Through Feast and Famine, We Give Thanks

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday this year, and it has given me the opportunity to ruminate further on the spirit of Thanksgiving. This is a holiday rich with tradition and history, even though it may often be overlooked by many as a mere family gathering every November. This prompted me to produce another ABABContinue reading “Through Feast and Famine, We Give Thanks”

Day of the Devil Dogs: A Haiku Series

November 10th this year was the 246th anniversary of the birth of the United States Marine Corps. At the time of their initial inception, the US Marines were referred to as the Continental Marines. The Second Continental Congress ordered the formation of two battalions of marines on November 10, 1775 to serve as a landingContinue reading “Day of the Devil Dogs: A Haiku Series”

The Hammer of Man: A Haiku Series

October is host to the anniversary of the Battle of Tours, a less impactful, but no highly symbolic skirmish in human history. Also referred to as the Battle of Poitiers, was a skirmish fought between the Frankish Carolingians and the Umayyad Caliphate on October 10, 732. The exact location of the skirmish is unknown, takingContinue reading “The Hammer of Man: A Haiku Series”

The Monomyth and “Hero’s Journey”

The Monomyth is a 17-step guide for creating a story, separated into three acts. It was first defined as such by Joseph Campbell, and later refined into the 12-step Hero’s Journey by Christopher Vogler. However, this formula was not something created by Joseph Campbell or any other individual. Rather, it would be more accurate toContinue reading “The Monomyth and “Hero’s Journey””

Before the Dawn: A Dramatic Monologue/Soliloquy

Here is my first attempt at a new form of poetry I have never written before: a dramatic monologue/soliloquy. I wrote it while contemplating the common phrase “the night is always darkest before the dawn.” Please enjoy! The night is darkest before the dawn, as I am so often told. Walking through the halls ofContinue reading “Before the Dawn: A Dramatic Monologue/Soliloquy”

Dramatic Monologue and Soliloquy

A dramatic monologue or soliloquy is an interesting format for writing poetry. It is a poem written in the form of a speech. There are many applications of a dramatic monologue in writing. It can be used to convey a vivid scene, rich with detail and sensory experience. It can also be used to expressContinue reading “Dramatic Monologue and Soliloquy”

Diamond In the Sky: A Haiku Series

A few years ago, I wrote poem about the life cycle of a star. I called it, “Diamond In the Sky.” I tried to find that poem to republish it here, but it was on my previous computer which I reformatted and gave away a while back. I did not create a copy, unfortunately. However,Continue reading “Diamond In the Sky: A Haiku Series”

The Trials of Humanity: A Haiku Series

As I was reflecting on how far Humanity has come and how much further we have yet to go, I pondered how corrupt empires and authoritarian regimes have risen up throughout history, time and time again. Every time, one way or another, they do seem to be self-defeating and lead their followers – who theyContinue reading “The Trials of Humanity: A Haiku Series”

Warm Weather Motivations: A Haiku Series

It is springtime where I live, and that means the weather is getting warmer. Each day, I find myself feeling the heat of the sun on my skin. Something about the warmer months has always made me feel more eager to exercise. My blood just feels like it’s running hotter and I want to getContinue reading “Warm Weather Motivations: A Haiku Series”

Creating Suspense In a Static Environment [Rewrite]

NOTE: I originally wrote this article for the now defunct blog of the Indiana Writers’ Consortium, a non-profit organization I interned with a few years ago which ceased operations and dissolved while I was with them. I was going back over it and several other articles I wrote for them which I realized would beContinue reading “Creating Suspense In a Static Environment [Rewrite]”