Dan Finnen

Writer and Photographer

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New: Chicago Writers Podcast

April 25, 2020 By Dan Finnen

At last, I’m able to unveil a project I’ve been working on the past few months! The Chicago Writers Podcast is a new podcast that I host and produce, and each episode features an interview with a different author, storyteller, literary professional, or other interesting human about the art and business of writing. The first […]

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Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: books, Chicago, chicago writers podcast, interviews, novels, podcast, writing

How To Add a Chapter Index In Word Using the Navigation Pane

September 10, 2019 By Dan Finnen

While many writers out there love Scrivener and other programs, I like to stick to the familiar confines of Microsoft Word. In screenwriting, I’ve been burned by countless writing programs that use proprietary formats or depend on the cloud and an internet connection. With Word I can keep saves safely in my own folders, confident […]

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Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: how-to, Manuscripts, Microsoft, Novel Writing, word, writing

Special

August 25, 2018 By Dan Finnen

This is a transcript of a live lit piece I performed at This Much is True in Chicago on June 13, 2017. A few weeks ago, I was dropping off my film to be developed – I know, I’m probably one of the only people in Chicago still getting film developed, but bear with me […]

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Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: hard of hearing, live lit, personal essay, this much is true

Running to 30

July 31, 2018 By Dan Finnen

About a year ago, I had what I will optimistically call a 1/3rd life crisis. Twenty-nine had arrived, and I was officially leaving the ranks of youth to join the world of real adulthood. When you’re in your twenties, you always have ‘later’ to look forward to. It’s okay if you screwed something up, you […]

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Filed Under: Misc, Writing Tagged With: essay, Krispy Kreme Challenge, marathon, misc, nonfiction, running, thirty, writing

The Nintendo Switch Versus… The Sega Game Gear

March 17, 2017 By Dan Finnen

I’ve been reading all sorts of great reviews of the Nintendo Switch, but none so far have asked the really tough questions. Questions like… how does it stack up against the Sega Game Gear of the 1990s? When I first got my Switch, the handheld reminded me of something I played before. Buttons on the […]

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Filed Under: Misc, Writing Tagged With: 3DS, Game Gear, Nintendo, Retro Gaming, Sega, Switch, writing

Gear for Writers: 12″ Macbook (early 2016 version) Review

February 26, 2017 By Dan Finnen

As I’ve documented on this site over the years, I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect ultralight writing solution. I’ve tried tablets, Chromebooks, and Surfaces, but every solution came with its own set of compromises. The Surface 3 was my most recent, and most successful to date, attempt. It was ultra-light, could run […]

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Filed Under: Misc, Writing Tagged With: Apple, early 2016 version, gear for writers, macbook, review

Gear for Writers: Razer Ornata Chroma Keyboard Review

February 4, 2017 By Dan Finnen

As I’ve previously documented in detail, I’m a big fan of mechanical keyboards. There’s nothing like the satisfying click of a cherry blue switch to make typing a pleasure. However, I’m not the only one who had this epiphany over the past few years. The enthusiast keyboard market has exploded, and the quality of the […]

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Filed Under: Misc, Writing Tagged With: chroma, gear for writers, mechanical keyboard, ornata, razer, typing

Meet the Characters of Orvieto

October 18, 2015 By Dan Finnen

Check out these awesome character portraits from my novella Orvieto drawn up by the one and only Carter Lodwick! Meet the full cast of characters below: Our heroine Helen Harvard Hump is an aspiring private detective that will stop at nothing for justice… or airfare to get back to the UK. Her most prized possession […]

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Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Helen Harvard Hump, novella, Orvieto

The Buyout is now online!

August 16, 2015 By Dan Finnen

The short film I wrote and directed is now online for your viewing pleasure! The Buyout explores the limits of friendship in the face of a financial windfall of unimaginable proportions. At a two-man software startup, one man’s loyalty to his co-owner is put to the ultimate test when Google offers to buy out his […]

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Filed Under: Misc, Writing Tagged With: comedy, Film, short, the buyout

Old Town is now streaming!

June 9, 2015 By Dan Finnen

Old Town, the tv pilot that I co-directed is now stream-able (is that a word?) on-demand through the producers’ IndieGoGo! For ten bucks you can watch the 22-minute episode as many times as your heart desires. You can also watch the trailer below. Old Town follows the three different stories of people working to make […]

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Filed Under: Misc, Writing Tagged With: #oldtownshow, Old Town, tv pilot, video

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Featured Projects

Super Gear Land

The Chicago Writers Podcast

Dan’s Guide to Purchasing Used Polaroid Cameras

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Partnering up with Amazon, Polaroid Originals, eBay, and B&H allows me to keep this site going without annoying banner ads. Using the following affiliate links when buying anything costs you nothing and helps me out a ton. Thanks! Find cool stuff at Amazon and eBay in each article.

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Recent Articles

  • Dan’s Guide to Buying Used Polaroid Cameras
  • How to Use the Fuji Instax Mini 11 Instant Film Camera
  • How to Scan Polaroid or Fuji Instax Instant Film

Recent Reviews

  • Polaroid Now+ (Plus) Instant Film Camera Review
  • Polaroid Color 600 Film Round Frame Edition (2021) Review
  • Fuji Instax Square SQ1 Instant Film Camera Review
  • Fuji Instax Mini 11 Instant Film Camera Review
  • Brooklyn Film Camera x Cameradactyl Polaroid Scan Adapter V2 Review

Recent Blog Posts

  • 30 Years of Cool Spot on the Sega Genesis
  • The Complete Sonic on the Sega Game Gear
  • The Steam Deck Versus the Game Gear
  • Introducing: Super Gear Land
  • Let’s Talk About Alkaline Batteries

Blog Archive

About Me

I’m a writer, photographer, co-owner of Polymyth, and Skyline Chili enthusiast. You can reach me at hello (at) danfinnen.com or on Twitter @danfinnen.

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