Charles T. Edin's Schools

• University of North Dakota School of Law , Class of 1983 MA in Law

Charles T. Edin's Affiliations

• State Bar Association of North Dakota(1984 to date); American Trial Lawyers Association (2007 to date); North Dakota Association for Justice (Elected to the Board of Governors 2007-1010); Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, ND case law report (1988-199

Charles T. Edin's Publications

• Bismarck, North Dakota, Charles T. Edin December, 2010 by Charles T. Edin A North Dakota native, I have been practicing law in Bismarck, North Dakota, for the past 26 years. Over the past three decades I have seen a numerous growth-related changes in the city I have grown to love, and I am proud of the way that it has kept its distinct and friendly character intact. In 1872, Bismarck was founded on the east bank of the Missouri River, which, until the river was bridged, formed the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Bismarck was a railroad town through and through, and its name was changed from Edwinton by the railroad company in 1873, in honor of German chancellor Otto von Bismarck. This was seen as a way of increasing German investment in the region. Following the discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874, Bismarck’s status as a major freight shipping location was secured. In 1883, the Northern Pacific Railroad’s political representative Alexander McKenzie helped engineer Bismarck’s status as capital of Dakota Territory. This has continued through North Dakota receiving statehood in 1889, up to the present. Bismarck was primarily known for being the home of the state government, until the 1950s, when the oil boom brought increased growth and prosperity to the city. Today, Bismarck maintains its role as an important oil and coal center, with energy industries providing tens of thousands of attractive jobs to the region. With recession hampering much of the overall U.S. economy, Bismarck maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. Bismarck has grown into an important regional education hub as well, featuring Bismarck State College, the University of Mary, and the United Tribes Technical College. I enjoy the historical feel of Bismarck, and am proud of the way that we maintain a vibrant shopping center in the heart of downtown, rather than in a distant suburb like many metropolitan areas. Bismarck has a strong sense of community, with the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House offering shelter for the homeless, and the Dacotah Foundation offering a wide variety of services for the less fortunate. Bismarck was also recently named one of the 5 safest small cities in the United States. I look forward to continuing my Bismarck practice for many years, as the community prospers and grows around me.

• Tips for Overcoming Writer's Block, Charles T. Edin May, 2011 by Charles T. Edin In my job and my leisure time, I do a great deal of writing. Despite my experience, there are times when I am unsure how to begin writing about a certain topic or at a loss for what to say at a certain juncture. The follow tips have proven useful when I find myself having difficulty getting started or proceeding further in a project. 1. Create and Stick to a Writing Schedule You can train your mind to anticipate activities that take place at regular times, which helps you automatically adopt the right mindset for completing those activities. All schedules can change on a whim, but if possible, pick a certain block of time every day or on certain days for your writing and adhere to that schedule. Eventually, you will find your brain shifting gears in preparation for your writing time. I have found that when writing short stories or working on a novel, it is imperative to find a quiet time when you will not be disturbed. Also, it is important to find enough time so that your mind can separate itself from the demands of everyday life, allowing you to live in the moment of whatever you are writing. Once you are able to get in that zone, it is possible for your creative juices to flow more easily than you can possibly imagine. 2. Write Using Whatever Tool Is Most Effective for You. Some people may still prefer to write in freehand. However, since I am particularly at home on the computer keygboard, that is is how I write. I prerfer that mechanics of writing down my word not interfere with the ability of my mind to articulate my thoughts. I have found that by using the computer, the actual key strokes are almost unconsiously made as my thoughts form in my mind. For me that is what works best. However, for some, I expect that there is something more personal and intimate about the process of writing by hand. Perhaps you might try writing freehand in a notebook to warm up. Keep a journal and write in it for 10 to 15 minutes every day, preferably right before your scheduled writing time. And although I prefer writing on my computer, writing by hand may eliminate the distractions and difficulties inherent in computer word processing programs, forcing you to focus on your thoughts. I should note that once I have written a chapter or two, I will typically print out the work in progress. I will then make a brief, intial proof by noting the revisions in handwriting on the printed draft. I find that even at this initial stage, it is important to me to have the draft in hand to see how it flows, rather than simply reading from the computer screen. 3. Use of Outlines When you are working on a significant project, it is imperative in my opinion that you start with a basic outline, setting forth the direction of your story. Using such an this, you can begin to formulate your story or whatever it is on which you are working. Without a rough outline, I find that particularly when writing complex stories with lots of twists and turns, your mind can unexpectedly take you down paths that, while they may be creative in nature, lead you to a dead end. You will inevitably revise your outline as you go, but spend the time upfront to basically formulate what you intend to write about. You will be happy you did because it will keep you on track and make it less likely that you will run into writer’s block. If you always know where you are going, it is far less likely that you will get stuck in an enexpected dead end. 4.Go Easy on Yourself Expectations, deadlines, and the fear of sounding unprofessional or unschooled represent just some of the pressures all writers face when they sit down to work. Instead of worrying about these things, concentrate on taking your writing one figurative step at a time; focus on starting your writing, then letting the words flow to build sentences and paragraphs that flow properly. As indicated above, I do feel that it is important for me to print out the work every couple chapters, just to make sure that I am on track and that my work is following generally my outline. This will prevent you from creating major plot problems that may be very difficult to correct at the end of the work. However, at this stage, don’t worry about details. There will be plenty of time at the end of the work to worry about that. In my opinion, it is far more important to contnue to write and to move forward with your project. As is often said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” In the writing process, it is very important to maintain momentum in order to avoid writer’s block and to get to the conclusion of your work. 5. Take a Break Between Projects Some writers recommend immediately beginning a new project after finishing a current one. Ultimately, only you can decide what writing schedules and practices best fit your preferences and lifestyle. If you find yourself tired after finishing a project, take a few days off, engaging in some light writing such as journal entries or letters to friends to stay sharp. When you feel rested, tackle the next assignment. 6. Write, and Keep Writing – Find Your “Voice” Obviously, to be an effective writer, you have to have something worth saying. True writer’s block, in my opinion, is not about the writing per se. Rather, it is about what you are thinking in your mind. However, even when you have something to say, you need to be able to effectively write it down. And for that there is no better advice I can give than to recommend that you write as much as you can. Then, if possible, have a person with more writing experience and expertise review your work and make suggestions. Perhaps it is just a friend or a family member, but the comments can be invaluable. Take those comments as positive criticism, and then write some more. Eventually, you’ll find your “voice” and find that writer’s block is less and less of a hindrance.

Charles T. Edin's Links