Writing Samples
The beginning for a writer is the journal. I say this because it is the testing grounds for all your styles and ideas. If you do not keep a journal, it will be hard for you to be a good writer in almost any field.
You should write a little every day if you want to cultivate your literary skills. That's the beauty of a journal... because you don't need a revolutionary idea or original thought to write a successful entry into your journal. Other types of writing are not as forgiving; when you write poetry when you don't feel poetic or a story when you don't feel inspired, you will likely not turn out highly artistic words.
Featured Articles
Reflections and Infections
An essay about the need for more philosophy (love of wisdom) in an age of growing xenophobia.
Latest Articles
In the Wake of a Good Night's Sleep
A Chalboard Column by Shawn Olson on waking up.
Insurance Fraud: The True Story
While lawmakers are worried about prosecuting insurance fraud, are they looking in the right places?
The idea of love
A philosophical look at the human emotion of love, originally printed in the Messenger.
Politics from the Porch
People wonder what the value of politics is. Inclusion in history, that's the value.
Bruce Lee's Philosophy
A review of Bruce Lee's philosophical outlook.
The nature of apathy
To be apathetic is to invite entropy, says Olson. How do we deal with it?
In the end
A poem on the end of everything.
Mabi Ponce de Leon, Artist and Teacher
Bexley High School art teacher Mabi Ponce de Leon report was Olson's last article for the Columbus Messenger Newspapers.
