Comparing or Competing: Where do you stand?
There’s an old adage that says healthy competition elevates us to a level that we might not achieve on our own, and I’m guessing, if asked, most people would agree. But when does the productive aspect of competing evolve into the…
Is Pursuing Your Dreams Stressing You Out?
Have you ever felt anxiety or panic while pursuing a dream? Have you ever woken in the middle of the night feeling like you’re falling behind, or not moving fast enough towards your goal? Have you ever wondered why when we are…
The 4G LTE Effect. Are you allowing time to process?
These days, everything goes fast. In an instant, in most cases. But in my eyes, there are still a few things that haven’t spooled up to 4G LTE—fourth generation, long-term evolution—speeds. Take emotions for example. The snail-like pace typically required to process…
The Gift Of The Struggle
I was on the phone with my mom after she saw the Hidden Figures film, discussing how despite all the challenges the women who worked at NASA faced, how they didn’t seem to get discouraged, in fact, the tough circumstances actually appeared…
Enjoy The Ride
Anyone who has chosen to pursue a passion, knows that accomplishing great goals, takes time. I attended a fundraiser for the Tulsa Ballet this past weekend, and had the pleasure of sitting with a young man who is dancing proof of how…
The Settings of Our Lives
This week my regular writing exercises are focused on settings. How and why the landscapes in books are so important to a reader’s story experience. Story settings draw us in, emphasize the mood in scenes, and also give insight to our heroes’…
Forgive
Like most days, I woke this morning thinking about my characters. About their trials, victories, and missteps, and the best course to help them get what they want at the end of their story journey. Blame it on the holidays or the…
The Will Behind The Wants
In my young adult story Spirit Dance the main character, Tana Lyre, knows exactly what she wants. So much so that she has allowed everything else in her life to fall away. She chooses a path to achieve her goal; she picks…
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…
What 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…