Sometimes, what a story needs most is hidden from your view
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5 Steps to Kill a Darling
I killed a darling, and I liked it. And these are my To Do’s so you can perform this deadly muse: STEP 1: Identify the Darling * Determine the Darling to die. Has a Darling lost its purpose? Does a Darling no longer stimulate the storyteller? Can a Darling...
I Killed a Darling, and I Liked It
The darling revisited our past pages: “You said such nice things in the beginning.” “You weaved sweet and savory.” “You wrote like each word was our first.” Being a determined storyteller, I played the part between the page: "It’s not me, it’s you.” “You...
Wishing the World Away
"I wish to wash away her wishy washy ways." I made this wish known in a poem. It wasn’t my best writing at the time. Wishy washy were her ways though, Until one day, my wish came true. Can one create whatever one wishes? What does one wish to create? What is created...
The Art of Aging Out
Another birthday not remembered. It’s not that I forgot the 411 about my birthday. It’s that I don’t remember the day I exited her womb. Yet I was raised to celebrate this unremembered event. After all, this is the day when my life really began. At least that’s what...
Knock. Knock.
Knock. Knock. I open the door. A man shares that he’s arrived to bush hog my grounds. I tell him he must have the wrong address. But he tells me my property is the one just beyond the cemetery. I do not tell him my previous property 2,000 miles away was also the one...
Date Night with Me, Myself & I
I walk into The Land & Water. A bartender tells me to sit anywhere I like. I ask the waitress her name. “Kayla,” she says. “Look, I’m going to make this really easy. Water with no ice and 10-piece sashimi,” I say. She verifies my lack of allergies and departs. I...
Unpopular Thought Parade
I sneak food into movie theaters. Hard candy. Gummy. Donuts not excluded. One quarter dozen thus far. Real deal smuggling operations on the rise. Bottles of water in backpockets. Nuts. Some of you may unsubscribe to my blog because of this new storyline. Because I’ve...
It’s Pretty Funny, I’m Scared
I'm scared to do this. But I’m still doing it. With this in mind, I am changing my blog name. Again. It’s pretty funny. Because I debated not changing due to what people would think and say. “David is so indecisive.” “Can’t DV stick with anything?” “Mr. Villalva will...
Mission: Hold Willing Captives
"I hate it when you find a book you love," I said. Wife didn't even look up. DOWN & DONE When wife’s hooked on a book, it’s not down ’til it's done. She's compelled to discover what happens to the characters living on the page. She must learn how the story ends....
4 Practical Yet Unorthodox Methods to Navigate Depressive Episodes
I recently shared a blog post stating, "I am depressed." Many people offered words of encouragement and support. Many people were kind enough to share their personal stories. I responded to each person, and I remain thankful for their wisdom and well wishes. 🙂 Yet...
The Guilt Is Enough
I have so much. Enough love. Enough money. Enough time. Enough. So I wonder, “Why me?” Because others need enough. So I support others. I give love. I give money. I give time. I give. But is it enough? So I experience guilt. Guilt for blessings. Guilt for...
Lucid Timestamp: July 25, 2018
I am depressed. I tell myself that I shouldn’t be depressed. I want to sell myself on this because I have what most people would love. Yet I am depressed. I choose to look at why - and it’s because I am not doing everything I am meant to do here in this life. Except I...
How to Get Better as a Writer Every Day – and write like Stephen King
I used to think Stephen King was an idiot. Many years ago, I consumed King’s memoir, On Writing, which offered advice for emerging storytellers. At the time of its digestion, I was simultaneously devouring a handful of King’s novels, from The Long Walk (underrated...
Six Harmless Mind Tricks That Make Readers Love Your Writing
Do it. Please? There, I just gave you one of the mind tricks in the two sentences above. I just gave you another. Are they working? I just did it again. Fine. No more games. Because you’re here to unlock the writing secrets that compel reading spells. So without...
A Simple Next Step to Making Your Dream Come True
Wife agreed it would be “cute” if I got my daughter’s face tattooed onto my chest. Then she suggested it would look better on my shoulder. Before I could respond, the aforementioned fictitious tatt had been relocated to my right breast, but wife asked, "What would...
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