Keeping Company

“Audience, audience, audience.” That’s what Dr. Morris at Parkland Junior College repeated in the Creative Non-Fiction class I took in spring, 2005. “Who is your audience? Are you writing for teenagers, Christians, Midwesterners, Asians, baby boomers, tattoo artists, working class, white collar, atheists?” “Who’s your client?” That’s what I learned in psychotherapy training. What’s on …

Heavy Fellowship

“Take up your cross and follow me,” Jesus says. Three of the four gospel writers record this statement, Matthew twice. (Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, Matthew 10:38 and 16:24) What does he mean? Growing up on the farm fifty years ago, a neighbor referred to her husband as her “cross to bear.” He didn’t go to …

Real Role in Cosmic Play

I’m not a real writer. Yes, I’ve won an award for my memoir, written a prize-winning poem, published articles in national magazines, and devote several hours a week to writing. And yet, it doesn’t drive my life, like some writers. “I have to write.” “I need to make sentences.” “Not a day goes by that …