The Pied Piper | Apr 16, 2008 | Podcasts

When the beautiful town of Hamlin is overrun by rats, the solution comes in a form of a tall spindly man and a dark, wooden pipe.

The Brave Little Tailor | Mar 3, 2008 | Podcasts

Even if striking down seven with one blow is an extraordinary feat, one should be careful in how and when one touts it. Just ask the little tailor, and his giant new problems.

The First Day | Jan 27, 2008 | Stories

Willie Banks began his new job with nothing at all like hope and optimism. He doesn't want to be there. And thecrow that attacks him as he leaves for the day doesn't help. Not in the slightest.

Norville Rhodes | Jan 18, 2008 | Stories

It seems to Norville that the townsfolk of Bobsrangle have a very odd approach to doing things. But he has more important matters - like keeping his head securely on his shoulders!

The Tale of Phollyville | Jan 5, 2008 | Stories

When the Shopkeeper of The Wonderful Shoe Emporium retires, the people of Phollyville will have to choose a new one. Some will sell red shoes and some will sell blue. But what about laces, buckles, and heels on their shoes?

Fuzzy Luck | Jan 1, 2008 | Stories

When Wilford Barnes washes up on the shore of somewhere he's never been, his biggest question is, "What on Earth is this in my pocket?"

My McKenna | Nov 15, 2007 | StoryLife

How do you define a defining moment? It's when facing an opportunity or challenge, you repeat in your mind "June 17, 1912, 9:18am" and send yourself back in time.

The Boy who Ran Around in Circles | Nov 7, 2007 | Stories

With our wedding anniversary this weekend, I thought I’d mark the occasion by sharing a story I wrote for my wife just a few weeks before we were married. It's a parable.

Stingy Jack | Oct 30, 2007 | Stories

A Tale for Halloween about a man named Jack and the Devil he tricked just to save himself the cost of a drink at the pub in the center of the old Knotty Wood. Turns out, it cost him a lot more.

The PUMP-KIN KING | Oct 26, 2007 | StoryLife

Be honest: did you see Nigtmare Before Christmas when it was released or after it became popular? Whether you saw the genius in the movie from the beginning or you're a recent convert, Jack Skellington is enough cool for all of us.

The Draw Towards Villainy | Oct 23, 2007 | StoryLife

Walt Disney Pictures have given us some pretty great villains over the years, to be sure. But how do they compare to other villains? To each other? And how is it possible to have a favorite villain?

The Ending of Malcolm Crow | Oct 17, 2007 | StoryLife

Sure, seeing dead people is impressive, but can you honestly think that M. Night didn't know the ending before he began the story?

Story Investment and the Swamps of Sadness | Oct 14, 2007 | StoryLife

Whether you like The Neverending Story now, as an adult, is really beside the point. Actually, it's the whole point and if we paid attention to these kinds of points I expect a lot more of us would grow up believing in the improbable than would currently admit.

Saturday, 12:01am | Jul 24, 2007 | Experience

If you're worried, you can relax, this entry is SPOILER FREE. This is simply the description of my day & night, not about the story itself. So read on.

Gutless Wonder | Jun 7, 2007 | Experience

As you are probably aware, I am a gutless wonder. Sure, I talk big, but when it comes right down to it I am a big, fat (but not too fat) chicken.

Tragedy and Hope | Apr 18, 2007 | Experience

A couple of days ago I finished my screenplay and elation was my friend. Then Blacksburg happened and it didn't seem to matter anymore.

Killing Your Darlings | Jan 7, 2007 | StoryLife

You know when life doesn't go the way you want it to, and you try like mad to get it back to a place where you can have your cake and eat it to? Dream on, friend. Dream on.

Life Without Laskovision | Dec 15, 2006 | Experience

I have to admit, I’m a blogging failure. At least up to this point. The blog itself, the design, the medium, I love. It inspires me. When I look at its age-worn colors and and clean, Palatino fonts, with its bold declaration of who I am, I get pumped. I just wish I was better at it.

Remember, Rembember the 10th of November | Nov 3, 2006 | Observation

So I'm getting married November 10. I was asked whether or not I was nervous about getting married. I asked, "Why would I be nervous? I am confident my life will improve spectacularly. It's like asking if I get nervous knowing I'm going to Disneyland."

Internalizing The Princess Bride | Oct 24, 2006 | Experience

Is there a more analogous, more quotable movie to life than The Princess Bride? Maybe it's because I can recite the entire movie verbatim or maybe it's because I'm getting married in a little less than half an hour.

Harry Potter and The Tower of Light | Aug 18, 2006 | Stories

A couple of years ago, while failing spectacularly at patiently waiting for the next Harry Potter book, I started to write my own. I know, it doesn't matter now, but I wanted it out there. There are three chapters in all. Here's chapter one.

Slaves of the Game | Aug 4, 2006 | Experience

Finding a passion is like finding a crisp twenty-dollar bill in the pocket of the jeans you wore last week or in the couch cushions or among the forty or fifty receipts from 1998 you still have in your wallet. You know that euphoria you feel? Yeah, that’s the same kind of feeling.

"Another Story" Part III | Jul 11, 2006 | Another Story To Tell

The ongoing saga of the conception and production of "Another Story To Tell" - a broadway style musical I wrote, directed, and produced back in September of 2005.

The Crow and the Dream | Jun 9, 2006 | Experience

There was a time, not long ago, when a crow waited for me to arrive/depart from work for no other reason than to attack me. That's right. Attack me. What am I doing here?

The Muse | May 12, 2006 | StoryLife

Writers, including myself, are always asked "where do you get your inspiration to write"; I personally believe it might be easier to ask "where do you get your inspiration to breathe?"

Lord Greystoke and the Brothers Lasko | Apr 24, 2006 | StoryLife

wish I could tell you that I had a fascination with Hollywood and the silver screen since I could see straight. But the truth is, I just didn't care about movies all that much. At least not until I was eight and got the Chicken Pox.

"Another Story" Part II | Apr 7, 2006 | Another Story To Tell

The ongoing saga of the conception and production of "Another Story To Tell" - a Broadway style musical I wrote, directed, and produced back in September of 2005.

Lost Reality | Mar 31, 2006 | Observation

am fascinated by the Hollywood elite. Not by Hollywood, really, as much as I am fascinated by the crazed and gossip hungry population that considers the citizens of Tinsel Town to be the end-all be-all of this world. We assume if an individual is extremely talented in one aspect, then of course, he/she should be listened to, especially if he/she speaks really, really loud.

The Story Behind "Another Story" | Mar 23, 2006 | Another Story To Tell

On September 15th &16th, A Broadway-style musical was performed in Bountiful, Utah called Another Story to Tell. I wrote, directed, produced, and starred in this overwhelming production and loved every grueling, thrilling, panicked-filled, sleep-deprived moment of it. What follows is a recounting of the process.

Celebrating Mediocrity | Mar 15, 2005 | StoryLife

Although this world is not full of “Supers” it does have its share of extraordinary people, from all walks of life, from every culture. Athletes, academics, artists, etc. But not everyone fits into this category. So why is there a growing determination to ensure everyone feels “extraordinary” regardless of their accomplishments (or lack thereof?)

Behind Shakespeare | Mar 24, 2004 | Experience

Rewriting Shakespeare is a daunting task. But when you're asked to be in a show with an 11-page script with naught a sense of structure, well, what are you supposed to do?

The Origins of the Featherbed | Jul 17, 2003 | Stories

Everything had to come from something. Even crasseuth.