Posts by E.L. Chappel
“If you’re at the top of your game, add another member.”
Back In Balance
A week ago, I spent the better part of four days with men. We spent the bulk of the time at an airport, in a hanger, working on an airplane inspection with a few mechanics, the airplane owner, some members of the Commemorative Air Force and the Red Baron. (My husband) We drove together, ate…
Read MoreWhat Do You Want?
In stories, it’s a writer’s job to make the journey for their characters tough. Heroes are meant to struggle; they need to be disappointed and discouraged so that readers can connect with and relate to them. Despite the challenges, the best protagonists persevere and find a way to overcome the obstacles written in their paths.…
Read MoreMasks
In preparation for the bewitching day, I started thinking about how easy it is to see people’s masks on Halloween. Not only are the disguises obvious, but they’re expected, even anticipated. But during our regular days without the theatrical benefit of Halloween, it is more difficult to discern the genuine from the hidden agendas; the…
Read MoreThe Double Bubble Effect: Rituals and Creative Flow.
Back when I was flying professionally, I was required to go to training every six months to practice malfunctions and potential issues that rarely come up in airplanes, and to take a test to make sure I was still qualified to be in charge of the cockpit. The four-day recurrent course included daily ground school…
Read MoreWhat you focus on, inwardly and outwardly, becomes your reality.
Stop or Write On?
Before I became an author, I was a professional jet pilot, and as I’ve mentioned in past posts, I’m still amazed at how many piloting skills also apply to writing stories. Take the flight maneuver called a go-around for example. A go-around is an evasive procedure that can be executed in flight when unsafe or…
Read MoreFinding Your Write-O-Rhythm
At the beginning of the summer I decided to do an experiment, knowing that I was scheduled to begin writing my third book in the fall. The purpose of the exercise was to figure out how to maximize creative flow, and make the most of my allotted writing time. Naturally, I used myself as…
Read MoreSimple Steps To Write Book Reviews
Almost every time I go anywhere or buy anything, I’m asked to review my experience; books are no different. The fact is, both as a reader and a writer, I’m interested in what others have to say about the books they’ve read. Writing reviews is a great way to share how you felt about a…
Read More“Nature never rushes, yet everything gets done.”― Donald L. Hicks. “Look into the stillness.”
Weekly blog returns next week!
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