The 2020 Daily Writing Challenge – March 9

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 2 Comments

2020 Daily Writing Challenge

Writing is like driving at night in the fog.
You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

Today is Day 69 of the 2020 Daily Writing Challenge.

Did you write yesterday? Life is an endless parade of challenges, exciting experiences, and thrilling activities all competing for your time, attention, and energy. The glitter and glam captures your attention, turns your head, and you forget about doing what makes you happy. While having multiple interests speaks to your personal freedom and your right to choose, the fragmented focus can keep you from following your passion and derail the attainment of your goals.

What activity lights your eyes, sets fire to your soul, and penetrates every fiber of your being? If it makes you happy to sing, then sing. If your feet yearn to dance, allow them to waltz you around the room. If you are compelled to build, teach, run, give comfort, or host dinner parties or live events, please follow your heart. If you are called to write, make the space in your day to find your voice, open your laptop, your notebook, grab a pen, and record the words and stories that are begging to be told. I promise you there is someone in this world whose lives will be enriched by the passion you pursue.

Try it and let us know how you did in the comments below.

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Dreaded Daylight Saving Time Adjustment – Daily Quote

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 6 Comments

ive-lived-on-the-equator-all-my-life-and-we-never-had-to-change-clocks.-now-theyre-telling-me-time-goes-forward-an-hour-after-midnight_-what-is-this-narnia_-joyce-rachelle

If there is one thing I dread, it is Daylight Saving Time (DST). It defies reason. The nomenclature is nonsensical. We are not “saving” daylight, the earth’s rotation does not speed up or slow down. Science says today there are eleven hours and thirty-five minutes of sunlight, and tomorrow we gain another three minutes. It is a natural phenomenon for spring.

The adjustment to DST mimics the feelings of jet lag. The abrupt change messes with our normal bedtime schedule. Studies show Americans sleep approximately 40-50 minutes less on the night after DST. This pattern continues for several nights. The disruption may cause daytime fatigue, an upset stomach, symptoms of mild sickness, moodiness, foggy memory, and lost productivity.

I suppose if we can alter time, we can transform anything. Good stories are the embodiment of change. We expect our characters to undergo transformations, and authors create and shape entire worlds. We take messy first drafts and edit them to tighten the writing, resolve plot holes, express ideas succinctly, and increase emotional involvement for the reader.

What changes will you make for Daylight Saving Time?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2020 Daily Writing Challenge – March 8

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 2 Comments

2020 Daily Writing Challenge

Writing is like driving at night in the fog.
You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

Today is Day 68 of the 2020 Daily Writing Challenge.

Did you write yesterday? Life is an endless parade of challenges, exciting experiences, and thrilling activities all competing for your time, attention, and energy. The glitter and glam captures your attention, turns your head, and you forget about doing what makes you happy. While having multiple interests speaks to your personal freedom and your right to choose, the fragmented focus can keep you from following your passion and derail the attainment of your goals.

What activity lights your eyes, sets fire to your soul, and penetrates every fiber of your being? If it makes you happy to sing, then sing. If your feet yearn to dance, allow them to waltz you around the room. If you are compelled to build, teach, run, give comfort, or host dinner parties or live events, please follow your heart. If you are called to write, make the space in your day to find your voice, open your laptop, your notebook, grab a pen, and record the words and stories that are begging to be told. I promise you there is someone in this world whose lives will be enriched by the passion you pursue.

Try it and let us know how you did in the comments below.

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Life Signs – Weekend Writing Prompt

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 11 Comments

Title: Life Signs
Source:  Weekend Writing Prompt # 147 – Perplex
Objective: Write a poem or piece of prose in exactly 90 words

Photo by Yann Allegre on Unsplash

He was an odd sort, friendly, mischievous, intriguing. I assumed he had forgotten me when my phone buzzed. His text served to perplex me further. Hyperlinked numbers connected to a map with a destination in the middle of nowhere. Answers to my questions lay in the palm of my hand.

A desolate road ended at a ghost town. Dilapidated buildings clustered together, lending each other the courage to stand.

Except one. Unbroken glass in freshly painted casings spoke of arrested neglect. I climbed the stairs and knocked on his door.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Starring in My Weekend Symphony – Daily Quote

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 6 Comments

i-have-to-be-alone-very-often.-id-be-quite-happy-if-i-spent-from-saturday-night-until-monday-morning-alone-in-my-apartment.-thats-how-i-refuel.-audrey-hepburn

This week overflowed with hustle, bustle, and problems to solve. I attended intense meetings, navigated personal dynamics, and invested early mornings coupled with late-night work sessions to move a large project toward the finish line. I climbed the exhaustion mountain, and I earned the tee shirt to prove it. While I enjoy meeting and interacting with others, it is a huge mental drain. I make small compromises, bowing to the group consensus, and read individual emotions to ensure everyone is happy and having a good time.

I long for the opportunity to follow my heart, with no need to consult anyone. Being alone is a precious joy. Would I care for another cup of coffee? Why, yes. Thank me. Calmness washes over me. My shoulders relax, tense muscles unclench, and I can breathe. A warm blanket, my current book, and silence helps me find a comfortable position in my favorite chair.

The freedom to do, or not do as I see fit, allows me to hear my inner thoughts. I think about my interactions, contemplate conversations, and take notes of new ideas, record things I don’t want to forget, and remind myself of further questions I wish to clarify. I realign the pieces that complete me.

How do you refuel?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2020 Daily Writing Challenge – March 7

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 2 Comments

2020 Daily Writing Challenge

Writing is like driving at night in the fog.
You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

Today is Day 67 of the 2020 Daily Writing Challenge.

Did you write yesterday? Life is an endless parade of challenges, exciting experiences, and thrilling activities all competing for your time, attention, and energy. The glitter and glam captures your attention, turns your head, and you forget about doing what makes you happy. While having multiple interests speaks to your personal freedom and your right to choose, the fragmented focus can keep you from following your passion and derail the attainment of your goals.

What activity lights your eyes, sets fire to your soul, and penetrates every fiber of your being? If it makes you happy to sing, then sing. If your feet yearn to dance, allow them to waltz you around the room. If you are compelled to build, teach, run, give comfort, or host dinner parties or live events, please follow your heart. If you are called to write, make the space in your day to find your voice, open your laptop, your notebook, grab a pen, and record the words and stories that are begging to be told. I promise you there is someone in this world whose lives will be enriched by the passion you pursue.

Try it and let us know how you did in the comments below.

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Creative Marketing – Friday Fictioneers

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 30 Comments

Title: Creative Marketing
Source:  Friday Fictioneers sponsored by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
Word count: 100 words

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

Mateo checked at his watch. Running his hand through his thinning hair, he surveyed his produce stall.

Minutes crept by, but still no Luca. Without the delivery, he couldn’t make money. His customers wanted choices, baskets overflowing with the freshest items.

It was time to get creative. Repackaging crates to make them look full, he piled the contents into smaller containers. He squished his offerings together and eliminated empty racks. He worked to finish before the daily rush started. His loyal customers arrived and began bickering and fighting. Faced with scarcity, they bid against one another.

Mateo sighed with relief.

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The Joys of Perpetual Learning – Daily Quote

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 10 Comments

there-is-no-end-to-education.-it-is-not-that-you-read-a-book-pass-an-examination-and-finish-with-education.-the-whole-of-life-from-the-moment-you-are-born-to-the-moment-you-die-is-a-proc

I was that strange kid who couldn’t wait to start school. No teacher taught me how to read, I learned before kindergarten. I completed most of my homework while I sat listening to lectures. Extra credit work was fun, and I enrolled in every advanced placement class my school offered. As a result, A’s populated my report card. My lower marks reflected my associated boredom level.  An instructor once reprimanded me for working ahead in a math workbook, even though the answers were correct. I didn’t stop. Her class was boring.

I love challenges.  Cracking a code, solving a puzzle, or learning a new skill is exhilarating. Throw me in the deep end, and while I might thrash around and almost drown, chances are, I will soon be swimming like Michael Phelps. A wise man enlightened me on the benefits of becoming a perpetual learner. He warned me, that no one knows less than the person who thinks they know everything,

This week, I have been taking an online course, studying a topic I don’t yet understand. I am pushing my limits, making connections, and it is as scary as Nik Wallenda’s volcano walk. I am happier than a teacher on a snow day.

Are you pushing your limits?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2020 Daily Writing Challenge – March 6

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 2 Comments

2020 Daily Writing Challenge

Writing is like driving at night in the fog.
You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

Today is Day 66 of the 2020 Daily Writing Challenge.

Did you write yesterday? Life is an endless parade of challenges, exciting experiences, and thrilling activities all competing for your time, attention, and energy. The glitter and glam captures your attention, turns your head, and you forget about doing what makes you happy. While having multiple interests speaks to your personal freedom and your right to choose, the fragmented focus can keep you from following your passion and derail the attainment of your goals.

What activity lights your eyes, sets fire to your soul, and penetrates every fiber of your being? If it makes you happy to sing, then sing. If your feet yearn to dance, allow them to waltz you around the room. If you are compelled to build, teach, run, give comfort, or host dinner parties or live events, please follow your heart. If you are called to write, make the space in your day to find your voice, open your laptop, your notebook, grab a pen, and record the words and stories that are begging to be told. I promise you there is someone in this world whose lives will be enriched by the passion you pursue.

Try it and let us know how you did in the comments below.

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer