Writing Articles

Poetic Inspiration or Lack Thereof

Writing prompts don’t always work well for me. Here are some of the things I use, when feeling “uninspired,” instead. Feel free to give them a try if you’re facing a bit of “writers block.” Or go out into the sunshine, paint a picture, work on a puzzle – do something el…

Poetry Forms Challenge 2026: “Quadrille”

Longer than a fortune cookie, shorter than an epic poem – try your hand at the Quadrille poetry form.

Another Poem Fished Out of the Moat

Somebody said, “You get all the best spam!” Sure. But that doesn’t mean I want or need more of it. Nor does it mean any of this made it through the spam filter. No link backs for you, Spammers!

lake under blue sky during daytime

Pygmies at the Lake: A Tall Tale (or IS It)?

I have received urgent pleas from the Allegheny Mountain Ecotourism Board to update this and inform you that it is truly fiction – please, please stop trampling the natural surroundings looking for the indigenous peoples described herein. Or at least support local businesses, you determined adventurers, you.

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fire burning on the road with high rise buildings during daytime photography

Extinguish the Flaming Social Media Trashpile!

If you can get followers to spend a little more effort – to change the thumbs-up to a heart emoji, for example – you got something like a “reaction” out of them. But the holy grail of engagement – getting a thing to “go viral” or “spread like wildfire” online – requires the equivalent of fuel, a heat source, and oxygen.

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So You’re NOT Leaving Facebook?

So You’re NOT Leaving Facebook?

If you’ve considered all the reasons to leave Facebook and still don’t think Facebook is more trouble than it’s worth, at least take an hour or so to batten down the hatches and secure your account – and keep your friends safer, while you’re at it.

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man walking near cubicles inside building

Social Compost (an Abecedarian Poem)

“The abecedarian is an ancient poetic form guided by alphabetical order. Generally each line or stanza begins with the first letter of the alphabet and is followed by the successive letter, until the final letter is reached.” (From https://poets.org/glossary/abecedarian

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