I went running yesterday, and as often happens when I run, my mind turned to writing. I have a running playlist, but instead of using these songs as motivation to exercise, I usually apply them to writing. Yesterday, I realized my playlist mapped out way more of the writing process than the get-your-ass-around-this-track process. Why? I’ve been going through a spectrum …
8 Ways Writing Is Like The Princess Bride
Last Saturday, I went down to the track in my yard (I live in the country) and ran a few miles. When I run, I almost always think about writing. Some days it’s marketing, sometimes it’s plot points I need to hash out, others it’s character development or motivation. If I’m too deep in thought, sometimes I’ll take a header …
The Juggler: Jack of All Trades, Master of None
Do you know how to juggle? I don’t. All this year, I’ve been trying to do way too many things at once. If you read this post, you know how it makes me feel (hint: like shit). It’s gotten to the point where I’d rather sit on the couch in yesterday’s pajamas than tackle any of the things on my …
Flash Fiction for the Fun of It
I came across a writing challenge on Friday. Janet Reid, a famous literary agent, picked five random words and asked her blog readers to tell a 100-word story using all five. So I did. And I’m reposting the story here for you. You can see all the entries here, if you’re interested. Here are the five words: evil virus mono …
If Taylor Swift Sang about Editing Books Instead of Boys
I was in the liquor store the other night when the piped-in music caught my attention. It was Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Like, ever. Suddenly, it hit me…if this song were about finishing a book instead of getting over a guy, it would be my theme song. If you think about it, it makes total …
How to Work Full Time and Fail at Everything Else
How do you know you’re on the right path in life? I’m not sure, but I can tell you how you know you’re not. It happens when you start feeling small and insecure and angry and on the verge of tears because the one thing you need is the one thing you can’t buy more of: time. This is the …
Croatoa: How I Turned the Lost Colony of Roanoke into a Short Story
If you like unsolved mysteries, I have a doozy for you. You may have seen a recent article on NationalGeographic.com that describes a new discovery in the search for the lost colony of Roanoke. If you’re a Supernatural fan, a word associated with the Lost Colony—Croatoa —probably means something to you. If you’re a student of history or Native American …
Why I Write
Because you can’t drink all the time. Just kidding. Of course you can. I write because I suck at everything else. Have you seen what comes off the stove when I try to cook? Have you ever eaten something I pull out of the oven? You don’t want to. Those “nailed it” memes are the story of my life. I …
Welcome to the Jungle
The jungle… that’s how I view the world of website ownership and management. I used to think my job was just to write. Stories, books, memoirs, heck, even poems if that’s what it took. But the world is different now. Thirteen-year-olds successfully create and operate websites, and I’m not about to be outdone by someone who wasn’t even alive when …