Category Uncategorized
Blank Page Intimidation
That stark white space is intimidating as hell. I don’t know what it is about the emptiness that makes the obsessive compulsive in me begin to itch. You’d think that an empty page is perfect, all in order, with nothing out of balance. But, no it’s a negative space, a sucking black hole of self-doubt. […]
Are You Outraged?
Outrage! You see expressions of outrage everywhere. It’s on social media, television, and you can find it in your neighborhood. We seem to be outraged about something, all the time. Therein lies the problem. We’ve cheapened outrage by overuse. Not all outrage is created equal. There is righteous indignation and then there is the self-possessed […]
Do You Suffer From Revision Brain Syndrome?
Revision Brain Syndrome (RBS) RBS is destined to be added to the list of serious psychological maladies in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th edition (DSM V) as a condition plaguing millions of writers. (cue Sarah McLachlan sad puppy music here) Self-diagnosis is difficult and I’ll warn you now to stay […]
What Is The Honey Badger Telling Me?
Honey Badger Don’t Plot So, I’m sitting at my keyboard drafting the last few chapters of a novel and I know where the story goes. I know how the plot lines come together, how the characters change and I’m just about ready to wrap this one up. I’m at this point because I’ve outlined, planned and […]
A Survival Story
The Suburban Survivalist There are days when I should cover myself in bubble wrap and sit in the corner. My morning routine is just that, routine. I wake without the aid of an alarm clock because I have something more efficient than any flashy LED box. I have an Alarm Corgi. At daybreak, the Alarm […]
Make Procrastination Your Bitch
Listen. Can you hear that? Tick, tock, tick, tock… The clock spring unwinds and each swipe of the pendulum is like a 50,000 volt charge to your frost-protected nether regions. Get off your ass – tick, get moving – tock, get something finished for crapsake – tick. Time is wasting! This particular time of year […]
Where is My Reset Button?
Ever have one of those weeks when the tiny little CPU inside your skull starts to vibrate from the overload? I swear I smell something burning. While I uncoil a paperclip and jab the pointy end in my eyeball, let me explain how I got here. Everything demands attention, this very minute. Do this! Make that! […]
Perception Is A Bitch
Perception is a fickle bitch. We “see” the world through our own unique filters and experiences. That little Stay-Puff Marshmallow between your ears contains some amazing circuitry, capable of firing off millions of messages to our central nervous system. We are hard wired to identify a potential threat and react – fight, or flight. Who […]
All The Voices in My Head
The voices are telling me to do things… From time to time, I’ve mentioned the voices that spawn from the murky creative mist to bestow their wisdom upon me. Whether I need this paranormal assistance isn’t really the question. I’ll take any inspiration a Muse wants to toss my way. The voices come through when […]
Just A Big Ball Of Hate
I hate you, you hate me… If you live in a cave, you are the fortunate one. You didn’t have to absorb all the bad JuJu from a screwed up world full of hate this week. Pick a corner of the planet. Did you know there are 32, yes, 32 wars going on right now? […]
James L'Etoile 