My Why

About a month ago, this was me: It wasn't District 12 Reaping but a zoom call. WANTED: volunteers to help with an HWA Ohio Chapter podcast that would focus on the craft and process of horror writing. Although I have thoroughly embraced the introvert I am and the comfort zone of no-human-contact, the teacher and …

MTO Stacey Weschke

Elvis jumped onto Stacey's lap and nuzzled into her clasped hands, trying to pry them apart with his peachlike nose, to interrupt her prayers with his purring. With eyes closed, Stacey gave him a few pets and resumed her silent prayer. Elvis wasn't having it. He gave another, more urgent poke into her hands and …

MTO Kelly Griffiths

You may remember Shaun McKinley, last week's "character," whose trip to the dentist went very south for his hygienist. Shaun is a gifted writer, and when he asked me if I'd like an MTO of my own...well, I was overjoyed. You can read his AMAZING story HERE, then come back and scroll down for what's …

Announcing Made-to-Order Horror Stories

I'd like to bring YOU into my writing journey. And I enjoy a challenge. Here's the deal: you send me a fact about your life. Any fact-- good, bad, or indifferent. I'll take that piece of information and turn it into a horror vignette. Each Wednesday, I'll publish one MTO Horror. If you send a …

My Latest Horror: A Repurposed Church Sermon

I had heard the sermon on at least two occassions. My pastor came from a large (and I mean large, < Brady Bunch) family. So many I can't recall the number. Enough that, were they chickens, you'd not know who was who when you ate one. This is my daughter's formula, by the way, for …

Divine Dissatisfaction, Blessed Unrest

Artists, that's what we sign up for. And I thought it was just cynical-me. Nope. Add divinely distracted and blessedly unrested to the list of writer traits that includes extreme introversion, militant self-discipline, infinite grit, and owning a cat. Here's how unrest plays out. I think: I should see Friend X. Then I think: I …

Hi, Stranger.

I haven't posted in a while. And I'll warn you, this is all over the place, but I'm working on giving up my perfectionistic tendencies. Join me in a little wandering. Mr. Holland's Opus came to mind today. The movie about a man who thinks his greatest gift to humanity will be a symphony he's …

The fears we don’t face become our limits.

I doubt Robin Sharma was talking about research when she penned that. Researching books. Anne Lamott's advice is to actually speak with other human beings. She used the word "phone," at which point I began to skim, to mentally prepare my grocery list. I wasn't taking her advice, not at all. Like most writers, I …

I Have a Creepy Story for You.

Okay, 26 stories. But anthologies, you've got to love them. Where else do you get a perfect marriage of theme and diversity? Unique voices held together by a common what-if? The editors of Chicken Soup for the Soul understood the power of the anthology. One of my fellow Reds* has a story in this one. …

Write to help yourself make sense of things.

My therapist says feelings aren't wrong. Actions can be, but not feelings. My therapist allows me to email her. Yes, I'm very lucky to have her, and no. You can't have her name. I'm a little possessive of her time. Writing my thoughts is good for me, she says. I agree. And it's not just …