Yesterday, Emilie Wapnick of Puttylike (https://puttylike.com) posed a question: How has embracing your multipotentiality made you a better human? For someone with as many interests and pursuits as I have (https://potluck.com/mark/), there were a lot of reasons why, starting in…
Category: Biography
Feel
Watch the video, or read below: A few years ago, I wrote about things I want. A couple of years before that, about talking about depression. Today, the two come together with me talking about things I feel, and it’s…
Want
I’m going to reference Buddha and the Spice Girls, the Bible and Jerry Maguire, the Serenity Prayer and Tag Team. Because that’s just how I roll. People want things. It can’t be helped. In the space between the wanting and…
Crying at Movies and Songs
Hi, my name is Mark, and I cry at movies. And songs. And other stuff, too. But especially movies. And songs. Probably like most people, I’d sometimes feel tears well up while watching a movie. Maybe a few would escape…
Talking About Depression
Reasons why not to talk about having depression: Embarrassment. Shame. People will make too big a deal of it. People will make too little a deal of it. People will be on eggshells, which would only decrease connection with others,…
Songwriting for a 24-Hour Theatre Project
The Invitation In mid-March, my friend and colleague Kat Koppett asked me if I’d be involved in a pretty unique way in the 3rd Annual Capital Region / Berkshires 24-Hour Theatre Project, which premiered last night, Saturday, May 18, 2013.…
SpinTunes 5 Judging Wrap-Up
Except for a few loose ends (like announcing the winner) that are in others’ hands, SpinTunes 5 is pretty much done, at least for me as a judge. It’s been interesting, challenging and worthwhile. Thanks to Spin for inviting me.…
SpinTunes 3 Wrap-Up Recommendations
After my first SpinTunes competition last year, I posted a lot about both my experiences going through SpinTunes and my thoughts on songwriting contests in general. This year, I knew better what to expect and so didn’t have as many…
A Songwriting Cycle and the Benefits of Cooperation
Edric Haleen, one of the participants in the first SpinTunes songwriting contest, decided to create a project to tide people over during the wait between SpinTunes 1 and SpinTunes 2. A number of participants from SpinTunes 1 and other past…
Thoughts on Songwriting Contests
In addition to some valuable learning about my songwriting and how to participate more effectively in songwriting contests, my SpinTunes experience led me to some general thoughts on how songwriting contests are — and could be — run. SpinTown and…