I am that writer who mostly doesn't track things. Beginning last August, I did begin marking days I wrote (or didn't write) on a calendar, but there is no rule for what constitutes a good day of writing, other than if I felt I did enough to earn a … [Continue reading]
Most movies about writers end with the kind of victory movies have conditioned us to expect: publication and awards...the writer we watched grow getting everything in life many believe comes to writers when they finally decide to publish. (As though … [Continue reading]
May was a month for some big changes. I not only started a new job on May 1, but it was also the day I started working on the new book. The new book is the second book in a three-book series about a girl born in a circus in 1923 -- and her rise to … [Continue reading]
On May 19, a friend and I headed to East Texas for the seventh annual writing retreat. It was a return to the location of year five's retreat: Daingerfield State Park. Upon arrival, we realized Texas State Parks no longer provide bedding and … [Continue reading]
We didn't mean to go hiking Monday morning, but that's what we did. Me, without water, and my friend Deacon with his Iron Man/Captain America mug full of coffee. We meant to just walk down to the lake near the cabin we rented for the annual writing … [Continue reading]
It's spring in Texas. That means allergies and storms are common and oppressive heat is right around the corner... Waiting... (With a hot knife...) But it also means it's time for the annual writing retreat! (Woohoo!!!) Daingerfield State … [Continue reading]
The novel I finished late last autumn takes place from 1923 - 1941. It is the first of several novels chronicling the protagonist's life. I've started working on the second novel and...I ran into a problem. The Best Laid Plans... I … [Continue reading]
The new job comes with an actual commute, a thing I've not had to contend with for years.I've worked from home more than in the office for the last seven years. When I did go into the office...the office was less than five miles away. Now, … [Continue reading]
I am the sole provider of income in our household. I pay the bills as a technical writer. Last Friday, I left the job I had for six years, nine months, and twenty-three days. It's the longest job I've ever had. I start a new job this … [Continue reading]
Max Joseph makes movies. Sometimes they are short things built around an idea that sticks in his head -- and other times he digs into something deeper. His latest movie/mini-documentary is about bookstores and what it means to slow down to read in … [Continue reading]
A friend who has been very busy with some bigger things life has thrown their way in recent years is finally taking a deep breath and sitting down to write. They recently asked me a couple questions and gave me a compliment that made me smile: I … [Continue reading]
There is a point between bigger projects when I decide to not actively write. It is a time to gather pieces of the next bigger story; it is a time to let new ideas bubble up. The Rush When I chat with people about their day jobs -- whether they … [Continue reading]
Before I became a technical writer, I was a billing analyst. The best thing about the job was having constant access to adding machines with long rolls of paper. (Although my wife would disagree...more on that in a moment...) If I had a thought … [Continue reading]