Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 71
July 9, 2012
Immortal
This week marks the 20th anniversary of my mom’s death. Since then, I’ve come to realize that she is immortal. I don’t mean immortal in a spiritual or supernatural way. I mean it in a real, tangible way. She is immortal because of her legacy. My mom was someone I looked up to because of …
July 2, 2012
Get a Table Topic question each day
Get a Table Topics question each day by following my Twitter feed (@maswriter). Want more Table Topics questions and learn how to answer them? Check out my new book, Mastering Table Topics, which is available now for eReaders from your favorite online bookstore. Here is a sample question: What was the proudest moment of your …
June 30, 2012
A more updated Mastering Table Topics update
Mastering Table Topics is now available for your eReader! Get your copy from these eBookstores (with more stores coming soon): Amazon (Kindle) Kobo (Kobo Vox and eReader) iBookstore (iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch) And if you find this book useful, please post a review on your favorite eBookstore. Enjoy!
June 27, 2012
Mastering Table Topics Update
Here is the latest from Twitter: How have you liked your daily table topics so far? #masteringtabletopics will be available for purchase next week. matthewarnoldstern.com/tabletopics.ht… — Matthew Arnold Stern (@maswriter) June 28, 2012
June 26, 2012
Damsel in distress: How and why to write about her
Damsel in distress. Can you think of a more clichéd, out-of-date, and cringeworthy plot device than that? Flipping it around to show the man in peril isn’t much better. However, a damsel in distress, when done right, can be an emotionally stirring storytelling tool. It can also provide a powerful commentary for our times. Here’s …
June 20, 2012
New short story – “The Ghost of Camp Chawanakee”
I have a different kind of ghost story for the Figment.com Summer Reading Contest. Check out my new short story “The Ghost of Camp Chawanakee.” While you’re there, please give it a heart to vote for it, post a comment or review, and share it with your friends through Twitter and Facebook. Thank you and …
June 12, 2012
Table Topics Book Update
I decided to change the title of my upcoming Table Topics book to Mastering Table Topics. This will be more descriptive and avoids confusion with the Table Topics game that is now available. I’ve also created a new draft front cover. Click the image to view it full size. What do you think? Please post …
June 10, 2012
How to make high school “The Best Years of Your Life”
This week, my son is being promoted from middle school. So, I’d like to share some advice for him and everyone else who is making the leap to high school. Watch enough TV and movies, and you believe that high school is supposed to be “The Best Years of Your Life.” That’s a lot of …
May 29, 2012
Should you become a leader?
This time of year, Toastmaster districts are looking to recruit area governors for the new term starting July 1. So, I’ve been receiving a lot of visits to my article “Why You Should Be an Area Governor.” I’ve learned a lot about leadership in the 14 years since then, including lessons from a 2-year term …
May 27, 2012
What I’m doing next in writing
So, what am I doing next in writing? A number of things! My New eBook: Table Topics for All Occasions What you see to the left is the front cover of my new eBook. Table Topics for All Occasions includes 500 questions on a variety of subjects, and it takes you step-by-step from hearing the …
