“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self.”~Ernest Hemingway American journalist, novelist, short-story writer, and sportsman Ernest Hemingway was born on this day in 1899.
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Random Quote for July 20, 2020
“People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.”~Edmund Hillary New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist Sir Edmund Hillary was born on this day in 1919.
Why Do You Write?
(C) 2020, JJ Shaun As writers, we all want to write the next Great American Novel. But why? What made you realize that you wanted to be a writer? I can only answer for myself. I’m a life-long reader, even though I haven’t been as much of a reader lately as in the past. When … Continue reading Why Do You Write?
Random Quote for July 18, 2020
“You can't relive your life.”~John Glenn United States Marine Corps aviator, engineer, astronaut, businessman, and politician John Glenn was born on this day in 1921.
DIY MFA: Learning to Plot
What is a plot? According to Brandon Sanderson, the plot is a promise made at the beginning, progress toward fulfilling that promise, and a payoff at the end. What does that all mean? In the first few sentences, paragraphs, and pages, you make a promise to your reader. That promise includes the tone. Is it … Continue reading DIY MFA: Learning to Plot
Random Quote for July 16, 2020
“I find writing very difficult. It's hard and it hurts sometimes, and it's scary because of the fear of failure and the very unpleasant feeling that you may have reached the limit of your abilities.”~Tony Kushner American playwright, author, and screenwriter Tony Kushner was born on this day in 1956. Follow me on Facebook: @jjshaunauthor.
Wednesday Word for July 15, 2020
Today’s word comes from the news. Follow me on Facebook: @jjshaunauthor. Today’s Word Part of Speech noun Definition A political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and … Continue reading Wednesday Word for July 15, 2020
Random Quote for July 14, 2020
“There is nothing more difficult to measure than the value of visible emotion.”~Gertrude Bell English writer, traveler, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist Gertrude Bell was born on this day in 1868.
Random Quote for July 13, 2020
“It is what you do from now on that will either move our civilization forward a few tiny steps, or else… begin to march us steadily backward.”~Patrick Stewart English actor, director, and producer Sir Patrick Stewart was born on this day in 1940.
Finding the Story
If you’ve been reading these pages, you know I’ve been watching the videos to Brandon Sanderson’s BYU course on writing science fiction and fantasy. As I listen, I’ve been brainstorming on what I call my New Concept and decided to make changes to my stories to fit with what I’m learning. If you’ve poked around … Continue reading Finding the Story
J.J. Shaun 