Our Miniature Hobby Lifestyle
I write a lot. Most of it is technical academic stuff for work. But, often I’ll pull up a blank page and draft a creative story or some essay on the state of the world—life. It’s something I enjoy doing and it helps me make sense of what’s going on internally in my head. Journaling …
The Silver Lining: How Inflation and a Bad Economy Can Fuel Your Creative Writing Read More »
So you want to be different? As an artist and miniature painter, I find myself driven to find out how I can differentiate myself from the crowd. With digital media’s escape velocity connecting us globally, embracing individuality becomes increasingly important to me. And, as such, I’ve continually searched for ways to change how I do …
How to Be Different in Your Miniature Painting and Art Read More »
Do you want to know how to write a campaign? Looking for tips for writing a D&D adventure? If you’re playing Dungeons and Dragons (DND) or other tabletop RPG game, you can be sure that there’s more than just rolling dice and slaying monsters. Here I’ll discuss some tips for creating compelling stories that will …
As a miniature painter, have you ever found yourself feeling stuck, unmotivated, or doubting your abilities? These feelings may be the result of learned helplessness, a psychological phenomenon that can impact even the most skilled and experienced artists. In this article, I explore the concept of learned helplessness, its prevalence in miniature painting, and its …
What is “Learned Helplessness”? Insights for Artists Read More »
I often get asked why I write so much about hobbies, thoughts, and insights. The simple answer is that it’s something I’m passionate about. But there’s more to it than that. It’s kind of an identity. I think it’s important to have a hobby or creative outlet that is entirely your own. Something that you …
Hobby Writing and Intrusive Thoughts (Editorial) Read More »
Do you ever feel like you’re just not good enough? That no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to achieve your goals? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, this is a feeling that nearly everyone experiences at some point in their lives. The key to overcoming this feeling is to learn from …
What Painting Miniatures Teaches You About Blood and Failure Read More »
As a miniature painter of tabletop gaming models, do you often feel the pressure to create perfect pieces. This can be extremely frustrating, as it seems that no matter what you do, you can never quite achieve the level of perfection you’re striving for. This can result in a lot of wasted time and energy, …
Do You Suffer From Hobby Perfectionism? (Solutions) Read More »
It was 2:40pm on a bright sunny day. We were at the local playground. My daughter wanted to play in the sandbox. It was crowded with other parents and children mingling about. But, we did find a shaded spot in the sand away from the ‘traffic’. This was a last minute trip, hoping to take …
As some of you know, I write a lot with a real typewriter. I own several vintage typewriters that I bought at various antique shops and outdoor fairs. I’ve always loved toying with the odd doodad. I’m fidgety. The kid in me still kicks and screams for something, anything to do. Why do we enjoy …
I am afraid of getting older. The thought of obtaining all the physical attributes of seniority is a speed bump. A real eye-opener. I ponder what my lifestyle would be like, then. Things slowing down through physical limitations rather than choice. It’s inevitable, of course. What can a person do? Nothing right? Although I should say that even …
As an academic, I write a lot. I write tons and tons of material. And, I’ve explored all kinds of writing. Never mind the dissertation; I’ve written papers for scientific journals, editorials for magazines, and creative fiction for contests. I can write. I’ve got the tools in the toolbox, as Stephen King described in his …
On a coffee break, partaking in two of my favorite activities: consuming and spewing. Here’s my afternoon spew…. This is a precious…sss moment. A punctate lot of time in this short lifespan. In the words of the wise fictional character, Bilbo Baggins (the most famous of Hobbit-sss), I’m preemptively avoiding being “…butter scraped over too …
I wrote this short story (circa 2003) as an exercise in writing conversational dialog. It was practice, written quickly to finish it. It’s a quick read, a bit clunky, but I haven’t pushed the editing too far so I could retain the draft as a reference for me to see how far I’ve come as …