DAVID • Know: Building Community.
My latest piece, about the building of a Vegas Jewish community.
Category: Writing
Self Worth
“For years, he always had a safety valve in the back of his troubles. He always had the comfort of the old chestnut, ‘I’m worth more dead than alive.’ That was his last call, his safe passage in case all other options failed him.
When the time came, though, turned out he wasn’t worth all that much dead, either.”
DAVID • Think: Travel App-titude
DAVID • Think: Travel App-titude.
This month in David, I’m putting my vast knowledge of travel to the test when I give you my thoughts on some of the cool connection apps out there to cover all aspects of your trip.
In addition to my piece, there’s all sorts of great reads to be found between the covers.
That felt good!
For the first time in about 4 years, I finished a piece of short fiction which doesn’t have a definitive market or deadline. This one was just for me. It deals with Lithuanian mythology and cultural bits, something else I’ve attempted a few times but never got further than a couple paragraphs in. The first draft clocked in at just over 6800 words and while I don’t know if it’s any good, I do know it’s finished. At least this iteration of it is.
It feels good to be writing every day again. It feels great to have accomplished my goal of finishing new fiction this year. One or two more short pieces and then I think I’ll be ready to once again take on a novel. We’ll see.
DAVID • Speak: Pet Sounds
It’s February, so this month’s issue of David is all about relationships. And while I tend to be fairly private about my relationships in general, there is one I have absolutely no problem talking about.
And that’s just what I’ve done this month for the magazine. So here’s a story about me and my best four-legged friend, Laika Wonderdog!
Love that pain-in-the-ass pup!
DAVID • Think: A Singer & His Muses
DAVID • Think: A Singer & His Muses.
This month I take a look at Isaac Bashevis Singer in light of a new documentary about his process. Fascinating guy!
There’s a bunch of other really great pieces as well so check out the whole magazine! Let me know what you think.
And if you’re in Vegas, the film is showing at the Jewish Film Festival. See if you can’t get tickets.
2014 – The Year That Was!
So here it is, the end of 2014. I know this is an arbitrary date and every tomorrow is the start of a new year, but it’s a nice time to take stock and look around. To see where you are and check in from that place. So here goes.
I’ve written 115,000 words or so – fiction and non-fiction (and a good deal of that has actually been published). I also got back to some roots by writing a script (and a big thank you to Matthew for kicking may ass into gear on this one). This year I want to write more. Specifically more fiction but I’m setting a few goals for myself. I’m going to have regular updates here on the blog. Mondays will be Movie Mondays and I’ll post reviews of the films I’ve seen. Thursdays will be for books, and I’ll get in a review every Thursday of some piece of literature or other. There will also be personal updates and travel pieces and whatever else I think of, but those two things, for sure, will happen weekly.
I won several awards. I got one for writing the Best Local Column-Magazine by the Nevada Press Association. I also won best foreign teacher and best teacher in the department at the university.
I read some books (74 to be precise). For the next year, I discovered an interesting reading 
challenge. I’ll see how far I get on that – the books will be tagged as 2015 Reading Challenge on Goodreads. Of course, if you’re not already my friend there, please join me.
I traveled. Aside from trips around Lithuania, I went to London for science fiction, Paris for Disneyland, Riga for the day, Helsinki for fun and Vaasa for a wedding. Oh yeah, and Vegas for my eldest niece’s Bat Mitzvah. Hoping to get some much needed travel in the coming year, particularly to Los Angeles for JR and Natasha‘s wedding.
I was the MC/Auctioneer for a charity event to raise money for breast cancer screenings.
I reconnected with old friends this year and made new ones. I hope this trend continues.
I’ve seen friends go through amazing amounts of personal growth and deal with horrendous personal tragedies. I’ve been there when I could be, emotionally or physically. I’ve been a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, an idea sounding board. And I’ve had friends be all of these things for me.
Thank you all for being here. You make my world a brighter place.
The Classic Typewriter Page :: Antique Typewriters
The Classic Typewriter Page :: Antique Typewriters.
As someone who is both a writer and has a fascination and love for old typewriters, this site is just amazing.
Gifts For Writers, 2014 « terribleminds: chuck wendig
Gifts For Writers, 2014 « terribleminds: chuck wendig.
There’s some great stuff here for any writer or literary buff in your life (like me).
There’s also Writers Tears Whiskey and Editor’s Blend tea for the libation of your choice.
Oh… and there’s always books and things.
(mostly this is just here for me to remember it)
DAVID • Think: Eggnog and Gelt
DAVID • Think: Eggnog and Gelt.
Just in time for the start of the holiday season, here’s a few reminiscences about my holidays past.
Hope you all have a great time with your celebrations!
DAVID • Think: Saling Against the Wind
DAVID • Think: Saling Against the Wind.
Once again I write a short piece of fiction in honor of the upcoming and just passed holidays…
Hope you enjoy it!
Hit my goal!
My goal for writing this year was 100,000 words of creative writing. This could include reviews, articles, prose, scripts, blog posts… whatever was at hand which allowed me to use my brain in creative, thought fulfilling ways. I’ve been using two different trackers, one created by my friend Troy which is a basic measuring stick, showing at a glance the days I write and the days I don’t. The other, by the artist Svenja, is a bit more specific as to what I’ve written. I use both because for me they serve different functions. In any case, with the half completed story I’m currently working on, yesterday I passed my 100,000 word mark for 2014.
With all the other crap going on in my life, this make me extremely happy.
Oh yeah, and I also won the award for best columnist for a magazine (2014) from the Nevada Press Association with these words: Meaty. Well written, researched and informative. Some tugged at the heart without being sappy. I’ll take it!
DAVID • Think: Albie Sachs’ Soft Vengeance
DAVID • Think: Albie Sachs’ Soft Vengeance.
This month’s piece for David… a profile of Albie Sachs, South African Civil Rights activist.
DAVID • Think: Little Histories
DAVID • Think: Little Histories.
That link there is to my latest piece for David Magazine. It’s different than the normal editorial stuff I do in that it’s a short story, this time about families and holidays. Sure, it’s set ostensibly around the High Holidays of Judaism but I’d like to think it’s a fairly universal piece about any time the family gathers to celebrate anything. It’s not a long piece, shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes to read it, but I’d appreciate it if you actually gave it those few minutes. Continue reading “DAVID • Think: Little Histories”
The art and the artist
Been an interesting week and it’s only Tuesday. Classes started so I’m back in “professor” mode, which means wearing ties and button down shirts. My bow tie collection is growing to the point where I may not have to wear a regular tie at all for a while, which is cool. I’ve been wearing bow ties for a while, even before bow ties were “cool” so it’s nice to see the rest of the world jumping on the trend.
Also this week, though, there’s been some interesting artistic endeavors. Yesterday I recorded narration about the history of Kaunas, my adopted city and on Friday, I have an audition for a film. I’m also supposed to consult on a stage show this week, I’ll have a new short story published on Monday (and I’ll submit the script I wrote two weeks ago) and I have the beginnings of an idea for another new piece of fiction. Now I just need to make sure I actually keep up with the writing. Mostly I’m posting here so I have someplace to hold myself accountable. It’s very easy to let work get in the way of work so I need to make sure I use my time better. I’ve started tracking my time usage on various projects. I’m finding that tracking things like time and word counts is quite beneficial to my process. It’s only taken how many years to figure that out?
So.. new story starting on Thursday. If you see me, ask how it’s coming and make sure I have an answer. Busy is good, right?
Getting the Hang of Thursdays 