An address to the senior (citizen) class of 2020

My latest article at Our Sunday Visitor newspaper.

10 ways to be the worst parishioner ever

This one was fun to write.

My latest at Our Sunday Visitor: 10 ways to be the worst parishioner ever.

Big and Little Ways to Help

My latest at Our Sunday Visitor.

"When did we see you homeless?"

"It well may be — but unknown to you — a friend, coworker, neighbor or fellow parishioner has a family member who’s homeless. It well may be you have an immediate or extended family member living in a shelter or on the street."

Uh oh. A quiz.

My latest article at OSV.
Right here!

A 1982 DeLorean vs. a 2019 confessional?

Again, thank you Our Sunday Visitor for giving me such license when it comes to the newspaper article topics and angles I pitch. A 1982 DeLorean vs. a 2019 confessional? Great Scott!

How the confessional is better than a time machine

Give the editors what they ask for!

I pitched this article as "10 Ways" but then got too wordy and ended up with only 8 to get the word count right.

It's good to stick to word counts if you want to keep editors happy. As a magazine editor, I had freelancers submit material that was a good 50 percent above the word count. One told me, "This is longer than what you asked for but I assume it's easier for you to cut copy than have to add it.

No-o-o-o-o . . .

It's easier for me if you give me what I asked for.

https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/Article/TabId/535/ArtMID/13567/ArticleID/19952/8-easy-ways-to-learn-more-about-the-Faith.aspx

Just keep writing.

Write What You Know; I Know I'm Old . . . -ish

Here's the opening from a piece I did for Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly, titled "Faith and fulfillment during 'Act III'":

The numbers don’t lie, but they can offer a false sense of security.

If I’m “only” 50, then I’m middle-aged, right? Yes and, probably, no.

Yes, that’s the common term for anyone that age; but no, it’s not likely you’re at the halfway point in your life. That’s in your rearview mirror.

These days, “young” can slide all the way up to 40, and it’s commonly accepted that “middle-aged” is 40 to 60. But 60-plus is ...

Uh oh.

Some say 60 to 80 is “young old.” And 80 and up is “old old.” That makes sense, and not just because those in their 80s consider those in their 60s “pups.”

But the truth is, those of us who don’t die young or middle-aged will, at some point, begin to realize — and grudgingly accept — that the curtain has opened on our personal Act III.

And there we are: center stage.

 You can find the rest here. (And speaking of rest, I believe I'll go take a little nap.)

Just keep writing.

Nausea and the Novel

Many thanks to Bob ("Robert P.") Lockwood for a great review of The World's Funniest Atheist in Our Sunday Visitor newspaper. It means a lot when an old -- that is, longtime -- colleague and friend says your work is good and that person is a good enough and knowledgeable enough colleague and friend not to lie about that. In print.

Bob confesses he often likes novels that begin with someone throwing up.

Fortunately for me, that was the opening scene.

It's high-class literature.

Obviously not.

It's a good story.

I hope.

And I hope that's your goal, nine-week novelist. Tell a good story!

Just keep writing.

(Hmm. I realize now Pope Bob begins with someone throwing up and O Father: A Murder Mystery has someone going winky-tink in the bushes. Fortunately, my two novels for kids open at a baseball game and in a bedroom with a young fellow just kind of hiding from his family. G-rated material.)