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 your stomach evolved to keep you safe. But I haven’t seen any saber-tooth tiger roaming suburbia lately. So, instead of pulling the covers over my head and hiding, I invite it in for a conversation.

By doing so, I have discovered fear’s virtues. The 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.

Do you dare to become a fear hacker?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Relentless winds shape sand dunes. When tiny grains of sand encounter an obstacle, they build one upon the other, often rising to astounding heights. Success dances along the shifting line, delineating the dune’s windward side and its slip face. Stability on a dune is nonexistent. Gales pound the beach, driving sand, forcing it to the ridgetop where it slides or rolls down the opposite surface.

Achieving our targets are often just as elusive. We believe we are on the right path, the one guaranteed to bring us what we desire. But the terrain changes, the winds change, we change. Our goals don’t have to remain static, instead, as we evolve, they can morph and develop. The choice lies in our interpretation.

What is your definition of success?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

It is easy to succumb to Monday morning drudgery and fall into the trap of negative emotions. There are countless psychological and neurological studies supporting the assertion that your current emotional state has a huge impact on your performance. Monday’s return to work dread can make you less productive, less motivated, less creative, less engaged, and it can leave you depressed, tired and feeling hopeless.

If your job is meaningful, looking forward to Monday is easier. Finding a career you are passionate about, means each new week is an opportunity to do what you love. Even if you wouldn’t trade your business for anything else, you can still face difficulties that test your resolve. Clarifying the items that are bothering you and taking corrective actions helps you maintain control. It may be as simple as preparing for Monday before you leave on Friday, getting organized, or addressing your most stress-inducing task first. Of course, a cup of coffee couldn’t hurt.

How will you make your transition from weekend to work week easier?

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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 from 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

Trust me, you never want to hear me singing. The phrase ‘can’t carry a tune in a bucket applies.’ While I love music, the only time I allow myself to sing and dance is while I do my chores. I have a strict prerequisite of an empty house, and the volume cranked to ear-splitting decibels. I accomplish my work at a breakneck pace, and creativity spurs me to return to my desk.

My real joy is composing as I listen to my favorite tunes with a cup of hot, black coffee at my side. The rhythms keep words flowing and my fingers typing. It is very productive and dreamy. The coffee keeps me focused and intent on capturing feelings, ideas, and dreams. Though in my daydreams, instead of riding on a garbage truck, I prefer flying through town on a fire engine, destined to save a cat.

Does your writing let your voice sing?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Poo Bear says some pretty smart things, often without realizing how insightful his comments are. This is the period when my schedule blossoms, spewing a profusion of activity into every corner of my life. Part of the frantic To-Do list is a product of the normal stressful holiday season, and a portion is self-inflicted. Cursed with a Type-A, goal-driven, no mountain is too high, kind of personality, feeling overwhelmed, goes with the territory.

Whenever I take on a new project, there is always a point when I question my sanity. Who thought it was a good idea to plant 250 tulip bulbs in the front flowerbed one afternoon? Who signed me up to the Twelve Dozen Days of Christmas Cookie Exchange? And who decided a whole house remodel, starting the week before Thanksgiving with a January 31st scheduled completion date, was something any sane person should undertake?

Still, I find myself calm and dare I say, happy? I have sore, tired muscles, not only from planting tulips but from schlepping boxes and furniture into storage to make room for demolition. The daily task list is impossible to complete in a single day, and yet somehow everything gets done. It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday. Each morning is a clean slate, full of infinite potential, and excitement for what lies ahead.

What wonders does today hold for you?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

We hear people tell us great achievement emanates from a big dream. Visualize your heart’s desire, and attraction brings it to you. Success requires more than good thoughts. You can imagine you have six-pack abs, but they won’t materialize unless you commit to doing the reps. Completing a regular exercise regime guarantees results. Many individuals say they wish to become a writer. You must determine how desperately you crave the title of author. You must want to write.

The daily work is difficult. No one is born a master of their field. Practice, patience, perseverance, and dogged determination are required to get through the learning curve. Mastery can be a long journey. Every day we decide whether we keep going or if we quit. For me, quitting is not an option.

How desperate are you?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Who hasn’t experienced this feeling? It is difficult convincing myself to leave my bed. Like Nicola, my spirit is willing, but my body refuses to budge. Anger is my first response, and it often works. It helps me burn the blahs and I force myself to move. If that doesn’t work, I go through my list of usual culprits. Am I drinking enough water? Are my iron levels low? Am I obsessively worrying over something which I can’t control? Do my meals and snacks contain too much junk food? Am I sleeping? Or do I have too many responsibilities?

My review showed three things conspiring against me and contributing to my lethargy. The first was worry. The second was a task list three people couldn’t accomplish. These two items combined to ensure I wasn’t getting a restful night’s repose. Identifying the root cause of my exhaustion is only the beginning. I shifted responsibilities, and recognizing apprehension’s futile nature, helps me monitor and banish those thoughts. Sweet sleep came as I resolved those issues. I could breathe, and when I can breathe the words flow.

What items trigger your fatigue and interrupt your writing?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I enjoy writing flash fiction. It is a challenge. A delicate balancing act of equal parts constructed puzzles, wrapped in the epitome of simplicity. A stellar start is second in importance to a great ending. The ideal goal is leaving the reader with an unexpected twist. The best endings require the reader to reconsider something they know intimately, or realize the true significance of a common occurrence. A spectacular finish must resonate long after they have put the piece aside.

The author tells a simple tale, one can assume it will end with a reasonable rationale. If the writer succeeds, the ending creates surprise, conforms to logic, produces unseen insight, and generates pure delight. This is no easy feat when you are working with fewer than five hundred words.

How will you delight your reader?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Perfecting my writing ritual is a daily focus. I find the answer to getting my work done is not waiting for inspiration to arrive. Honestly, when does your muse call on you and say it is time to work on drafting a report or updating a spreadsheet?  I stack my odds for success. Each evening, I develop an agenda for the next morning. I detail the items to accomplish and I arrange my working space. Sitting at my computer, I don’t waste precious minutes searching for the right project, I only need to type.

The specific session goals have an order. I fill the number one spot with the hardest item. The first task changes daily. It may be something I have been pushing, leaving it to linger at the bottom of the list, or it might be important. Completing my assignment can be easy, or a huge challenge, but I write for my allotted hours, or until I achieve my goal. Finishing is the key, perfection is not. The difficult days are becoming fewer. Reaching my target is becoming less grueling, and I am creating more words in the assigned time. I have been a little under the weather lately, but I still show up and write. My muse is counting on me.

What step are you taking to make sure your writing sessions are successful?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer