I confront fear every morning. No, I am not an undercover, special agent or a fugitive fleeing from the authorities, I am an ordinary, everyday fear hacker. Back in the caveman days, that sensation in the pit of our stomachs developed to keep us safe. But I haven’t seen any saber-tooth tiger roaming suburbia lately. So instead of pulling the covers over my head, I invite it in for a conversation.

By doing so, I have discovered fear’s virtues. This feeling lets me know I am alive. It is a motivator. It focuses my thoughts and grounds me in the present. Inside of fear lives instinct and intuition, two keys to helping me make quick decisions and get my work done faster. Doing scary things means I am on the right path. Coming to terms with fear has made it my greatest asset and best ally.

How can you become a fear hacker?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Sometimes we need to stop, to move forward. It’s difficult to do in our results-driven, 24/7/365, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately society. Our current culture makes it even more imperative to pause, reflect, and indulge in thoughtful consideration. Rushing headlong into activities provides an adrenaline rush that confirms our existence. It can also be a potential disaster, which changes our lives in unexpected ways.

I am addicted to the thrill of living. Experiencing the highs and lows lurking around every corner is my fuel. I love incorporating these small moments into my writing. I find they are often pivot points which direct and predict our future. By stopping to consider the possibilities, we grant ourselves the luxury of making conscious judgment calls. We put ourselves in control. We determine our trajectory based on thousands of tiny decisions, minor course corrections that place us on a specific path. This is where the true fun lies.

How will today’s decisions shape your destiny?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The image above is “The School of Athens” (Scuola di Athene) a fresco created by Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino) which is part of the four Raphael Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello) in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. Raphael’s Rooms are the Sala di Costantino (Hall of Constantine), the Stanza di Eliodoro (Room of Heliodorus), the Stanza della Segnatura (Room of the Signatura) and the Stanza dell’ Incendio del Borgo (The Room of the Fire in the Borgo).

The first room Raphael started was the Stanza della Segnatura, and “The School of Athens” was the third wall completed. Depicting Philosophy, “The School of Athens” is one of Raphael’s masterpiece. Raphael was not specific on the identity of the figures he portrayed and left many insisting he painted the likenesses of some of his contemporaries.  The philosophers (above) include Plato or Leonardo da Vinci, Aristotle or Giuliano da Sangallo in the center. Sprawled on the steps, the figure depicts Diogenes of Sinope or Socrates. While the character leaning against the cube is perhaps Heraclitus or Michelangelo.

I have stood before this fresco several times and contemplated many ideas. I read and research and digested opinions, theories, and speculations. Pratchett is correct, examining how you think gives you a conviction that influences everything you do. I notice the certainty of my thoughts appearing unbidden in my work.

What have you analyzed and how has it affected your writing?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

A good story is better than life. It allows us access to our hero’s thoughts and motivations. While actual people often hide behind carefully crafted facades. Exciting stories don’t waste time with boring and trivial aspects of our daily routines. If a character takes a shower, you can count on a shocking development ensuing. When the antagonist confronts our beloved protagonist, our hero always has the best responses without bumbling, stutters, or searching for words. And she certainly doesn’t spend the next scene thinking of all the cutting retorts she could have said.

Well-written tales are laser-focused, they revolve around a major theme, and present a satisfying resolution, we seldom experience outside of a novel. The scenery is richer. Men are handsome, women are beautiful, and the plot pushes them along a prescribed path. It betrays the uncertainty we face. A good story resembles our favorite meal, and the crowning glory is a delectable piece of cake for dessert.

Will your story serve cake?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Many people keep daily gratitude journals, and they swear by the wonderful changes they attribute to the exercise. Studies suggest the practice makes us healthier, increases happiness, improves sleep, and strengthens positive emotions, along with a host of other perks. But no matter how hard I tried — I could never make this a habit.

The reason finally dawned on me. For me, gratitude creates a negative gut reaction. Weird, right?  Let me explain. It feels like writing the obligatory thank you note for the ugly Christmas sweater or the jacket in a color you hate and is two sizes too big. Being grateful also signals a comparison to a period of inadequacy and produces anxiety about the future. For example, I might be thankful for a bonus that lets me repay a debt. Gratitude recalls the past inability to pay the bill and questions your ability to make subsequent payments.

I needed something rooted in the present, and that realization moved me toward appreciation. Appreciation is the “ah” of sinking into a warm bubble bath at the end of a long, stressful day. Appreciation is living in the now, and it requires me to acknowledge the moment. I experience an overwhelming sense of wellbeing as I sip my morning coffee, listen to the birds sing, and revel in the grandeur of a sunrise. Fear, comparisons, and judgment don’t exist. Appreciation benefits my soul.

Do you keep a journal?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

This week has been a whirlwind. How is it already Saturday? When I last checked my calendar, it was Tuesday. As a home office entrepreneur, I wear many hats. My days fill themselves with content creation, staff meetings, market research, phone calls, financial reporting, and managing my never-ending emails. My eighty-hour workweek is alive and well. Eliminating the dreaded daily commute also removes any opportunity to get away from the job. And it’s far too easy to always be on call, accessible, and open for business.

However, allowing the career to leak into non-work time means other duties slide. We neglect evenings when we should rest, relax, and enjoy family interactions, and we defer basic chores. Suddenly, Saturday, the ultimate flex day filled with unallocated hours designed to prevent a week’s worth of overload, is overbooked. My to-do list cuts into vital activities like sleeping late, watching movies, getting the house clean, and carving out a chance to do nothing. Packing all that into one weekend is enough to stress me out.

Crazy, intense, demanding calendars are my life, but I need to have fun. A lot of fun. And I hate missing spontaneous events because my agenda owns me.  The only way to preserve my precious buffer is to prioritize by saying no to some tasks. No second-guessing allowed. By giving myself a cushion, I gain flexibility and I reduce my stress.

Are your Saturdays your catch-up day?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

A classical definition of tinkering paints a picture of unskillful and clumsy effort, performed with makeshift objects, that yields less than satisfactory results. But I prefer an updated concept where tinkering explains an exploration of materials. The aim is to understand the capabilities, properties, positive attributes, and limitations of the individual components. It is an unstructured, hands-on experience that allows the tinker to think in innovative ways to discover novel solutions to current problems.

As a writer, tinkering intrigues me. Writing is difficult, but I believe there is value in a purposeful fiddling with your work. Perhaps you lift a single phrase from your draft and play with the wording and the order. You can eliminate words, mold, and shape the content until it no longer resembles the original line. Hitting on a perfectly crafted sentence is not the desired outcome. The joy is in playing and experimenting with the text.

Writers worry about the structure of sentences, scenes, chapters, and the overall story. Storyboards, post-it notes, random thoughts scribbled on a napkin, and outlines help us rewrite, rearrange, and reformat the work. It is like an architect constructing a skyscraper by laying a firm foundation, finding unexpected building materials, and re-imaging how to use bricks, cement blocks, or concrete. It introduces risk into the creation process but facing the unknown can lead to startling discoveries.

Are you tinkering with your story?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Obstacles often feel insurmountable. They present themselves at inopportune times and make us question everything. Why is this so difficult? What was I thinking? How does anyone do this? Maybe I should quit. They say, if achieving goals were easy, everyone would do it.

This year’s opening salvo stopped me in my tracks. The external challenges were daunting. I realized they are outside of my control, and I ignore them at my peril. There is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Just when I assumed I was ready for my grand adventure, they blindsided me. But I refuse to entertain defeat. I went back to the drawing board and reassessed how those external obstacles changed my internal obstacles. This was important since these are issues over which I have total command. I also rearranged my daily routines, making appropriate adjustments. Habits are wonderful when they move you toward your goal. But they can foster highly destructive activities and inhibit forward motion.

I have been here before, and I learned that hidden within every obstacle is an opportunity. I expect unexpected roadblocks. They signal I am on the right path. They are the barriers to test my resolve, my commitment to my stated target, and my wiliness to pay the price of admission. The larger and more demanding the mountain is to climb, the richer the reward. It has taken time to strategize and develop an alternative plan, but I am once again excited about what lies ahead.

Have you adjusted your plans to attain your goals?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I have been experiencing an interesting phenomenon. I’ve recently added a time-consuming project to my agenda, which entails going through completed pieces. My goal is editing, revising, or rewriting them. I wrote some tales over two years ago. That doesn’t sound odd, does it? It is a well document fact that writers often create first drafts, then second, third, and sometimes four or more revisions.

My normal writing process for shorter articles is to write the story quickly, then let the piece sit for a few days. After our cooling-off period, I edit, condense, refine, and polish my work until I am satisfied. I submit a few lucky examples to my critique group. After careful consideration, I incorporate or ignore any comments as appropriate and complete one last review. Stories not sent for criticism sometimes find their way onto my blog. Everything is cataloged and filed on my hard drive, which is subject to frequent backup procedures.

The weird part has been discovering many files contain yarns I have no memory of creating. Zip. Zero. Nada. Anyone could claim to be the author, except they live on my computer, and I am noted at the file’s creator. Reading my forgotten words with a novice’s eyes is a unique experience. Somehow, they no longer belong to me. The undertaking hits with opportune timing, as I realize they have earned their freedom, and need to be released to the wild.

Do you forget the words you have written?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Arborists say the absolute best time to plant a sapling is ten years ago. The second-best option is to transplant one today. Since I can’t time travel, the solution is to grab a tree, a spade, and dig. The tree’s species is less important than taking action. Digging is not rocket science, and can be accomplished with simple tools. A trowel, a spoon, a post-hole digger, or your own two hands will eventually accomplish the task. I might borrow a shovel, but the job doesn’t require a backhoe. What if your attempt isn’t perfect? Does it matter?

Current events have rocked our world, we feel confused, disoriented, and unsure. Insecurity makes us pause and stop. Inertia keeps us stalled, unable to move. We become embroiled in perfection, caught in the trap of possessing the finest equipment, the latest gadgets, and glitzy gizmos, thinking they are indispensable. The timing must be ideal, and the stars aligned.

I am a perfectionist, an expert at compiling lists of reasons rationalizing my procrastination. Sometimes the greater undertaking is in starting and finishing, even if it isn’t perfect. Instead, I commit to completing a necessary chore by focusing on the steps required to finish, and then I begin.

What will you complete today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer