Pulitzer Winners Donate Money
I met Michael Berens years ago when we were both Pulitzer Finalists. We lost when the board moved an entry into our category and that turned out to be the winner. We’ve kept in touch over the years, and Berens and his writing partner, Ken Armstrong, were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for their work at ...
The Apology
As of this afternoon, my Sunday story — what I am calling “The Apology” has nearly 8,000 Facebook shares and over 300 Tweets. The story has resonated with people, and they want to share it as they reflect on their lives and their past. I have received many calls and e-emails from people, many ...
Power of Story
I have received overwhelming reader response to this piece. Check back here when I discuss the piece — thinking, reporting and structuring. tom
Portland reading
I have a reading scheduled for April 26 at 7 p.m. at Portland’s Broadway Books, 1714 Northeast Broadway Street.
Things I like
I want to post two stories here that I like. Here is one from Rebecca Alexander, a fine writer for a magazine in Baton Rouge, La. The second is from Matt Russell, a writer at The Post-Bulletin in Rochester, Minn. If you have something you are proud of, send me the link. Tom
The Long Wait
This is the week the Pulitzer Prizes are selected and the wait for the three Finalists can be tense. I’ve been a Finalist twice and won the award once. Who made the final cut is a more closely-guarded secret now than when I was first a Finalist. Back in the day, it wasn’t unusual for ...
Book arrived
I got home today and found a package on my front porch. Inside were two hardcover copies of my new book, “A Stranger’s Gift: True Stories of Faith in Unexpected Places.” Almost surreal to see the finished product, remembering how I sat at the dinning room table night after night working on the manuscript. ...
First Attempt at Fiction
Last week I finished my first short story, a mystery. It’s 7,000 words. I plan on sending it out to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in a week or so.
Awards Season
The Pulitzer Prize judges are wrapping up their business back in New York City this week. By the end of Friday, they will have selected the official Pulitzer Prize Finalists in each of the journalism categories. The way it works is the judges sort through all the entries in a particular category — Features, for ...
Writing Wisdom
We’re about to enter award season — that time of the year where our stories are judged. As a matter of fact, I’ve got a packet of stories that I am going to judge this week. As someone who has won — and lost — awards I bring a certain perspective about what these awards ...

