Tag Archives: crime writer

Creative torches: some people give off sparks.

Posted on March 3, 2012 by toby

Creativity is a flame. I’ve often told people, and experienced myself, the way that flame can be fanned and strengthened by some people and damped and stifled by others. Keeping the flame alive is something every artist has to do, … Read More

Posted in Creativity, The Writing Life | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Reluctant crime writer.

Posted on December 4, 2011 by toby

How did this happen to me? I’m studying Forensics for Dummies with a pack of Post-its. I’m cutting up a chicken in the kitchen with a butcher knife as “research” for a paragraph on dismemberment, leaning in close to listen … Read More

Posted in The Writing Life | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Making the call to Child Protective Services

Posted on September 10, 2011 by toby

Sometimes I hate my job as a school counselor and therapist. Something bad happened over the weekend to one of my student clients. Her face is unusually shuttered, eyes down, monosyllabic answers to my questions, denials that anything more than … Read More

Posted in Life, Parenting | Tagged , | 17 Comments

The paths not taken.

Posted on September 4, 2011 by toby

I’m doing research, reading a book on how to become an FBI agent. It’s dry, pedantic, and yet just reading about the application process, the screening, even the colors and symbolism of the logo, tugs at something within me. A … Read More

Posted in Life, The Writing Life | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Complex emotions.

Posted on August 14, 2011 by toby

“Our agency agreement is terminated.” Those words are the period on the end of a three-year sentence: one year to get the agent, one year to work on Blood Orchids to her satisfaction, one year to try to sell it. … Read More

Posted in Fiction, The Writing Life | Tagged , , | 29 Comments

“Pono” is still the right thing.

Posted on May 4, 2011 by toby

I’m going to do a more controversial post again (brewing on another hot topic right now), but I thought a change of pace might be nice. We writers try to do that in our work, mix the sour with the … Read More

Posted in Blogging, Hawaii, Personal, The Writing Life | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The gift of insomnia

Posted on April 26, 2011 by toby

Last night I had insomnia. This is not all that unusual; as a ‘thinker’ I am unduly burdened by brain processing, and I’d been knocked out all last week by a cold and resulting cold medicine, and last night was … Read More

Posted in Creativity, Fiction, Personal, The Writing Life | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Spotlight an Interesting Blog #11

Posted on April 22, 2011 by toby

This blog has something for everyone- thrillers, romance, sci-fi,  In fact, that very name Genreality sums it up- this site is about being a genre writer (which I find myself being, by the choice of the Muse) and all the … Read More

Posted in Blogging, Fiction, The Writing Life | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Gathering Your Writing Team

Posted on April 15, 2011 by toby

I’ve been intentional about gathering my teams. I have several: health team, (primary care doctor, dentist, chiropractor, massager, physical therapist and mental health therapist, followed by various specialists as I’ve needed them.) I’ve got a financial team, a home maintenance … Read More

Posted in Creativity, Fiction, The Writing Life | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Spotlight an interesting blog #8!

Posted on March 10, 2011 by toby

In my blog forays something I’ve come to admire is what I’m calling fearless writing. Writing that cuts to the heart of things, stabs like a scalpel and flays back the human condition. Because of my interest in crime writing, … Read More

Posted in Blogging, The Writing Life | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments