You secretly type, “how to write a first chapter” into Google, thinking that you should already know how. But you don’t. You’re a writer. It’s embarrassing. You’ve asked your friend who sells about a gazillion … Continue reading How to Write a First Chapter: The Ultimate 2020 Guide
It will happen to you. Without a doubt. At some point, you’ll be told, “You need to move more.” Hopefully it won’t be coming from a doctor who has just diagnosed you with diabetes, gout, … Continue reading Walking and Running to Improve Your Writing
You’re stuck. It’s inevitable. At some point in your professional journey, you’re going to hit the learning plateau. At first, you fall victim to the Dunning-Kruger effect. You think you’re better than you are. But … Continue reading Improve Your Writing in 5 Days
YOU ARE NOT BROKEN You are not broken. There is nothing wrong with you, no deficiency to overcome. Let me tell you what you don’t need. You don’t need “self-help” gurus. You don’t need vision … Continue reading You Are Not Broken
WHAT DAY IS IT? I feel like I’m losing it. Not just because I’m approaching 50 years old, and that’s when we start to lose track of things. It’s happening to me daily and I … Continue reading Reframing Time to Uncover Your Identity
I’VE GOT A PROBLEM Once J.D. Barker began mentoring me on the Writers, Ink podcast, I knew my approach to storytelling would be forever changed. When he told me what I was going to have … Continue reading Using Nostalgia to Create Memorable Characters
Before we get into this month’s essay, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you who provided me with feedback on January’s essay. Some of you loved it. Some of you hated … Continue reading The 30-day CHANGE MY FRAME Challenge
You, and only you, are responsible for your life and what you create. And in deciding what you want, by default, you are deciding what you don’t want. The modern myth of “having it all” … Continue reading The Frame: Where to Place Your Focus
A year in the author life. If you’re keeping track, I started with episode zero. So, yes, it’s been a full 52 weeks of posts. There were times when I didn’t feel like writing. Times … Continue reading Conclusion and a new beginning.
This is the short version. I’m still working on the long version for those who want to hear it. I’ve always been “skinny.” I had a “high metabolism” as my high school soccer coach used … Continue reading Everything works until it doesn’t.