The Necessary Suffering

The suffering can’t be avoided. Maybe it should not be.

In his novel, The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho lays out an argument that is dismissed by many. Yes, the idea that when you truly want something the entire universe conspires to help you achieve it sounds a bit…

Trapped in the Mind

Writing is a solitary activity. As it comes from the mind, the writer benefits from solitude. Many do choose to write in the company of strangers in a café or library; the background noise can be helpful.

The New Obsessions

We get clues. The new obsessions present themselves and once they do there’s no turning back. Your mind becomes engulfed. There is a notion that you chase after because your ignorance on a subject is no longer acceptable.

Possibilities and Mysteries

Possibility creates fear, and yet it isn’t real. Possibility by definition is just that, something in the future that might happen.

To be fearful of the future is counterproductive. What happens in the future is not in your control. The clichéd response…

Enthusiasm and Vitality

People often discuss discipline. Productivity is the new focus.

We would all love to know how better to spend our time. Taking action on a discipline vitalizes your life. And as Joseph Campbell said, “vital people vitalize.” We are not only helping ourselves…

A Life Lived in Drafts

When we live in drafts, every day is a new opportunity. Mistakes will be made; it’s difficult to accept that, and how we do it is up to us.

But when discipline returns you every day to the craft, you will improve. That improvement comes in addition to the…

For All Intensive Purposes

You caught that didn’t you? The error is clear. It is a common mistake and one not easily forgotten when we are called out for it or corrected.

We all make errors when learning. Writing is no different. Holes have existed in our process since kindergarten…

Comparisons

Comparing oneself to others is exhausting. We see what we don’t have presented in front of our eyes. The stress this produces is…

Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction brings with it an education. Not many of us are historians, and with Historical Fiction, we can enjoy the story knowing that spoilers are a Wikipedia link away. But like any good story, we don’t want to finish it.