Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

The big idea: watch out for the “weasel words” in your manuscript.

What are weasel words? Words that clutter your manuscript and/or words you repeat without realizing it.

• Weasel words show a lack of focus and may point to a narrative needing more work
  (Two main culprits: “That” and “It” — but there are plenty more: see my list of common weasel words)

• For most situations, choose active voice over passive voice
  (Passive: The dog was hugged by Suzy; Active: Suzy hugged the dog)

• Consider removing adjectives, especially the weak ones
  (Weak examples: Awesome; Good/Terrible; Big/Small; Pretty/Ugly; Tall/Short; Young/Old; Beautiful)

• Avoid the obvious phrases
  (“He clapped his hands”; “She sat in the chair”; “They stood to their feet”)

• Adverbs usually aren’t your friends
  (“I’m pregnant!” she shouted excitedly.)

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“If a novel is 100,000 words and is 99.9 percent perfect, it still contains 100 errors.”

— Alton Gansky

“Writing without revising is the literary equivalent of waltzing gaily out of the house in your underwear.”

— Patricia Fuller

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3 Writing Questions

1. What words or phrases do you repeat the most?

2. What are some exceptions to using passive voice over active voice?

3. How do you know which adjectives and adverbs to keep or lose?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

The big idea is… there are definite ways to supercharge your writing.

Yes, even if you’re a “slow” writer, you can bump up your productivity by doing some (or all) of the following:

• Outline your chapter and/or scene FIRST

• Brainstorm “must-have” words and phrases before your write

• Embrace the daily discipline of writing

• Write during your best time of day

• Choose a dedicated writing space

• Free your space from interruptions

• Consider using headphones

• Match music with a specific scene or chapter

• Set a timer

• Determine a word goal

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.”

— Isaac Asimov

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

— Jane Yolen

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3 Writing Questions

1. How can outlining increase your writing speed?

2. How does a daily writing discipline help speed up your writing?

3. How does a dedicated writing space help supercharge your writing process?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

Writing can often feel like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, with ideas not always fitting neatly in order.

Enter Scrivener, your software sidekick that does more than help you write a book… you’ll build a story.

Imagine a digital workshop where you can:

📁 Organize every idea, image, and doc in ONE place
🔄 Drag, drop, and shuffle sections fluidly
📚 Juggle between your manuscript and character bios simultaneously

Regret making a bold edit? No sweat! With Scrivener’s Snapshots, revisit older versions and keep your literary gem safe.

And remember the good ol' days of index cards on storyboard walls? Now you can go digital – in the corkboard feature.

Need to format files for digital or print? Easy-peasy. From name generators to laser-focused writing with Focus Mode, Scrivener is every writer's dream.

And… myth-busting time. Scrivener isn't hard. Give yourself an hour. Dive in and push buttons. You’ll be up and running in no time.

Crafting your masterpiece just got a lot easier.

Hop over to literatureandlatte.com for a free trial and tutorials.

*By the way, I’m not a Scrivener salesperson or affiliate. I just dig the software.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.

”

— Jodi Picoult

“There is a ruthlessness to the creative act. It often involves a betrayal of the status quo.”

— Alan Watt

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3 Writing Questions

1. What are the fundamental differences between merely writing a book and building a story?

2. What writing advantages come with the ability to organize every idea, image, and document in one place?

3. How does the concept of a "digital workshop" redefine traditional writing methods?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Photo courtesy of Hannah Olinger @hannaholinger

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

Did you know certain paint colors, especially dark grey, can boost the selling price of a house? True! (and verified by my home appraiser wife)

Now imagine your book as a freshly primed wall. The paint color is your writing style, which ties into your point of view (POV).

POV serves as the heartbeat of your writing voice. And mastering your voice is like picking the perfect paint shade.

So, you've got options:

1st person: use "I" and "we," giving that cozy, in-my-shoes feel.

2nd person: use the daring "you," drawing readers directly into the action.

3rd person: use “he,” “she,” “it,” and “they,” for a bird’s-eye view.

Choosing the right POV comes down to what feels most natural. The best writers go invisible, making readers forget about them. But making that look effortless is the toughest part.

Once you've picked a POV, stay in that lane. Don’t mix and merge. And if considering multiple character POVs, go for it! But tread carefully—too many voices can be a crowd.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.
”

— Harper Lee

“Every story has already been told… there is really no reason to ever write another novel. Except that each writer brings to the table, if she will let herself, something that no one else in the history of time has ever had.”

— Anna Quindlen

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3 Writing Questions

1. Why do you think it's important for writers to "go invisible"? What benefits does this bring to a story?

2. In what situations might a writer choose multiple character POVs, and what are the risks in that choice?

3. What is your favorite book written in 1st person? 3rd? What genres best support 2nd person?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Photo courtesy of Brad Neathery @bradneathery

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

As a kid, I devoured all the Encyclopedia Brown books, numerous times.

But… I can’t remember one single plot point. They faded quickly with time.

However, I do recall how Encyclopedia, the boy detective, was so smart and how Bugs Meany, the villain, was so mean. I’ve carried those memories for decades.

Same thing goes for Gilligan’s Island, the Brady Bunch, and the Jack Reacher books. The stories escape me, but man, I love the characters.

I’m guessing most people, like me, remember characters more than plot lines. That’s why, when you’re writing your story, wrestle this question to the ground: What Makes My Protagonist Special?

Is he/she/it… Smart? Sarcastic? Using magic powers? Artistic? Able to leap tall buildings? Good with a whip and a gun?

Writing jump-off-the-page characters starts with knowing their unique personality. Maybe they’re extroverted. Or introverted. Perhaps they’re an Enneagram #3. Or #8. Maybe they’re a Myers Briggs ENFJ.

Once you nail that down, take your beloved cast and then put ‘em through hell. That's right, conflict forges great characters.

Which brings up another question you should answer: Why Does Your Villain Hate Your Antagonist? Oh, that’s a good one.

Writing unforgettable characters is the engine that drives your story, even more than clever plot devices.

Looking at you, Marcia Brady.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“When I’m creating characters, I definitely think of theme songs. Writing for me is very visual, so I sometimes think of it in terms of a movie with a soundtrack, and try to transfer that to words.”

— Marisha Pessl

“In truth, the secret to all characterization for me is expressible in two maxims: Every character is the hero of his own story, and You don’t write characters, you write relationships.”

— Orson Scott Card

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3 Writing Questions

1. How do you create characters that don’t all sound exactly like you?

2. What are your strategies for creating sympathy for certain characters?

3. What process do you use in developing the personality of your characters?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Photo courtesy of Gift Habeshaw @gift_habeshaw

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

Consider writing your first draft in longhand instead of at the computer.

Yeah, that means actually writing-writing. I can hear you screaming now: “What?! Are you nuts? I type faster than I write!” 

That’s true for me, too. But I argue, ahem, there’s something downright magical about putting pen to paper. 

There, I said it.

To me, staring at a screen seems sterile. Computer keys, blinking cursor, word processor. All that’s missing is a doctor’s exam glove. But writing on paper unleashes the creative muse, that invisible fairy creature who sprinkles pixie dust on your frontal lobe and makes your literary loins do a breakdance. Or something like that.

Writing in longhand also limits those dang distractions. With paper, there aren’t notification bleeps for social media and email. You’re not staring at a clock in the corner of the screen. You’re not tempted to visit YouTube and watch adorable dogs on escalators. (alright… go ahead, I know you want to look)

And yes, while certain programs allow a distraction-free view, I don’t trust myself. No, sir. It’s too easy to move my cursor and chase a rogue thought down the internet bunny trail, like, “Hmmm… what years did Tim Conway appear on the Carol Burnett Show?” Yeah, I actually did that. 

Writing on paper also encourages deeper thinking. That extra second or two to scribble a word clears needed room in your brain receptors, and sometimes those little neuron spaces can explode a spark of clarity about your character or theme. Compare that with fancy-pants typing. On a keyboard, you’ll go faster, yes, but beware the temptation of pesky mechanics — you know, the font, the formatting, the spellcheck, those squigglies under bad grammar.

But let’s not forget that paper also allows for fantastical doodling. The free flow of your pen/pencil in the margins, or coloring outside the lines, letting your imagination run wild, crossing things out, and adding notes in the margin. It’s all about staying playful in your writing. Longhand isn’t efficient, and that’s the beauty of it. When you’re stuck, you can draw pictures of a horse with a man’s head, or an alien spaceship, or practice your signature for when you become a celebrity. 

So here’s your big money sentence: the computer screen feels like an examination table whereas a sheet of paper is a sandbox. 

Alas, it comes down to personal preference. But if you haven’t held a writing device between your fingers since third grade, give it a try again. It may surprise you.

Now excuse me, I’m off to sharpen my #2 pencil.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“While you can easily see your word count and page count while typing in a word processing program, there is something magical in seeing the physical accumulation of pages as you create them. Writing longhand in a notebook allows you to see yourself creating page after page of your work. I have found that seeing a stack of handwritten pages serves as motivation, as it shows me what I have already done and that I have the ability to do even more.”

— Ran Walker from article "Back to Basics: Benefits of Writing With a Pen & Notebook"

“I write my novels longhand. I love the feeling of writing; I love to see pen on paper. It feels more creative than typing, and it’s a more visual process for me – I can picture the entire scene in my head and am merely writing what I see.”

— Cecelia Ahern

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3 Writing Questions

1. What benefits have you found in writing a story in longhand?

2. Do you have a favorite type of pen/pencil/paper?

3. Until recent history, books were written by hand. Do you feel it’s a logical argument that the best books in history were written apart from computers?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Photo courtesy of Steve Johnson @steve_j

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

Peanut butter and jelly. McCartney and Lennon. C-3PO and R2-D2.

Those are historic pairings. But what about…. AI and Writing?

Uhh… how does that work? Writing relies on human expression and unique ideas. How can the robot overlords do that? They already are. From spell check and Grammarly to editing software and content generators, AI has invaded the literary world. And yep, it’s here to stay.

What does this mean for the future of writing? Will bots replace authors? Sound the alarms!

Hold up. Maybe we should change our perspective. Instead of viewing AI as a threat, add it as a valuable tool in your toolbox.

Think of it as your junior writing assistant. It’s always there to help you experiment, find blind spots, and become a better storyteller. And the best part? It saves you time, so you can tell more stories.

Yes, change is scary. But sometimes it’s revolutionary. AI isn’t your Voldemort. It’s your tireless collaborator. Try using it to your advantage and see what happens. Perhaps your writing will flourish in ways you never imagined.

AI and Writing. Maybe a pairing, after all.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“AI is a tool. The choice about how it gets deployed is ours. ”

— Oren Etzioni

“If you’re scared of artificial intelligence, you should know it’s already everywhere.”

— Rob Verger

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3 Writing Questions

1. Why do you embrace AI in your writing? Why are you against it?

2. How do you use AI while sharpening your own creativity and craft?

3. What is your favorite writing AI to use?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Photo courtesy of Manoj kumar kasirajan @manoj25

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

Imagine standing in a kitchen, the air thick with sizzling garlic and fragrant herbs. You feel a surge of excitement. Tonight's meal will be a masterpiece.

You glance at the countertop and see an array of fresh vegetables, plump meats, and a rainbow of spices. But before you can start cooking, you need to get organized. With a deep breath, you lay out each ingredient, inspecting them like a jeweler examining precious gems.

You slide on the chef’s hat, and the world around you falls away. You're in the zone, moving with grace as you braise, steam, and blanch your way to perfection. It's as if each menu item speaks to you, telling you how it wants to be prepared.

As a writer, you know that creativity is much like cooking. You need to have a full palette of ideas before creating something truly magical.

Outlining is like organizing your ingredients – it helps you identify juicy elements and arrange them in a delicious way.

By using both a macro and micro 3-act framework, you can bake scenes and chapters that are as fulfilling as a perfectly cooked meal. For instance: What is the catalyst event setting your characters in motion? What conflicts will they face? And most importantly, How will they overcome them?

When you think in terms of beginning, middle, and end, it can unleash creativity like Julia Child whipping up a masterful Boeuf Bourguignon.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“The beginning isn’t simply the first in a series of events, but the originating event of all that follows. The middle isn’t just the next event, but the story’s central struggle. And the ending isn’t just the last event, but the culminating event.”

— Steven James

“The scariest moment is always just before you start. ”

— Stephen King

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3 Writing Questions

1. How do you approach writing a chapter?

2. What are your proven practices for writing faster?

3. How does the structure of your chapters fit into your overall story structure?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Photo courtesy of Eliott Reyna @eliottreyna

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

What genre do you want to write in? Fantasy? Romance? Historical Christian Sci-Fi Action & Adventure?

Hold the horses for a sec. Before you grab parchment and pen, make sure you know that genre. And how do you figure out a specific lit type? BY READING IT.

I know, it sounds like common sense. But sometimes in excitement, it’s easy to ignore the masters who already paved the trail. If I’m writing a mystery, I need a coffee date with Agatha Christie. If it’s epic fantasy, I need to sit with Mr. Tolkien. You get the idea. Learn how they work their magic by peeking behind the curtains.

But here’s the other reason: when you’re familiar with a genre, you'll avoid overused tropes. What’s a trope? A frequently used plot device. For example: The Chosen One; The dream sequence; Waking up to the sound of the alarm, etc… What might seem original to you might be waaay overused. The more you read, the more original you will be.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“If you know the most common devices in your genre, write them down and use them to create small twists or turns that take the story new places within the boundaries.”

— Sue Weems

“There are patterns, tropes, memes and attributes common to certain genres, and you need to know as much about them as possible, if you want to follow, reverse or break those conventions.”

— Scott Myers

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3 Writing Questions

1. In what genre are you writing?
   If you had to choose from this list, which would you choose? Thriller, Fantasy, Action, Drama, Family, Comedy, Horror, Science Fiction

2. Who are the best-selling/most-respected authors in your genre?

3. What are the most common tropes in that genre?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

Ideas are rocket fuel for writers. But the great ones carry short expiration dates. You’ll think, “Oh, I’ll remember it!” and then two hours later, it’s like trying to recall your middle school locker combo. Think of ideas as helium balloons; if you don’t hold on tight, they’ll float away and disappear forever into the clouds.

Ideas always seem to show up unannounced at your doorstep, when you’re in the shower, on a walk, or doing the dishes. That’s why you need a process for recording those million-dollar thoughts. Make it a habit to email or text yourself while that golden goose is trapped in your brain cage.

You can also use note-taking platforms such as Notion (www.notion.so) or Evernote (www.evernote.com) — because it’s not just about collecting those magical seeds, it’s knowing where to find them later.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“A brainwave in your stream of consciousness ripples past but once. Fail to catch it and an idea that could change your life and the world dissipates on the water’s surface and is gone forever.”

— Stewart Stafford

“Be a collector of good ideas. Keep a journal. If you hear a good idea, capture it, write it down. Don’t trust your memory.”

— Jim Rohn

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3 Writing Questions

1. What is your process for retaining ideas?

2. Do you utilize voice-to-text on your phone or smart device?

3. What is your filing system for your saved ideas?

What if a trip to the Amazon resulted in an amazing discovery?

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER:

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

A lack of focus will kill your writing. Whether it’s distracting noises or a pile of dirty dishes staring at you, it’s hard finding the right words when your brain is constantly going, “Squirrel!” For several months, I’ve used Brain.fm (www.brain.fm) with amazing results. It’s lyric-free, science-based background music to help you focus. Each morning, I fire up the app on my phone, connect to my AirPods, and ninety minutes go by as fast as a babysitter’s boyfriend when the car pulls up.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“Don’t be on your deathbed someday, having squandered your one chance at life, full of regret because you pursued little distractions instead of big dreams. ”

— Derek Sivers

“Being a good writer is 3% talent, 97% not being distracted by the Internet.”

— Unknown

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3 Writing Questions

1. How do you avoid social media/email temptations when you write?

2. What other music or software have you used for focus?

   (Other options include movie soundtracks, and one of my favorites is Dancing With Wolves. There’s also a group called Two Steps From Hell that creates great writing music if you like cinematic sound.)

3. Where is the best place for you to write with no distractions?

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

Make a writing appointment and stick with it, just like you do for a movie ticket or a plane trip. If you wait for inspiration to strike, or for the muse to sprinkle pixie dust upon your fair head, you’ll write nothing. So if you’re a morning person, set the alarm for the butt crack of dawn. If you’re a late-night genius, get those creative juices flowing and howl at the moon. But for all that is good and noble, don’t wait around for the perfect time. It will never come.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“You don’t need to wait for inspiration to write. It’s easier to be inspired by writing than while not writing…”

— Josip Novakovich

“Your job is to make sure the muse knows where you’re going to be every day from nine ‘til noon. or seven ‘til three. If he does know, I assure you that sooner or later he’ll start showing up.”

— Stephen King

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3 Writing Questions

1. What excuses keep you from a daily writing routine?

2. What is the best “creative time” for you?

3. What time is your writing appointment tomorrow?

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

When writing conversations, use dialog beats. This focuses on character action instead of relying solely on dialog tags such as “he said” and “she asked.” In my book The Jungle Within, I use a dialog beat to identify a character named Stanley AND describe him both physically and emotionally. FOR EX: “I can’t believe it.” Stanley’s face dropped in disappointment, making his double chin more pronounced. “You’ve lost your legendary swagger. Come on, where’s the guy who once put the move on Lucy Skyler?” When writing conversations, make dialog beats your new best friends.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“The beat, if it’s really good, does more than provide clarity and a little action. It can move the story forward, work toward character development, or let the reader know the character’s mood.”

— Shaunta Grimes

“Well-placed beats make your writing richer, fuller, and better. And good writing, like good teaching, engages your readers and lets them draw their own conclusions.”

— BookBaby blog

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3 Writing Questions

1. Do you know the difference between a dialog beat and a dialog tag?

2. Are you balancing how you use each of these?

3. Are you using too many beats, causing the pacing to slow?

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

Writing a novel's midpoint is tricky. That’s why I love James Scott Bell’s Mirror Moment concept. It sits smack dab in a story's middle when your protagonist clings to the end of their proverbial rope. The character takes a hard look at their life and reflects on who they must become to succeed. This Mirror Moment pivots your story toward the decisive third act. Before writing your novel, start in the middle and work out from there.

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“The main character has to figuratively look at himself, as in the “mirror” and be confronted with a disturbing truth: change or die.
”

— James Scott Bell

“The midpoint is what keeps your second act from dragging…. the character’s response is no longer just a reaction, but the moment at which he begins to definitively take charge of the story and act out against the antagonistic force.
”

— Sam Peckinpah

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3 Writing Questions

1. How does your character fight death? (physical, professional, or psychological)

2. How does your midpoint show what your story is really all about?

3. How does your Mirror Moment tie into (1) what your character used to be like and (2) what they now need to be like?

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a mean moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.

Each blog contains 1 idea, 2 quotes, and 3 questions to ponder.

1 WRITING IDEA

It’s all about the conflict. Ratchet up the tension, arguments, and debates. Whether internal or external, whether through conversation or thought, scenes “pop” with rough seas. Fair weather and blue skies don’t make for compelling stories. Make your characters climb the mast, look to the dark horizon, and yell, “Hey matey, storm clouds a’coming!”

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2 WRITING QUOTES

“Conflict is the lifeblood of story. What sound is to music, conflict is to story. Conflict should be present in every chapter, on every page.”

— William Bernhardt

“The only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself.
”

— William Faulkner

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3 Writing Questions

1. What is the internal conflict of your protagonist?

2. What is the external conflict of your protagonist?

3. How is their status quo being threatened?

About Me

Hey, I’m Brian. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a mean moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I’ve also written a book called The Jungle Within.