Author: Michell

June is promising to be one of the busiest months on record for me.  I mean, I’ve already been to Vancouver for 2-days, I’m currently in Toronto for 5-days and I’ve got a 2-week vacation coming up on the 23rd.  That doesn’t even begin to account for all the driving-type stuff I’ve been doing (and will be doing) on weekends. Yup, busy pretty much describes it. And, I’ve got to admit that I’ve been stressing a bit about getting my writing commitments properly taken care of.  Naturally, there’s the weekly posts here (for those of you who still read them) and there was the little “First Chapter Contest” for The Writing Show.  Oh yeah, and all the other projects I’m […]

By now you have probably figured out that I have grandiose plans to become a professional writer.  This is nothing new for me.  I remember dreaming of being an author all the way back to when I was 15 or 16. Back then, though, I let myself get hung up on the whole “but I’ve never done anything or been anywhere” excuse.  I grew up on a farm and I believed that whole bit about writing what you know.  The problem was, what I knew wasn’t what I wanted to write.  I wanted to write Science Fiction and Fantasy stories, not stories about cows and pigs and chickens.  Since I’d never been into space or visited a fantastic realm, I didn’t really […]

It’s always interesting to me how the most unexpected events can sometimes be so positive… and cause for reflection.  This week, I had one of those unexpected things happen to me. A colleague and friend of mine instant messaged me earlier this week.  He informed me that, although I didn’t know it yet, I was going to be his mentor.  I was surprised to say the least.  It’s not a role I’ve been asked to fill before. I quickly racked my brain to try and figure out how/why I would be considered his mentor.  Granted, work has a mentoring program, but I couldn’t quite connect how I would be his mentor.  He’s a smart guy.  What could I possibly have to […]

How many of you have heard the old cliche’ about the guy looking for a job?  He goes in to apply and the boss says, “You’re perfect, except we need someone with more experience.” The guy says, “How am I supposed to get experience unless I get the job?” The boss says, “Don’t try to confuse me with logic.  Just come back when you’ve got more experience.” Well, I think the old cliche’ goes something like that, anyway.  I tend to ignore cliche’s for the most part, except to try and avoid them.  But, for the purpose of this article, I think it’s important to draw on one of the old favorites. But why bother?  Don’t worry, I’m getting to that… […]