I’ve been a movie fan ever since my parents took me to see Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” at Detroit’s historic Fisher Theater when I was four. The colors, the sounds, the fancy seats and, of course, the buttered popcorn all combined to hook me the moment I walked in. Later, growing up in L.A., I spent…

Last week, a colleague forwarded me an email from her sister. It was her sister’s 31st birthday and she had decided to perform a life assessment by listing 31 important lessons she has learned so far. My colleague thought it was a good exercise for everyone and I agree. Especially because my birthday and the…

In my time here on Earth, I’ve lived through literally dozens of end-of-the-world predictions, from psychic Jeane Dixon and psycho Jim Jones to con man Harold Camping and the comet Hale-Bopp. I’m writing this blog on 12/21/12 with reasonable certainty that the Mayans didn’t know any more than the Moonies. (I know, I know, the…

While I don’t often write about marketing subjects in these posts (it’s how I make my living in what passes for real life), I feel compelled to comment on the recent Presidential election from an ad guy’s perspective. Please keep in mind that I’m not weighing in on partisan issues, but examining basic reasons why…

Just a quick update for those who have been nice enough to keep tabs on my writing progress since my last post about getting unstuck. I just finished a proposal for a nonfiction humorous (I hope) business book, and have dived (dove?) in to my next novel. However, I’m tackling this one in an unorthodox…

I’m stuck. Let me explain. In my mind, there are two kinds of writing. Real writing and everything else. Real writing would include novels, nonfiction books, screenplays and other long form projects. Everything else would include everything else. Like this blog. I enjoy the whole blog thing. Over the last few years, I’ve compiled more…

If you’re a creative artist with a long and successful track record, you’ve built up a storehouse of goodwill known as “cachet.” At that point, you can leverage it into ever more groundbreaking endeavors. Or you can coast, cranking out schlock and taking advantage of your fans.   Paul McCartney, half of the greatest songwriting…

I was going to write something else today, but a good friend sent me this email request first thing this morning:   Give us an inspiring blog about writing. Give us a reason to keep going.   In the spirit of full disclosure, I’ve never been accused of being the most inspirational guy on the…

The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself. —   Oscar Wilde   I’m not a big fan of advice, particularly the unsolicited variety. So it stands to reason that I’m not overly fond of advice songs, a sub- genre of music that’s…

Welcome to the fourth installment of “Real Men of Genius,” the semi-semi-regular feature that celebrates creative artists who, while successful, have been largely under-appreciated by the general public (with apologies to Bud Light for letting me rip off their commercial theme). A few weeks ago I posted a blog called “Innovators and Imitators,” which addressed…