When reality TV first reared its ugly head a number of years back, I sampled all the shows. “Survivor,” “Amazing Race,” “Big Brother,” and “American Idol.” While I actually enjoyed some (Dr. Will on “Big Brother” is the greatest pathological liar in the history of television), the only one I’ve stuck with is Idol.  …

My friend Gretchen, the best unpublished author I know, just got unceremoniously dumped by her longtime agent. Agents are some of the worst people in the world. (To paraphrase Albert Brooks, “That’s not my opinion. It’s a medical fact.”) Their reputations are well- deserved. They make lawyers look like Mother Theresa. To help Gretchen (and…

My wife and I agree on most things. But not movies. She leans toward chick flicks and sensitive dramas. (Her all-time favorites are “Ghost” and “Officer and a Gentleman.”) I’m drawn to mindless entertainment. We’ve even been known to go to the same multiplex to watch different films. Years ago, she checked out some love…

Over the years, I’ve gone to quite a few classes and read numerous books on the craft of writing. Most, if not all, recommend creating   a detailed outline before beginning work on the actual book. On the surface, it makes sense. After all, you can’t build a house without a blueprint, right? (Not that I…

Deus ex machina: Latin for “God in the machine.” And I don’t mean slot machine.   Are you impressed by my linguistic ability? Don’t be; that and “e pluribus unum” just about exhaust my dead language repertoire. (Although I’ve often thought that “Ad Infinitum ” would make a good name for an advertising agency. Certainly…

Have you ever revisited a favorite book or movie, only to discover it’s not as good as you remember? That’s been my experience recently and it’s left me feeling uneasy. It started when a writer friend mentioned that “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” is actually boring. That’s certainly not the way I remembered it,…

I’m up. Chapter 3 of the Las Vegas Writes collaborative serial novel, now officially titled “Restless City,” just posted on the CityLife link. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it.   http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/promotions/las-vegas-writes.php#chapter-3

Okay, here are some examples (good ones) of dialogue from some of my favorite writers. First up, Elmore “Dutch” Leonard from his novel, “Unknown Man #89.”   “What do you call what you do?”   Mr. Perez was coming back with his whiskey over ice, taking his time.   “My title? Well, my card says…

This image courtesy of my friend Bob, a Hollywood writer for the last 25 years. One picture is worth a thousand words, give or take. Click here for a sample…

My friend and business partner, D.J. Allen, likes to go into an introductory meeting with a prospective client and launch a little humorous scud, just to get the lay of the land. If the client laughs, D.J. knows who he’s dealing with. If the client just stares at him, well, that tells him something, too.…