The Stories Hats Carry: Power prompts
As a writer, people give me stories. Sometimes, they come in words—fragments whispered over coffee, the quiet confession of a stranger, the weight of a gasped secret. But sometimes, stories arrive in objects. And my favorite? Hats. And an intriguing hat makes for a powerful writing prompt. Writing prompts are more than just words on […]
The Earth Opened
When the earth cracked open and the sky rained fire, author Mark R. Clifford emerged from the ashes of Mount Pinatubo. When the streets whispered secrets, he listened—and witnessed cases that shook nations. His survival-His investigations-His legacy. . . These aren’t just stories; they’re dispatches from the edge of history. Now, his latest chapter has […]
Join Author Mark R. Clifford for an Inspiring Journey into Autobiographical Fiction!
Discover how storytelling can illuminate the past, reshape the present, and inspire the future.
AN AUTOMATION PARADOX: JOHN HENRY IN THE AGE OF ROBOTS
Automation renders many humans obsolete. The legendary struggle of John Henry, immortalized by Johnny Cash’s famous ballad, serves as a cautionary tale for institutions like today’s longshoremen.
That time when my brain took an Unauthorized Coffee Break
A Stroke is no Joke, and neither is this Post I have become a cautionary tale. Every 40 seconds, someone suffers a stroke in America. To put this into grave perspective, every 40 seconds someone commits suicide in America. We talk a lot about suicide prevention, but have you ever considered stroke prevention? My instant […]
Apocalypse ‘91 Unmasked: Don’t Panic
On June 15, 1991, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines marked history’s most catastrophic volcanic eruption in a densely populated area. The eruption spewed ash, gas, and rock high into the atmosphere, relentless earthquakes, triggering lahars (mudflows) and pyroclastic flows, which devastated the island of Luzon. The eruption caused the loss of many […]
Snakeman: Creating Compelling Cop Characters in Fiction
My journey from cop to writer is summed up in the title of Bob Dylan’s 1975 masterpiece, “Tangled up in Blue.” Creating compelling police characters in fiction is a Gordian Knot. Many see police officers as modern-day gunslingers, who protect townsfolk from outlaws and embody American justice. Others, however, have mixed feelings about law enforcement, […]
Heroes for Hope: Struggle Well
Chris Murphy endured six combat deployments, but post-traumatic growth helped him rise from despair and discover new purpose in life.
Heroes for Hope: Hope in Dark Times
“The Guardian of The Golden Gate” Kevin Briggs, featured on Heroes For Hope, is credited with saving over 200 lives from suicide attempts at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Super Survivor
“Trauma is hell on earth. Trauma resolved is a gift from the gods.” —Doctor Peter A. Levine Johnny Cash sang, “Love is a burning thing, and it makes a fiery ring.” I burn more today than last year. The post-traumatic growth practices I learned at Warrior PATHH gets most of the credit. Warrior PATHH (Progressive, Alternative Training for Helping Heroes) is a special program that helps veterans and first responders […]
