I've seen quite a few people (writers) share this quote from Ursula Le Guin's acceptance speech at the National Book Awards. (Le Guin received the medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.): Right now, we need writers who know the … [Continue reading]
In recent months, the goal has been simple: finish the first draft of the current novel by year's end. It's an ambitious goal, and it may be more like, "The current novel will be finished by the end of the first month of the year," but the point is … [Continue reading]
A friend pointed out that I am not the only Juggling Writer out there. I know many jugglers who also write -- we're all juggling writers. In this particular case, though, I'm talking Capital-J Capital-W Juggling Writer. From what I can tell, … [Continue reading]
One day not so long ago, while working on a novel, I came to this conclusion: This would be much better as three novels. So that's what I did. No longer was A Magic Life going to be just one book -- it was now going to be three. And as I near the … [Continue reading]
I saw this recently -- a word processor mimicking a typewriter that promises distraction-free writing. Some writers use old, manual typewriters -- and not just in the pursuit of hipsterdom, but to avoid distractions. Others grab a pen and paper … [Continue reading]
Yesterday morning, I finished a big release at work. Of all the writing I do, technical writing pays the most bills. I write for a software company that serves the hospitality industry. Hospitality I like hotels. A lot. Even tiny motels where … [Continue reading]
Five years ago, I wrote the first entry for The Juggling Writer. Looking back at my earnest beginning, I hoped the blog would show people how to manage their time in order to get things done (life and writing in harmony). I know I've written plenty … [Continue reading]
I've written about mornings before on my main blog. It's no secret that I like waking up early to write. But there's a reason beyond the quiet that matters to me: if I get up early and make something I want to make before the world hisses to life and … [Continue reading]
Yesterday at work, I had an idea for a blog entry. It was a great idea -- at least that's how I remember it. Because I was working, I wrote a note in a notebook (instead of putting it in Evernote), but today...I can't find it. I hear a lot of … [Continue reading]
Last weekend, I attended Podcast Movement 2014, in Dallas. Over 600 podcasters from all over the world descended on the area. (If you're interested, I wrote about it here.) If you know me, you know I tend to be shy in groups. Even around people I … [Continue reading]
My writing mix tape is blank -- nothing but the sound of early morning darkness. Maybe the sound of the air conditioner or the heater, depending on the season. Sometimes it's whatever creaking the apartment makes after settling and realizing one … [Continue reading]
Inspired by Austin Kleon's cool phone lock screen, I made the lock screen you see here. It's not that I really need the reminder to write, because most days begin with writing -- and those day's that don't...I usually write in the … [Continue reading]
Getting from one side of a novel to the other... There comes a point in my writing process that I take over the living room for the day. Whether it's bits and pieces of a story written on note cards, or printed sections of a manuscript color coded … [Continue reading]