I went away to school.

This picture of my brother, Neal, was taken at the U.S. Open Golf Tournament in Pinehurst, North Carolina, in June of 1999, one month before he died of an accidental drug overdose. He was only 37 at the time.

My brother touched the lives of many with his wonderful sense of humor, his…

It's been a long time since I've updated! I've been busy with life, and haven't had time to write. I've been working as a freelance copywriter for a Marketing company in Florida for a while now. I've been writing Press Releases, Blog Articles, Email Drips, a Q&A, FAQ, etc. It's good work and I enjoy it - for the most part. I enjoy the blog articles the most, but also like doing the press releases.

Dad has been story-telling.

Economists and business commentators are increasingly concerned about the high levels of debts carried by Americans.

Danny Singh “financial whiz kid” is not taking this issue lightly.

"The amount of Americans in debt seems to be increasing every year and that to me is a huge issue. We need to focus on spreading financial literacy," says 19-year-old Danny Singh.  But this self-taught financial…

Alien on Campus

Join us for Why There Are Words, November 8 at Studio 333 in Sausalito, 7 pm, $5. Our promise: A magical night of stories from seven remarkable writers on the theme, Promise.

Fred Arroyo is the author of Western Avenue and Other Fictions, as well as The Region of Lost…

    When I feel discouraged, I remember an accomplishment.  This could be moving to a new area and taking risks to learn the town and meet people.  Or it could mean publication or a kind word from someone. 

    As I am sending out my writing again, I will inevitably face more rejections/disappointments. It helps to remember that my book was a finalist in the 2011 Emergency Press International Book Contest.

    Emergency…

Cultural Weekly Writing Contest: We Have a Winner!

My dog Susie says...

Life's little stresses

Last week I barked about taking your dog to work and its benefits. Well, how about other places that pets help humans: like school? In colleges from Atlanta to San Francisco counseling centers are using dogs to reduce…

I'm writing my sections of this proposed novel non-linearly. That frees me up creatively in a way that a A-Z rendering of the facts would not.

The Nicer the Nice, The Higher the Price



It’s difficult to pinpoint my first manic episode. The most effective psychiatrist…

Most young people aspire to a higher education. It is considered to be the ticket to a fulfilling and prosperous life. This was their dream since they were little. The schools religiously prepare them for this moment for years. The social pressure is enormous. In their mind, a college degree is the only way forward - they want it at any cost.

As tuition fees soar, student debt accumulates. In order to pursue a bachelor's degree almost everybody is getting a…

i had a dream last night that i got on the phone with the podcast ive been writing, ira glass, and that he called me up on speaker while i was in a dorm room.  i think it's cause i'm on my way to UB soon for the MFA writing program, but this school was so much cooler.  it had a sloping lawn outside of a wall that was covered with windows and I got on a phone with a long cord and me and ira sat for like 20 minutes. 

sometimes he would go through bad cell phone reception areas…

I didn’t have my first laptop or mobile phone until I was at university. Many things have changed during the past 20 years; many more will change over the next twenty years as we live in a rapidly evolving society. A profession that has provided good prospects until now might be redundant by 2025 (or even earlier). When you assess your career options, you need to use the lens of the future and not the past.

It is impossible, of course, to predict exactly what will…

We’re so proud that Shay Olivarria was interviewed by Kristina Puga of…

You read correctly. "What are you prepared to lose to get a college degree?"

I was at a convention last week where hundreds of students had the opportunity to talk to representatives of various colleges. I talked to a number of teenagers. Here is a snapshot from a typical conversation:

• What degree do you consider?
• History.
• Why?
• I enjoy the subject.
• Have you thought what career path you…

In spite of her family being homeless one 17-year-old girl has stayed focused. Samantha Garvey recently discovered she's being considered for a national prestigious science award, and hopes to get a full scholarship to college to study marine biology. Read her story on my …