Human beings like to push the envelope, fight in the arena, blaze new trails, and test their limits. Every individual has a unique, set of tolerable risks. Not all mountaineers want to climb Mount Everest, some prefer to base jump from a two-thousand-foot cliff. It is all about the precise balance of risk vs. reward. We have different definitions of acceptable danger. In accessing our tolerance, we consider the special skills that give us certain advantages, and we define our compelling reason.

There are thousands of reasons to quit, to stay in a safe place, to not try. To succeed, you must dig deep and identify your main purpose, your motivation to groom your mental and physical strength. It will push you to discover the unknown when others would stop, it is what keeps you going.

This month many writers are pushing their limits, reaching for the magic number of 50,000 written words. It is a daunting task. November is the season writers climb their Mt Everest. They plan and strategize, stare blank screens and force themselves to write. Propelled by exhilaration and the promise of a heady reward, they push the envelope and explore the unknown.

What are the reasons you create stories?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Understanding the purpose of a few individuals we encounter on our path is difficult. Consider the giant SUV dude who switches lanes and threatened to take my front bumper with him. Or the woman in the checkout line who jammed her shopping cart into my heels. SUV dude confirmed the proper working order of my anti-lock brakes. Maybe he was late for a job interview. The brutal attack on my ankles is less obvious. Patience? Unconditional forgiveness? It is hard to say when my cry of unexpected pain elicited zero in the way of acknowledgment or apology.

There are true gems. The stranger who helps you after a fall. The dear friend who answers your call regardless of the hour. Unsolicited encouragement, high fives, and even a smile can encourage us. Harsh criticisms can open a window on a new line of thinking. None of it can happen unless we step outside and brave a few bruises.

What risk will you take today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

John Stuart Mill was born in 1806 and lived until 1873. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Archive describes him as “the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century.” It is interesting that almost two hundred years later, we are still grappling with the notion of whether automation has the practical impact of making our lives simpler. Are we better off today because of cell phones, social media, the internet, commercial air flights, and modern medical diagnostic and treatment protocols?

Looking through the lens of two centuries, the contrasts between the realities of normal life in 1820, stands in stark contrast to our twenty-first-century world. But when we shorten the interval to two decades, our perspective changes and losing yesterday feels personal. We feel nostalgia for a time we grew up loving. Embracing change can be difficult. It disrupts everything we depend upon, overturns our logic, and challenges our basic trust levels.

Technological advancement demands much from us. It forces you to examine your processes and open your mind to entertaining, and maybe even learning, new working methods. Some concepts are simple. Having a phone when your car breaks down on the expressway is a vast improvement on the alternative. Being able to access information online, makes research easier than spending hours in the library. Electric typewriters were great upgrades in their day, now laptops and tablets exude an undeniable appeal.

Has technology improved your life?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I was born organized, neat, and tidy. And while I enjoy a comfy cozy environment, I am more minimalistic than others living in my house. My mother tells stories of how, as a small child, I would precisely arrange my toys on my shelf. Heaven forbid if she helped to put them away and placed them in the wrong spot. A closet with evenly spaced hangers and clothes arranged by sleeve length and color calms my soul. And I have never “lost” a sock in the laundry.

My tendencies influence my reading and writing preferences. Flowery work makes my eyes glaze. I get disoriented, overwhelmed by the superfluous words swirling in my head, and I miss the story’s point. Vocabulary and etymology are a passion, which helps enrich and expand the nuances of a tale. There is a fine line between using a rich word, and a pretentious one. When in doubt, I force myself to opt for the simpler and more accessible option.

The economy of words, lets the story sing and gives the reader space for their imagination. In a month dedicated to accumulating 50,000 words, it is tempting to add fillers, unnecessary words, sentences, paragraphs, and tangents to reach the goal. The frantic pace can lead to excesses, and I challenge you to pause and consider how to best serve your novel.

Where are you on the minimalist scale?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The universe loves throwing a monkey wrench into well-conceived plans. It’s inevitable, and I predict trouble whenever I commit to an important goal. I expect the sudden arrival of unforeseen obstacles whose purpose is to divert me from my intention and challenge my commitment. It is a litmus test; designed to validate my goals and confirm I am headed in the right direction. A colossal undertaking guarantees a proportional hardship to navigate.

A wise person once told me, we don’t discover struggles along our path, instead; the struggles are the path. We define ourselves not by what we do but by the difficulties we overcome. The conversation made a significant impact and changed my perceptions. I understand why we root for the underdog, bet on the dark horse, and pray for the longshot. Those are the people who beat the odds, face adversity and refuse to abandon a noble fight. They create miracles. They restore our faith in humanity and dare us to emulate their mindset.

Living an extraordinary life starts when we show up, get moving, and make something happen. When we agree to become an active participant and invest ourselves in the process, we enhance the probability of success. We can entertain the idea our dreams are possible, regardless of the challenges we encounter.

How will you attain your dream?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

We face many obstacles when we set goals for ourselves. The passage takes us into storms, rough seas, and demon doubt sends messages, advocating we abort the mission. Stepping into the wilderness demands courage and confronting the unknown. The enormity of the task can make succeeding feel impossible.

Forward progress requires trust and the ability to put one foot in front of the other. We advance step by step, meeting each obstacle as we encounter them. We solve the first problem and move to the next. The succession of dilemmas continues in a steady stream. They are the test, the price of admission. If our desire is strong enough, no danger can keep us from following the path and attaining our goal.

What perceived dangers are keeping you ashore?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

November 1st signals the kickoff of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) or NaNo for short. Once more, authors and wannabes sign up, pledging to write 50,000 words. I succumbed to temptation, selected a story idea, wrote an outline, and committed to completing 1,667 words every day. Then I changed my mind. Not on competing, but on how to win.

I discovered Reverse NaNo. This format front-loads the word count, taking advantage of the excitement that accompanies the start of any new project. Day One requires a word count of 3,346 with falling requirements on successive days. By November 15, the halfway point, I have fewer than the prescribed daily minimum to add. On the final day, I need a single word to reach the goal.

I am very excited about this approach and eager to try it. I am looking forward to this because, in previous years, life drama intervened, with random days where I couldn’t complete the target. Making up a missed day was difficult. With successive fewer words, staying even does not feel as daunting. I’m planning a good night’s sleep before I am off to the races.

Are you taking part in NaNo?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

For years, I associated ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with Halloween. The movie scared the bejesus out of me. I was probably too young. I have vivid memories of sneaking into the hallway and watching where my parents couldn’t see me. It was not my wisest decision. I paid the price, suffering nightmares of flying monkeys and the wicked witch chasing me along a yellow brick road. Even today, I avoid following Dorothy as she finds her way home.

Reading or viewing scary stories, horror tales, thrillers, and cozy mysteries are low on my priority list. Like a skeleton, I skip them because I don’t have the guts. They freak me out and I feel unsettled for days afterward. Studies say people who dislike scary movies never developed a deep association between fear and fun. Well, duh.

Maybe it is the reason behind my love-hate relationship with Halloween. Trick-or-treating for candy was entertaining, but hiding under my covers, and jumping at the slightest noise convinced there is an intruder in the house was not enjoyable. Then there are those cute kids in costumes.

How will you celebrate Halloween?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Each morning a zombie rises, moaning and groaning it stumbles downstairs. The zombie staggers to the coffeepot. Water splashes, coffee grounds litter the kitchen like confetti on New Year’s Eve. It grumbles and waits, then fills a cup with wake-up juice.  A sip of the black witch’s brew and the transformation begins. My eyelids separate, the world comes into focus and I see my goals on the horizon.

I consider my options. I could swim, build a boat, rent a wave runner, find a ferry, or buy a ticket on a private jet. The exact method is whichever one moves me forward, advancing me closer to my goal. I know I must act because I am not content to stand on the shore and dream.

How will you cross the sea?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The invasion began when I turned the calendar to ‘October.’ Orange lights appeared along the eaves of the house across the road, followed by a gigantic glow-in-the-dark purple spider. Down the street, zombies began clawing their way from the depths of a front lawn. Another home has become the nightly haunting of a huge, ephemeral floating phantom lady, her robes flapping in the breeze as she collects falling red leaves in her tangled hair. The entire neighborhood is overrun with skeletons, dried cornstalk sheaves, and glowing orange jack-o’-lanterns.

Then there are the witches. In the cul-de-sac, three shadowy sisters stir a bubbling brew in an ebony caldron. Next door to the zombies, there was an accident. A novice crash-landed into the doorway, her pointy shoes, green and black stockings, and broken broom create a gapers block. An old crone terrorizes the corner, harassing the white ghost girl.

Their stories run amok, and I chase them, trying to record as much detail as possible, preserving the magic in my notebook which is bursting at the seams. There is a natural urge to pack, store, and prepare for the long winter’s nights. When the snow flies and the winds howl, I will sit next to my fire and write.

What is your favorite aspect of Halloween?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer