randy obrien

Did you know there are over two hundred documented cases of women who dressed as men to fight in the Civil War? Although not widely recognized, this fact reveals a fascinating and often ignored aspect of American history. These women, driven by a sense of duty, adventure, and the desire for equality, took on male identities to serve their country in one of its most tumultuous times. This article delves into their courageous stories, their motivations, and the lasting impact they left on the pages of history. I based my novel Gettysburg by Morning on biographies, documentaries, and diaries from these courageous women. The Enlistment At the onset of the Civil War in 1861, slavery divided the United States. The Union and the Confederacy called upon their citizens to take up arms, and thousands of men answered. However, given the times, women found no place to serve. My character, Eloise Jacobson, took her brother's identity to uphold her family's honor. She was discouraged by ...

Sting is one of my favorite singers and songwriters. He uses literary devices to tell visual, emotional, and thought-provoking stories. I've read a bit about how he opens himself up to the writing process and have found that some of what he espouses works for me. He applies a blend of intuition, observation, and technical mastery to his writing that I believe can be applied to the art of storytelling. Embracing Intuition: Sting often begins by letting go of conscious control and allowing his subconscious to guide him. He describes this as "listening to the music and asking it to tell me a story." This intuitive approach taps into the writer's inner world, drawing on emotions, experiences, and memories that can form the foundation for powerful narratives. In first drafts especially, I find myself taping into a trance-like state that opens my mind to unplanned characters and ideas. The subconscious is a marvelous thing. Ob...

 Will AI change society? How could it not? Creative projects generated by typing in just a few words in a prompt that can produce emails, letters, pictures, and soon, videos.  Will they be any good? At first, no. But as the machines learn the quality will improve. I think there needs to be a watermark indicating what was created by AI. It's only fair to creators like me. We need to know how our competition works and what the final outcome will be. 

Beginning writers may find themselves wondering what their story is about. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes something bursts from your imagination, and you’re unsure where it came from. That said, when rewriting this first draft, it can be helpful to determine precisely your story’s theme. Literary themes are the central ideas or messages in a work of literature. These themes can be explicit, meaning they are directly stated in the text, or implicit, meaning they are implied or hinted at by the events and characters in the story. Literary themes are often universal, meaning they can be understood and related to by readers from different cultures and backgrounds. Some common literary themes include love, loss, identity, power, conflict, and coming of age. The theme of a work of literature is often closely tied to its characters, plot, and setting. For example, the theme of a love story may be the power of love to overcome obstacles and bring people together, while the theme of ...

What is your passion? When I was teaching creative writing, I asked the students their favorite movie or television show? The answers ranged from the best of Disney to the classics to smart-alecky attempts at humor. Your greatest strength in telling your story is your point of view. No one has ever lived the same life as you, had the same experiences at the same time as you, or expressed themselves the same way as you. Unfortunately, this is also your greatest weakness. Your point of view may seem like some other artist, but it's never going to be the same. When someone reads and evaluates your work, they're looking for something new, but not that new. They want something just a bit different than what everyone else is producing. But you must be true to your vision of your story, and if you get as close to creating the story in your mind as possible, you're a success. If anyone else likes what you've done, that is icing on the cake. Your first customer is you. If your w...

 I get posting pictures and tweeting, but how are you supposed to build a brand, get new followers, and make money? I know people are doing this, but I don't know how. Is it a Boomer thing?

 Maybe it's just me, but what is the goal of pharmaceutical companies advertising prescription-only drugs? If you can't buy Lazipro (a made-up drug) without a prescription, why tell consumers about it. To me, the assumption is that your doctor is such an idiot that if you don't mention Lazipro as a solution to your malady, they would never think of it. Imagine this..."Doctor, it hurts when I do this," as I lift my arm. "I think I need Lazipro." "My goodness, Dr. Feelgood says, I would never have thought of that on my own. Yes, Lazipro for you," they say, grabbing their prescription pad. How many millions of dollars are wasted or could be used to lower the cost of insulin if only the hundreds of commercials for prescription-only drugs stopped?