Monday Recap – Last Week’s Wins

I’m smiling.  It was a productive week and a restful weekend. Here’s a recap of last week’s wins: Monday Recap - Last Week’s Wins Home & Writing BooksI spent time with my fiancé, attended a student play and worked 5 hours closer to my 300-hour goal for writing my novels. This puts me at the … Continue reading Monday Recap – Last Week’s Wins

How would ______ do this? Three more questions to ask yourself when experiencing a creative block. . .

I knew I had an idea . . . I knew it was great, but where did it go? The blank screen had no answer for me, and only the sound of my cat meowing filled the air. What happened to that shiny object I was chasing? Luckily, I had an answer. This is the … Continue reading How would ______ do this? Three more questions to ask yourself when experiencing a creative block. . .

Bloggers and Noteworthy Followers (This Week’s Reads # 1)

Happy Friday! I’d like to give a shoutout to a few bloggers and sites that may interest you. These people are worth following on WordPress if you like book reviews, travel blogs, challenges, and writing. Here are this week's reads . . .  Adventures of a Bibliophile WordPress:  https://adventuresofabibliophile.com/ Adventures of a Bibliophile is a solid site … Continue reading Bloggers and Noteworthy Followers (This Week’s Reads # 1)

Why 300 hours of writing seems like a good idea . . .

For the last two weeks, I worked on promoting and participating in a 7-Day Reading Challenge. This summer, I plan on challenging myself with an experiment that I call Minutes to a Better Book. This long-term experiment involves dedicating 300 hours towards writing my books. Here’s why I'm doing it:   Why am I choosing … Continue reading Why 300 hours of writing seems like a good idea . . .

Why would anyone listen to your story? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Sharing Anything with Anyone

I just picked up a copy of Story Genius by Lisa Cron, and I've really felt inspired by the exercises she has included. While the questions below do not appear in her book, I feel like they fit her general emphasis on the importance of story. Here are three questions to ask yourself before you share your story … Continue reading Why would anyone listen to your story? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Sharing Anything with Anyone

Where is the most dangerous place for your characters to go? – Eight questions for building fictional worlds.

Building Fictional Worlds Part I: Setting and Characterization When building a fictional setting, the connection between your characters and the world they live could make or break the believability of your creations. Deepening the connection between the landscape and your characters is therefore very important.

Are you depleted of ideas, or do you just need to re-energize? Three questions to ask yourself when experiencing a creative block.

It was Saturday morning, and I stared at a half-written scene in the all-to-familiar agony of writer's block. My usual urge to craft a scene had left me, and my cat, Horton, made a bed of my forearms. The time had finally come to do something else.

A Lightning Storm in My Brain – Navy SEALS, Dark Magic, Middle School, and a Secret Worth Sharing

On my way to work, the sun is rising, I look across a snowy field, and a flock of birds scatters into the air like flakes of debris from a campfire.  I hear a navy SEAL sternly recount the horrors of war. He talks about discipline in everyday life, and I absorb his words through my headphones.

An adventure in goal-setting lead to this realization…

I was behind on my promises, both personal and public. For the last twenty days, I have revamped my goals, improved how I follow through, and created habits to sustain a lifestyle that I enjoy, by taking a few simple steps.   Too Many Goals, Not Enough Routine The truth is, I have too many … Continue reading An adventure in goal-setting lead to this realization…