by Sidney S. Stark The intent of that phrase has always been clear to me; or so I thought. It seemed to imply a non-specific amount of sharing, whether in an athletic endeavor, a business negotiation or even an argument. But it wasn’t until recently that I really examined the idea of giving and taking… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Sidney Stark
Mind How You Go
by Sidney S. Stark In doing some research for my novel recently I came across an aphorism that made me stop and think. Ordinarily that would be an oxymoron in its own right. Isn’t the whole point of an aphorism to supply the requisite comment without any conscious effort? The recipient of the remark is… Continue Reading
Somebody Else’s Shoes
By Sidney S. Stark Can you put yourself in somebody else’s shoes? I’ve never doubted for a moment that I could until last year after I’d been to a lecture given by Elizabeth Strout on the subject of how she structures her novels. In the process of explaining her approach to the start of her… Continue Reading
Vacation Magic!
By Sidney S. Stark Childhood fantasies are important ways we have of communicating with ourselves. Sometimes vacations taken decades later can cause flashbacks that remind us of some of our most significant imaginings. For example, a writer friend of mine always wanted to be a Texas Ranger when he was a child. As a city… Continue Reading
Are You Listening…Really Listening?
by Sidney S. Stark Learning to listen instead of talking was a skill my grandmother tried to teach me very early. It was not a lesson I learned easily or well at that time. Some would say I still haven’t mastered it. But years of sales ‘how-to’ seminars on the subject and more years of… Continue Reading
He Who Hesitates…
by Sidney S. Stark “You have to be willing to risk everything, protect nothing, and then you’ll lose nothing in the end.” Is this advice from a professional gambler or perhaps a world-class downhill ski racer? It’s not hard to find many other possible authors of the seemingly outrageous counsel but a lot harder to… Continue Reading