Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 37
January 23, 2018
There’s no such thing as an aspiring writer
If you say you’re an aspiring writer, stop. There’s no such thing as an aspiring writer. If you write, you’re a writer. Aspiring writer makes as little sense as slightly pregnant. You are or you aren’t. But you may be saying, “How can I consider myself a writer if I haven’t published anything?” Or, “I’m …
January 18, 2018
How to adult
Our son turned 20. Our daughter will be turning 25. Our kids are no longer kids. They are in one of the most challenging phases of their lives, or as they would describe it, adulting. It’s a time when we ask the most important questions, “Who am I, and what do I want to do with my …
January 12, 2018
Watch your language
Presidents use profanity. What is different about what President Trump said is that he brought profanity into the public forum. The news media struggled to figure out how to handle it. Some spelled it out, others hyphenated it, others worked around it, while others ignored or excused it. Does this mean that the rules for us …
January 9, 2018
Can anyone be president?
In the United States, we tell our children that they can be anything they want, including president. But this past year has shown us that just because almost anyone can be president, it doesn’t mean they should. Now, Oprah Winfrey’s name is being floated as a possible presidential candidate in 2020. Before we can decide …
January 6, 2018
A writer’s perspective on Fire and Fury
I’m going to look at Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff from a different perspective. (If you want my opinion about the subject of the book, click here.) It has been a long time since a book received such a reaction and widespread discussion. What does this mean for us …
December 30, 2017
Basing the villain on yourself
What makes for a good villain? Their motivations? Their reactions to their misdeeds? The possibility for redemption? And where can you find inspiration to create such a good villain in your stories? There is one place we overlook because we don’t feel comfortable looking there. But suppose you base the villain on yourself? I assume that …
December 16, 2017
Create a vision of the life you want – a lesson from 30 years ago
In 2017, we felt like we’re falling down the rabbit hole, watching our society burn down to the frame, and begging for a good stiff drink. At times like these, it’s easy to give into cynicism and despair as we imagine all the ways things can get worse. That’s the way I felt 30 years …
December 5, 2017
2017 Parody: I Want a Case of Jameson for Christmas
I wasn’t sure about doing a year-end parody because this year has gone beyond parody. But if there is ever a year when we need a laugh (and, if you’re so inclined, a good stiff drink), it’s this one. My parody is inspired by the suitably creepy “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” (And after …
November 30, 2017
How to keep Grinches from stealing your joy
Holiday songs, movies, and stories have more to them than jingle bells and boughs of holly. They say something important about the human condition that applies throughout the year. This is true about the story I’m writing about this year, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! I’ll refer to the original Dr. Seuss book. If you prefer your Grinch …
November 27, 2017
Don’t know whether to laugh or cry
We had the most 2017 thing happen to us. The car we gave our daughter caught on fire. We will never know why. She had been taking it in for regular service and had a smog check done on it recently. But as she was driving with a friend, the car began to rattle and …
