland who has a heart for emerging voices. His company, LifeVoiceQuest, works with aspiring authors who are looking to find their voice and proj...

The Writer's Lens - E43: The Incredible (And Mind-Numbing) Power Of Distraction from 2018-09-17T18:12:48

Distractions, distractions, distractions. They're everywhere. The battle for our attention is happening daily. Hour by hour. Minute by minute. 

Knowing this to be the case, how does anyon...

The Writer's Lens - E42: How Do I Get (Over) Writer's Block? from 2018-09-09T12:44:11

Writer's block to a writer is like a debilitating injury to a pro athlete. It sets you back. It keeps you from moving forward. And no matter how hard you try, you just can't "break out" of the f...

The Writer's Lens - E41: Do I Have To Be An Expert On The Topic Of My Book (In Order To Write It)? from 2018-08-27T08:41:35

If we're going to publish something, then we ought to know what we are talking about. Or at the very least, have some knowledge of the things we are speaking to. Building credibility and rapport...

The Writer's Lens - E40: Getting That Idea (Book) Out Of Your Head And Onto Paper from 2018-08-17T11:51:23

We all have that ONE idea. We all have something we think is worth sharing with others. For a writer like me, I have lots of ideas; ideas I'd like to see become a book someday. Maybe even a feat...

The Writer's Lens - E39: Is Writing (And Telling) Story The Best Way To Combat Evil? from 2018-08-06T07:24:37

Do writers have a unique burden? And when we say, "burden", are writers charged with reinforcing - and defining - how to fight the evils of the world? 

Storytelling, much like art, is lef...

The Writer's Lens - E38: Are Villains More Fun To Write Than Heroes? from 2018-07-23T07:57:12

"Truth is stranger than fiction." - Mark Twain

This old adage, as coined by the late Mark Twain, speaks about the nature by which truth can sometimes outweigh our sense of imagination. Wh...

The Writer's Lens - E37: Villains...What Are They Exactly? from 2018-07-09T07:45

Just as the title implies, what makes up a villain anyway? I'm sure if we all thought long enough, we could come up with various versions of what we thought a villain was. What he looked like. W...

The Writer's Lens - E36: If We All Know We Are Supposed To Be The Hero, Then Why Aren't We? from 2018-07-02T07:00

We idolize heroes. We emulate them too. But, which is easier to do? Not a trick question - it's the former. 

When it comes to heroes and the heroic deeds we read about, it's easy to sit ...

The Writer's Lens - E35: What Is The "Hero's Journey?" from 2018-06-25T07:45:18

The late Joseph Campbell, a former professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College, coined a popular phrase in the mid-20th century known as "The Hero's Journey." Campbell had been studying th...

The Writer's Lens - E34: Heroes and Anti-Heroes - Which Do You Prefer? from 2018-06-11T07:34:55

We love heroes. We aspire to be like them. We adore what makes them great. And we want to be around them. 

Yet, as much as we love heroes, we also have an adoration for anti-heroes too. ...

The Writer's Lens - E33: "Soul Mates" In Storytelling - What Are They? from 2018-05-30T22:56:57

"You complete me" - Jerry Maguire. 

It's a famous line from the '90s. One that spawned a great many parodies and memes in its wake. It's a statement of love from one person to another. T...

The Writer's Lens - E32: Showing People What They've Never Seen, Yet Telling Them What They Already Know from 2018-05-16T10:14:30

There's an old adage in storytelling: "show, but don't tell". It basically means this - when telling a story, it's better to let your reader decipher the emotions, motivations, and settings rath...

The Writer's Lens - E31: When Timing Meets Thick Skin from 2018-04-30T09:40:22

You gotta have thick skin when you're a creative. If there's one thing I lacked early on, it was thick skin. The ability to take criticism - good or bad - and keep moving forward. Taking critici...

The Writer's Lens - E30: For Every Creative, The Stakes Are Incredibly High from 2018-04-16T09:22:01

Inside every creative is an entrepreneurial spirit. Why? Because there's an innate desire to make something new. Something original.  And when you have that kind of gumption, the stakes tend to ...

The Writer's Lens - E29: People Are Always Looking To Take Advantage Of Your Dreams from 2018-04-03T11:17:44

We will go to great lengths to reach our dreams. We'll throw caution to the wind. We'll forget what it means to 'play it safe.' We will do more than the usual to get there. 

But,...

The Writer's Lens - E28: My Regrets With Self-Publishing from 2018-03-26T09:16:56

Regret is a tough business. It keeps us fixed on the past - a place we can't change, but wish we could. 

That is if we still live with regret. 

As a self-publishe...

The Writer's Lens - E27: The Stigma Of "Daydreaming" And What It Means To A Creative from 2018-03-12T10:18:09

Is daydreaming a bad thing? Is it good? Even if you're not of the creative mindset, the label of 'daydreamer' can be a derogatory one. Such identifiers might include lazy, unfocused, undisciplin...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 07: Colleen Ward, "Find Your Lane" from 2018-02-26T08:30

"Find your lane" - Colleen Ward

My latest interview is with Cleveland native, Colleen Ward, who is the owner / operator of Colleen Ward Studio, www.colleenwardstudio.com.

The Writer's Lens - Post-Interview 06 Thoughts from 2018-02-22T20:09:44

Should we always seek to make money off of our creative endeavors? And is it 'okay' to say no to people who want our help with their own creative pursuits?

In my last interview, ...

The Writer's Lens - E26: Have We Romanticized "Darkness" In Our Stories? from 2018-02-19T09:11:24

Darkness - the absence of light. Or - as some writers will tell you - a clever way to make something sound interesting.

The word dark is often used to describe something mysterio...

The Writer's Lens - Interview 06: Immanuel Mullen, The Story Is from 2018-02-13T08:51:18

For my first interview of 2018, I had the privilege of speaking with fellow creative, writer, and "Dune" enthusiast, Immanuel Mullen.

Immanuel is co-founder of The Story Is, a Cl...

The Writer's Lens - E25: Are Artists Important for Society? from 2018-02-05T12:31:40

What we make, we believe has meaning (at least to the one who makes it). But, how does this translate to the masses? Are artists - writers, scribes, painters, sculptors - ultimately integral and...

The Writer's Lens - E24: Science Fiction Writers - Innovators of Imagination? Or Dark Prophets? from 2018-02-01T12:24:47

I think sci-fi writers tend to get a bad rap. When it comes to the genre, science fiction can often be touted as "visionaries with a cracked lens." Think Orwell's 1984; Collins' The Hunger Games...

The Writer's Lens - E23: We All Wish We Could Be The Hero from 2018-01-24T09:49:02

Heroes. We all would like to think ourselves a hero in some regard. Or at the very least, try to recognize the heroes when we see them.

Stories and ancient myths do a good job of...

The Writer's Lens - E22: Good And Evil In Story from 2018-01-17T10:46:18

Good and Evil. It's an ageless struggle. One that finds its way into just about every major film and story that we watch, read, and listen to. And depending on what you deem as good and what you...

The Writer's Lens - E21: Worldviews, Ideas, And The Psychology Of Creating Stories...Now, Did You Get All That? from 2018-01-07T15:20:14

Happy New Year! And welcome to more Writer's Lens in 2018! 
To kick off the new year, I'm going in deep. Deep into our worldviews; deep into psychology; deep into the very nature of what makes ...

The Writer's Lens - E20: "Be Unique"; "Be Yourself"...Wait, What Does That Even Mean? from 2017-12-31T18:52:36

Last episode of 2017! And I decided to end the year talking about...well, myself. 
Okay, not really. But at least, not entirely.   
In this episode, I talk about the creative notion of "bei...

The Writer's Lens - E19: I Want What You Have; I Want To Do It Better; and I Want You To Fail from 2017-12-18T15:08:18

Don't let the title fool you - this is exactly what I'll be talking about.
You may have a new idea or a new book you want to get out there. But, you feel hindered because everyone else is doing...

The Writer's Lens - E18: Do You Have Deadlines? Or Creative 'Checkpoints'? from 2017-12-13T16:58:54

I have a love and hate relationship with deadlines. I love it when I make my own. I hate it when they are handed down to me (with completely unrealistic expectations for completion, that is). But, ...