About

I’m Ken Tinnin — a writer, guitarist, and songwriter. I’ve been playing guitar since 1989 and writing and recording original music in some form of home studio since the mid-90s. I’ve been writing in various forms since attending the Defense Information School as a student in 1998 and later as an instructor in 2001. I also earned a Master Certificate in Music Production and Guitar from Berklee College of Music while on active duty.

When I exited the Marines in 2007, my intent was to build a website to showcase my writing. Somehow, this detoured into creating web content and websites for others, and I drifted from my original intent. But writing kept appearing in all those detours—web content, firearms lesson plans for a few years, and guitar lesson plans and support materials for 15 years. Now, I’m documenting procedures and policies in my current job and writing this Substack where I talk about friction—creative, professional, and personal.

Friction is a signal. It tells us to pay attention. Everything I discuss is real; it either happened to me or is happening in real time. I don’t profess to have all the answers, but I can share what’s worked for me and hope it’s of some value to you. There is a real cost when friction, especially recurring friction, is ignored.

Listen to my music on Spotify and Apple Music.

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