Author: Marcás P. O'Dea

If you've attended a public or private school anywhere in a country that does not experience a regular shortage of books or papers or pencils or buildings, then it's quite likely that you've heard the phrase "required reading." What does it mean? We know that reading is one of the three 'R's (which is a … Continue reading Required Reading →

You can learn an amazing amount about how to write science fiction from reading Robert A. Heinlein. And like many authors, he produced a list of "rules" that helped him sculpt a career that reflects the times in which he lived, and create a reputation that took him to the top of many reading lists … Continue reading Robert A. Heinlein Writing Advice →

Been a tough day of being outside the apartment running errands, getting to appointments, and taking care of myself, mentally, physically, and emotionally. The day got me thinking about the fact that I just made a HUGE investment in my writing career, that will (fingers crossed!) take me to the point where I'm seeking agent … Continue reading Forging Ahead →

4 Tips On Creativity From The Creator Of Calvin & Hobbes I saw this article in Fast Company a few months back and in reading it, I realized how important comic strips had been in my adult life. Doonesbury. The Far Side. Bloom County. And, of course, Calvin & Hobbes. Calvin & Hobbes was created by … Continue reading Writing and the Creative Life →

Remember the scene in The Wizard of Oz where little Toto figures out that the wizard wasn’t real and revealed the man behind the curtain? Just prior to that there was a mystique that the ordinary man created by pretending to be the Wizard of Oz. Even though it was all a dream created by … Continue reading How Things Change →

I get asked an unusual question fairly frequently.  To my way of thinking, I wouldn't consider it anything different than anyone else does, but I suppose that once I scrutinize it, it does come across as a rather interesting trait.  Time management.   When it's brought to our attention, we might suddenly think, Hmmm, I … Continue reading Time Management →

Those who sometimes get asked that question have a steep advantage over the rest of us.  They've "made it." It's like asking Brad Pitt what it's like being an actor.  Or Tom Cruise.  Audiences want to hear about the new house they just bought in Aspen, or the new Ferrari they added to their collection … Continue reading What’s It (Really) Like Being a Writer?  →

by ALLYSON SOUZA for http://www.LittleThings.com We’ve all heard that we shouldn’t do it: inviting your dog into your bed. People believe it’s dirty, and it’s just not good for you. People have been saying it for years. But, what if we told you that maybe that isn’t entirely true. There are actual health benefits to letting your four-legged … Continue reading 7 (Not So) Surprising Reasons Your Dog Should Sleep On Your Bed Every Night →

Life lessons are rarely easy. If they were easy, they would never have become lessons. Why is that? Why must we be tested so severely in order to grow as humans? I am a student of the multiverse. Once upon a time I called myself “atheist.” The problem I found with that way of thinking … Continue reading Give Yourself a Chance →

There’s no such thing as a “real” man or a “real” woman. We are non-binary, gender-fluid humans who try to label everything so that our brains can believe it understands. It doesn’t. All labeling does is provide the illusion of linear order and sense. Only when we’re able to step away from the need to … Continue reading Manifesto for the 21st Century →