Subplots. Themes. The amalgam of every side story and secondary character can become a beautiful and multilayered work of art that carries readers through a story with ease - or it can devolve into a nasty mess of confusing or ill-developed themes and forgettable characters. Yikes! Last week I wrote about the topic of theme, which I'm expounding … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #5: Mapping Out Subplots
Opening Quotes and Their Importance
Fools leave too soon Built to fill roles And fall, standing alone again Distant and dissatisfied These four years And how we say goodbye to these four years A long goodbye with mixed emotions Just fragments of another life Not dead yet But the regrets (are killing me) - American Football, “But the Regrets are … Continue reading Opening Quotes and Their Importance
Lessons to Practice #4: The Crux that is Theme
Welcome back readers and fellow bloggers! I'm excited to bring another important topic to the table as part of my Lessons to Practice series: Theme. There. I said it. The word that, for so many of us, has been a source of interminable torment and head bashing. My thinking, however, is that theme can be … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #4: The Crux that is Theme
Race Rundown: Cowtown Half Marathon 2017
Firing up a new race season has always been an inimitable process for me, ever since I did my first duathlon back in February of 2011. This year I moved forward with my triathlon training fairly quickly, which I attribute to the numerous ups and downs that I had in December. I felt like a … Continue reading Race Rundown: Cowtown Half Marathon 2017
Compiled Elevator Pitches
Happy Saturday evening everyone! Tonight I've compiled my elevator pitches for the four novel manuscripts that I've written thus far in my writing career. I thought I would open up tonight with a discussion about each one and ask for your thoughts and opinions. Please know that I'm open to your feedback and would be … Continue reading Compiled Elevator Pitches
Lessons to Practice #3: Developing Strong Characters
Hello again! How was everyone's weekend? I thank you all for your patience and understanding in waiting for my next blog post. I spent Thursday through Sunday at a winter training camp put on by my very own triathlon coaches here in town. It was a great test of my mental and physical fortitude, and … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #3: Developing Strong Characters
Lessons to Practice #2: Joining a Writers’ Group
Happy Tuesday, Valentine's Day, and Taco Tuesday! Here in North Texas, we just had a pretty gnarly storm roll in last night; it's been raining almost nonstop since late last night. It didn't stop me from going to my volunteer job for a few hours today, though. In learning my own writing lessons, I started to … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #2: Joining a Writers’ Group
Current Readings and Recovering from the Flu
Salutations, dear readers. I hope every single one of you are doing well and have had a good weekend! I spent all of this past Thursday and Friday battling a nasty flu bug. The fever set in around 3:00 PM on Thursday, which left me largely incapacitated and unable to write my usual Thursday evening … Continue reading Current Readings and Recovering from the Flu
Lessons to Practice #1: Writing Consistently and with Purpose
Good evening folks! How is everyone doing? Tonight I would like to start a new blogging series called "Lessons to Practice." In each Tuesday night post of this series, I will summarize what I'm learning as I spend 2017 editing, rewriting, and refining my works. Each "Lessons to Practice" installment will also include a brief summary of … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #1: Writing Consistently and with Purpose
An Update: Current Reading and Editing
Salutations dudes and ladies! I hope you all are on the pleasant downslope of an already wonderful week. I got some much needed R&R time last night by hanging out with some friends, playing Resident Evil 7 with them, and cracking open a bottle of Glenlivet single malt scotch whiskey. Our cause for celebration? My best … Continue reading An Update: Current Reading and Editing
You Young Adult Nostalgic 
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