How “Deep Work” Made me Drastically Reduce my Instagram Usage
Last month I read Deep Work by Cal Newport and what Cal had to say about work, focused attention, connectivity, email, and especially social media, had an immediate effect on my behavior. Cal's entire body of work centers around technology, social media, focused attention, productivity, and other related topics. Deep Work is his Big Idea...
The Creatures in ‘Bird Box’ Are Dumb, But it Works
I finally picked up Bird Box, long after the 2018 hype over the Netflix movie adaptation, and the trending cultural references and hilarious memes about blindfolds. I thought it was an entertaining read with a fast-paced, linear storyline that's airtight. There's very little meandering or monologuing. Josh Malerman is not making a cultural statement with...
How is Top Gun So Good?
The new Top Gun: Maverick blew me away. It's so good! It was story telling magic just like the original 1986 Top Gun. When the final credits rolled it had me thinking, how the heck did they pull that off? Again!? If you're like me and enjoy nerding-out on stories that have that special something,...
Twenty-Thousand Leagues is not What You Think
I had Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea sitting on my bookshelf and decided to read it. The story isn't what I thought it would be, plus it moves too slowly for contemporary readers. Same with the Disney movie staring Kirk Douglas. But, the book changed the Science Fiction genre when it was published in 1870...
Pulp Novels Sell. Here’s a Pulp Novel ‘How To,’ Book
There's lots of reasons to write pulp novels. One reason is that pulp novels sell, and a writer should never discount what readers want. If you're a beginner looking for a quick book that will improve your storytelling, here is James Scott Bell's book, "How to Write Pulp Fiction," available on Amazon. When you're a...
3 Simple Tips for a Novel-Rewrite
Here I will share with you my process for rewriting a novel, and it involves a quality notebook and set of good pens. I had every intention of finishing my rewrites before my kids left on spring break. As it happens March is too busy for me and life has taken hold. But, even though...
You’ll Love How This Book Explains the Internet
I came away after reading this book with an 'aha' feeling about the intenet. I learned about this book a while ago on NPR and it came to mind recently when I wanted to find a book about the internet. Or rather, the physical internet. This morning I went running and finished, Tubes: A Journey...
5 Practical Stages of the Writing Process
There are five stages in the writing process, and by the writing process, I mean the process that starts with an idea and ends with a manuscript you can pitch to a stranger. Like many things that are more art than science, these stages aren’t set in stone. Still, if you’re a beginner, the following...