I could not have imagined the path I would travel when I first began to write. I have met wonderful people and I learn new things every day. I love facts and have often joked that my brain is stuffed full of useless information. Turns out it is damn handy.

Many times, I have been inspired to incorporate a reference to a Greek god or goddess, or the legend of a skilled Irish pirate queen. My stories have spurred me to research medieval living conditions, county plats of surveys from the 1890s, and details of the AK-47.

What have you learned from your writing?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Please disregard the word “nonfiction” above. I can’t imagine writing by hand. Period. Ok, so I like writing my lists by hand. I like the feel of my favorite pen, the sound of the nib scratching on paper… but anything else? No way. I love backspace, delete, cut, copy and paste and no red ink.

Then there is auto correct. Yes, sometimes it is a real pain, but it is also a time saver. I don’t have to waste time with a dictionary. I love the ability to search my files for a story and find it as opposed to sifting through notebooks and reams of paper, risking the dreaded paper cut to come up empty-handed.

Which do you prefer?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

It is the busy holiday season, and I am doing more writing later in the evening. I am burning the candle at both ends, yawning as I write and yesterday, I closed a file without saving it. When I sit to write I am already tired. I prefer to write in the morning, but I also refuse to interrupt my daily writing goal streak.

Before I am finished, my brain gets tired. I know I will have to do careful editing later. I will admit to having written some incoherent sentences. Still, it feels good to accomplish my daily writing goal.

Do you write when things are hectic?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I have stumbled upon a lie about fiction. And Paul Harding exposes it in his quote. The best fiction tells the truth. Being truthful in fiction differs from being factual. You want situations and characters to leap off the page, be someone who you might meet on the street, at an airport or your daughters’ school.

Readers have finely tuned lie detectors and will spot characters who do not act true to their nature. The risk being they will throw your book across the room crying “Bunkum and Balderdash!”

What character has felt “real” to you? Have you met a character who was not?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I am struggling to find stillness, a little silence. The moment I sit down to write the beast roars. I try to ignore it. I wish for it to go away. I beg it to leave me alone.

It doesn’t work. The holidays are coming, and I have lists to make, gifts to buy, cookies to bake. I know how to quiet the beast. I pack up my laptop, get in my car, and head to the coffee shop. Amid the holiday music and the calls of “Grande Sugar-Free Iced White Chocolate Mocha” and “Venti Gingerbread Latte with Soy”, I find my nothingness of silence.

Where will you find your silence today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Don’t know about you, but I have had a busy week. Plenty of hustle, bustle and holiday excitement piled on top of the normal onslaught of daily tasks. It all leaves me a little, well, tired. Ragdoll, dead dog, tired. You know the feeling, your brain gets fuzzy, you can’t keep your eyes open, and no matter how much you try to stay awake, you can’t.

I habitually over schedule during this time of the year, knowing I will need the help of Santa’s elves to get it all done. But my scheduled naptimes are non-negotiable. I designated today, downtime day. I will wear my fluffy slippers and flannel PJs, start a roaring fire, settle into my big leather chair with a glass of wine and see what happens.

What will you do to relax today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I love John Muir. Have I mentioned it before? There is something magical, contradictory and surprising in the phrase “They make their way into the heart of the roughest solitudes with smooth reserve of strength…” I’m not sure I have ever considered solitude as rough. But being alone, working alone is not always easy.

And I love the idea of conquering the challenges we face with quiet courage. There is an enviable beauty in the creatures who can reach their goals without wailing and lamenting their fate. There is grace in the steady steps and focus that makes them mountaineers.

How will you face your day?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

A daily writing practice is hard to achieve. Many things vie for our attention and our time. Family, friends, social media and the newest Netflix release are relaxing, enjoyable, and easy.  Temptations abound. But every day I write. Sometimes the agonizing grind produces one hundred words. Occasionally, a writing session is filled with magic, pixie dust and a torrential release of words.  It is the sporadic reward for making a commitment and doing the work.

What steps are you taking to make writing a habit?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I had a short conversation with a new friend yesterday. Our discussion centered on the recent loss of a loved one, and their legacy. It got me thinking, as these things do, about my legacy. It is easy to descend the rabbit holes of Netflix, and text messages, and cleaning, or other time-consuming things. As much as we enjoy or feel compelled to participate, they don’t seem epitaph worthy.

Do you want to be a beloved parent, spouse, child, or friend? A gifted artist? An advocate for the needy? A philanthropist? A prolific writer? Legacies don’t show up without work, effort and determination, every single day. What will they write on your tombstone?

What can you do today to take a small step toward your legacy?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

This cartoon hits home.  I am completely focused on “not finishing my novel”. But it doesn’t mean I am not writing. In fact, I find writing is now easier than it was before November. Words spill onto the page in record time. I glance up and I have 300, 500, or 1000 words starting at me. The words are not bad. I like this side effect.

I feel like a weightlifter who has trained hard and then returns to the “normal” routine to find it has become too easy. I like getting more done in less time.

Have you noticed any residual effects from NaNoWritMo?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer