Day 489 – Officially Pro

This morning I am writing in a tiny library room I reserved for Wednesday mornings. It is on the side of the library that gets morning sun, so it is far too hot for my taste. I even brought a fan this week. Despite my discomfort, it is an auspicious morning. Today is the 489th …

Finding My Why

Do you know why you get out of bed in the morning? A few months ago I ran across Simon Sinek. He is a self-styled optimist, but he has a lot to say about how everything we do in life should start with why. I read his book "Start With Why" and then followed up …

The Right Tool to Write

I know not all of you are writers. This article is definitely tailored to fellow writers. But I believe the mentality I describe is applicable in many walks of life and hope that anyone can get something out of it.   I develop lots of tools for my day job. Everything from custom macros in …

Still afraid to fail

I finally heard back this week on a big writing contest I entered. I worked hard on my story for almost 6 months, revising and getting feedback from friends. I didn't think it was good enough to win, but I thought it might be good enough to make honorable mention. I got a very cordial …

Matt’s Notes on Running Down a Dream by Tim Grahl

If I ever succeed at running down my own dream of being a writer, this book will have played a fundamental role.

Your life is story

What if you got to write your own life as a story? Would it have less of something? Maybe more? How would you respond to conflict as a character in your story? Would you cower in the face of danger? Or would you courageously strive toward your goal in the face of any obstacle? Would …

If you try, you win

My son is having a little bit of trouble making it through early schooling. When he encounters something that is challenging, he will sometimes shut down and stop even trying because he gets so frustrated he can't do it perfectly. So one day, I came up with the phrase "If you try, you win." It …

Have a Goal? Raise the Stakes

Do you have a goal that you have tried countless times to achieve? Or an addiction you have tried countless times to break?  Maybe it is time to try again, but with a different approach.   First off, approach it like a scientist. Treat everything you try as an experiment. If it fails, that doesn't …

On Finding True Love

Once upon a time, some sage mentor told me a piece of advice that changed everything for me. This person will remain nameless, but primarily because I have forgotten who it was. It was a piece of wisdom I sorely needed, and still heed to this day. So if any of you are looking for …

Killing Your Darlings or Saving Your Favorites

I've read the phrase 'killing your darlings' quite a bit lately. For writing, it basically means you often have to get rid of your favorite things to make something work. The thing is, the phrase itself doesn't really work for me. The word 'darling' feels a little archaic. And I don't really feel like I …