Category: blogs

Gods and Insects, yes it feels like that.

The Day a Leaky Truck Inspired a Novel: The Story Behind Gods and Insects

In the late 1900s, I was spending a significant amount of time on the road, driving nearly 1,000 miles a week. Back then, I lived in Houston, a city notorious for its unpredictable weather and sprawling roadways. One of the most well-known highways in Houston is Loop 610, a giant ring encircling the city. It was (and still is) a requirement that hazardous material trucks use the loop instead of cutting through the downtown area. This rule made sense, given the risks involved in transporting dangerous substances through such a densely populated area. But one particular day on the loop changed the trajectory of my life in the most unexpected way.

A Rainstorm, a Leaky Truck, and a Spark of Curiosity

Houston weather is nothing if not unpredictable. You can be driving under sunny skies one minute and find yourself in the middle of a torrential downpour the next, and that’s exactly what happened on this day. As I made my way around Loop 610, following a chemical transport truck, the skies opened up. The rain poured down, and visibility became challenging. Yet, something about that truck caught my attention.There was an unusual amount of water draining from the back of the vehicle…far more than seemed normal, even during a rainstorm this heavy. My curiosity got the better of me. Why was there so much water spilling from this truck? Was it just rain runoff, or was there something else going on?Instead of continuing on my usual route through town via Highway 59, I decided to follow the truck, keeping a safe distance. I watched as the rain let up and the sun came out again. But here’s the strange part: the water draining from the truck didn’t stop. It kept flowing as if the storm had never ended.

A Suspicious Pattern and a Moment of Realization

The truck didn’t return to Highway 59 after completing its loop around the city. Instead, it kept circling. I followed it for a while, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Was something leaking? Was the truck dispersing something intentionally? After completing more than one full loop around the city, I realized I’d wasted enough time, and likely exposed myself to who-knows-what. I decided to let it go and head home.But the experience stuck with me. Long after I stopped following that truck, I couldn’t shake the questions from my mind. What could have been leaking from that vehicle? Was it an accident, or something more sinister? The idea kept nagging at me, and before I knew it, a story began to form in my imagination. That day, the seed for my novel Gods and Insects was planted.

From a Leaky Truck to a Novel 30 Years Later

It took over three decades for the story to fully come to life. Gods and Insects, like my previous novel The Corrected City, sat in the proverbial file cabinet for years, stored away on an old hard drive while life moved on. But writing has always been my craft, my passion. With over 100,000,000 words written (yes, that’s with an M!), my skills have sharpened over time, and I finally felt ready to breathe new life into this story.The result? A novel born from a real-life moment of curiosity, suspense, and a little bit of danger. Gods and Insects is now available, and for the next 90 days, it’s free to read on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

Why You Should Give Gods and Insects a Read

Sometimes, inspiration strikes in the most unexpected ways. For me, it was a mysterious chemical truck, a rainstorm, and a moment of curiosity that I couldn’t ignore. The resulting novel dives into themes of mystery, danger, and the unknown…born from a real-life experience that could have ended very differently.If you’re a fan of suspenseful, thought-provoking stories, I think you’ll find Gods and Insects well worth your time. Plus, it’s free on KDP right now, so there’s no excuse not to dive in and experience the tale for yourself.Enjoy the read, and remember, inspiration can strike when you least expect it. Sometimes, all it takes is a leaky truck on a rainy day to spark a story worth telling.

Your Turn: Join the Conversation and Dive Into Gods and Insects

Now that you’ve heard the story behind the story, I’d love to hear from you!

💬 Drop a Comment Below

Have you ever had a moment of curiosity that stuck with you for years? Maybe an unusual encounter, a strange sight, or a “what if” question that wouldn’t leave your mind? Share your story in the comments. I read every single one, and who knows, your experience might just inspire my next novel! I’d also love to hear your thoughts on this piece. Did the mystery of that leaky chemical truck grab your attention? What do you think was really going on?

📖 Grab Your Free Copy of Gods and Insects

Ready to see where that rainy day in Houston led? For the next 90 days, Gods and Insects is completely FREE on Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). That’s right: zero cost, all suspense. Whether you’re a longtime sci-fi fan, a lover of mystery and intrigue, or someone who enjoys a story with real-world roots, this novel has something for you.👉 [Click here to download your free copy today!] (Insert your KDP link)Don’t wait. This free offer won’t last forever. Once the 90 days are up, the opportunity is gone.

⭐ Loved It? Leave a Review!

Here’s the thing about being an indie author: reviews are our lifeblood. They help other readers discover the book, they boost visibility on Amazon, and honestly? They mean the world to writers like me who’ve poured decades into their craft.So if you read Gods and Insects and enjoy it (or even if you have constructive thoughts to share), please take just two minutes to leave an honest review on Amazon. It doesn’t have to be long. Even a sentence or two makes a huge difference. Your words could be the reason another reader picks up this book and gets pulled into the mystery.

To recap:

💬 Comment below with your thoughts or your own “curious moment” story.
📖 Download Gods and Insects for FREE on KDP (limited time!).
⭐ Leave an honest review after you read it.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Every reader, every comment, and every review helps keep the stories coming. Now go grab that book, and happy reading! 🚚💧📚

“From 9/11 to Flock Cameras: The Dystopian Novel I Started 15 Years Ago”

September 9, 2011, started like any other day. While stuck at a traffic light, I was on the phone with our New York office. Something happened; they put me on hold, and as I drove to the Dallas office, I listened to the world change. We can argue about the rumors that still surround Building 7, but suffice it to say, the world changed.

My normal way of dealing with grief is not to drone on about it with friends or family. My way is to write about it. If you follow me at all, you have no doubt read my blog post about writing letters or emails to people who are, let’s say, less than congenial. I use expletives and what have you to get the anger out of me and into the digital ethos, and of course, as much as I want to, I never send it. Burning bridges and being known as a hothead will get you nowhere.

Fast-forward six weeks after 9/11 and at least 3,000 deaths by “some people who did some things.” Bush and his administration enacted the Patriot Act, which is still alive and well today. The things those people did allowed our government to strip away some of our rights, trading them for safety. “Do you feel safe?”

Fast-forward to the Flock cameras, data centers, Alexa devices, smartphones, and, of course, drones. Do you feel safe?

Those Flock cameras, I learned, have microphones.

So, while spending these summer months of 100-plus-degree days clearing out old computer hardware, I found that file from 2011. I had started a book about a fictional city where a horrible event occurred, and much like the Patriot Act, what we see today closely resembles what I put into my book. Being a fan of Orwell, I wrote a dystopian near-future novel that is all but ready for one last edit.

Stay tuned for more updates and for when the book drops.

I am thinking about putting it on KDP Unlimited for those of you who can read it for free. Follow, hit that like button, and comment below if you have ideas you would like to share.Best,

Here is a link to my current books on Amazon.

What Are the Odds?

A Writer’s Honest Take on Contests, Scams, and Chasing the Dream

What are the odds?As a writer and author, I occasionally post a story from a prompt and feed the machine $5 for a “chance” to win a contest. I also play the lottery from time to time. Not that I have an ice cube’s chance in hell of winning, but I do it when I travel. Long car trips on flat, nothing roads are a great way to ask the proverbial “what if?”

What would I do with X millions if I won? It could happen, right? Fortunately, I know what statistics are, so I don’t get too carried away with the fantasy. The same is true for casting my story onto the Reedsy website. Often, I look at the winning story and ask, how the hell did that one win?! I think I know.

The Predators in My Inbox

Putting my own vanity aside, the same skepticism applies to the predators who comment on my books through email, asking me if I would consider allowing them to be my agent. Truthfully, I could use their pitch about my book as a cover blurb. Of course, AI wrote it, and of course, it’s a scam designed to prey on my ego.

So I ask once again: what are the odds?

I have at least five people with the first name “Lauren” as new followers on my Reedsy story site.

All of the Laurens have different last names, and each of them is tempting my ego to override my God-given good sense. They want me to hand over money so they can “take my writing to the next level.”

The Engagement Game

IMHO, if I really wanted my story to win, I’d get everyone on this blog to go over there and “like” my story. That would tweak the algorithm, and maybe then a judge might actually read it and think, “Wow, that’s pretty good.”

Again IMHO, I seriously doubt someone sits down and reads 300-plus stories, each week and carefully weigh the pros and cons of each before crowning a winner. Much like monetized social media with its clicks, likes, and comments, contest platforms probably use engagement as a tool. (If I’m wrong, feel free to comment.)

So Why Do I Keep Paying the $5?

Ever since I ran across a young woman on YouTube (I think her name was Laura) who was going through school at the time parroting what she learned in vlogs, I wanted her company to succeed. They’re a bona fide business now and offer many services. I write, and I pay the money for feedback from other writers that range from “Wow, that’s a great story!” to “You need to make your character feel more like a living person instead of a zombie.”

A Modest Proposal for Reedsy

I propose the following adjustments to the current contest model:

Introduce Written Feedback for All Entries Provide each contestant, regardless of outcome, with a brief written critique from a qualified reader or editor. Even two to three sentences of constructive commentary would deliver meaningful value.
Adjust the Entry Fee to $10 Increasing the fee from $5 to $10 offsets the cost of providing individualized feedback and positions the contest as a premium, value-added service rather than a low-stakes lottery.
Expand the Prize Pool A larger prize, funded in part by the adjusted fee structure, would attract a greater number of participants and elevate the prestige of the competition.

Anticipated Benefits

Increased Participant Retention: Writers will feel they are receiving tangible value for their investment, win or lose.
Enhanced Platform Credibility: Offering expert feedback reinforces the platform’s role as a professional development resource, not merely a contest host.
Higher Entry Volume: A larger prize purse combined with guaranteed feedback is likely to draw new entrants and reengage lapsed ones.
Stronger Competitive Positioning: Few writing contests currently offer feedback as part of the standard entry package. Adopting this model would differentiate the platform in a crowded market.

Feasibility Considerations

Assuming contest judging is conducted by human evaluators rather than automated tools, the additional effort required to generate short-form feedback should be minimal relative to the review process already underway. In practical terms, if judges are already reading entries to determine winners, capturing a few lines of impressions per submission is a modest incremental task with significant participant-facing value.

The proposed changes represent a low-risk, high-reward adjustment to the existing contest structure. By transforming the entry fee into an investment in personal development rather than a speculative gamble, the platform can strengthen participant loyalty, grow contest participation, and reinforce its standing as a trusted partner to the writing community.

A Note to My Fellow Writers

To every writer out there navigating this strange landscape with me, this one’s for you.

If you’re like me, your inbox is probably overflowing with “We love your book!” messages from “xyz Publishers” @gmail.com.

Go ahead, borrow that AI-generated blurb if it flatters you, have a laugh, and move on.

We’ve all seen them. We all know the game.

And if you, like me, still enter contests with your eyes wide open, take heart. The genuine followers you gain along the way, the ones who take the time to read your story and leave a thoughtful comment, are the real prize.

They aren’t trying to scam you. They’re walking the same road you are.There are too many of us to name, but we share something powerful in common: the desire to be the best writers we can be.

We keep showing up. We keep submitting. We keep writing, even when the odds feel long and the noise feels loud.

That shared drive is what makes this community worth being part of.

I’ve shared several tips on this blog to help fellow writers sharpen their craft, and I’ll keep adding more.

If any of this resonates with you, follow along for future posts, drop a comment below and tell me about your own experiences, and let’s keep lifting each other up.We’re in this together.

Have a blessed day!

MY Current Books

Many of you are asking how do I get people to find my book?

How Authors Can Thrive in the Digital Age

That Flattering Email in Your Inbox? It’s Probably a Scam.

Let’s be honest: authors have egos. I’m no exception. We pour our souls into our work, and when someone notices—really notices, it feels like validation wrapped in a warm hug. Scammers know this. They count on it. And they’re getting disturbingly good at exploiting it.I’ve seen my fair share of suspicious emails over the years, but I have to admit—this one nearly got me.

The Email That Almost Fooled Me

Picture this: a polished, professional message lands in your inbox from someone claiming to be a “Consulting Publisher at Bloomsbury Publishing (UK).” The tone is warm. The praise is specific. They mention your book by name and describe it with the kind of glowing language that makes your heart skip a beat.Here’s what “Faiza S. Khan” had to say about my novel, The Ocean Within:

“I was genuinely impressed by its compelling blend of scientific speculation, environmental intrigue, and high-stakes suspense… The novel’s focus on the fragile balance between human progress and the immense, often unpredictable forces beneath the Earth’s surface creates a story that is both intellectually engaging and emotionally compelling.”

Flattering, right? They even praised its “strong commercial appeal” and suggested it “extends beyond genre conventions.” This email knew exactly which buttons to push.

The Red Flags Hiding in Plain Sight

Here’s the thing about well-crafted scams: they sound almost legitimate. But when you slow down and look closer, the warning signs emerge:

Unsolicited contact from a major publisher. Traditional publishers like Bloomsbury don’t typically cold-email unknown authors gushing about their self-published or small-press work.
Vague next steps. The email asks about your “current publishing arrangements” and whether you have an agent—information that helps scammers tailor their pitch (or their ask for money).
Too much flattery, too little substance. The praise is elaborate but generic enough to apply to almost any thriller with environmental themes.
No verifiable contact details. A quick search often reveals these “consulting publishers” don’t exist on the company’s official website.

Why This Matters

Scams like this prey on our deepest hopes as writers. They exploit the dream of being “discovered” by a prestigious publisher. And once they have your attention? The requests begin…fees for “editorial reviews,” payments for “international distribution,” or contracts that sign away your rights.So what should you do if an email like this lands in your inbox?

Pause before you respond. Excitement clouds judgment.
Verify the sender. Search the person’s name on the publisher’s official website or LinkedIn.
Contact the publisher directly. Use contact information from their official site—not the email.
Trust your gut. If it feels too good to be true, it probably is.

The Bottom Line

I won’t pretend I wasn’t tempted, even for a moment to believe that Bloomsbury had stumbled upon my work and fallen in love with it. That’s the power of a well-crafted scam. But the best defense we have as authors is awareness, skepticism, and community.If you’ve received something similar, you’re not alone. Share your experience, warn your fellow writers, and remember: your talent is real, even when the emails praising it aren’t.

Have you encountered a publishing scam? Drop your story in the comments—let’s help each other stay vigilant.

About the cover:

The Ocean Within is a gripping, science-driven thriller that explores the fragile balance between humanity and the forces of nature. Perfect for fans of Michael Crichton, Andy Weir, and Kim Stanley Robinson, this novel will leave you breathless—and questioning how much we really understand about the world beneath our feet.

Get your copy here.

250,000 Girls…You’ve got to be joking?!

I am not going to lie, these reports from the UK disturbed me to my core. How did this happen? What are we going to do about it now? Yes, I have given it some thought instead of sleeping. You might wish to share this…Our officials in this country need to respond.

Protecting Young Minds: Screen Time, Mental Health, and the Case for Comprehensive Education

Introduction

The digital age has brought unprecedented access to information, connection, and, unfortunately, content that poses serious risks to developing minds. From violent pornography to influencer misinformation, children today face threats that previous generations never encountered at such scale. These are not abstract concerns. They are urgent public health issues demanding thoughtful, evidence-based responses.This post examines the interconnected problems of harmful screen time, online exploitation, and mental health deterioration among young people, while proposing education-centered solutions that respect constitutional freedoms and empower the next generation.

The Scope of the Problem: Sexual Violence and Online Exploitation

Recent revelations from the United Kingdom have exposed a horrific reality: more than 250,000 vulnerable girls were groomed and gang-raped over the course of a decade or longer, while authorities, including police and social workers, failed to intervene despite having knowledge of the abuse . A whistleblower finally brought these atrocities to light, and the accounts are deeply disturbing.The United States is not immune to sexual violence. According to recent statistics, 127,527 rape cases were reported in 2024, at a rate of 37.5 per 100,000 inhabitants . The FBI reported an estimated 139,815 rapes in 2019, a figure 2.7 percent lower than 2018 but 10.8 percent higher than the 2015 estimate . One analysis indicates that reported rape cases have risen over the last decade at an annual rate of approximately 2.9 percent .Research suggests that pornography, especially violent content, plays a role in shaping attitudes and behaviors that contribute to sexual violence. However, it is likely one factor among many, including childhood experiences, peer influences, mental health, and substance use .

Why Age Matters: The Developing Brain

The prefrontal cortex, responsible for judgment, impulse control, and understanding consequences, is the last brain region to fully develop . This biological reality carries significant implications:

Children and teens are more susceptible to normalizing what they see.
They lack the cognitive tools to contextualize violent or degrading sexual acts.
Neural pathways formed during exposure can have lasting effects on attitudes and behaviors.

Effects on Children Ages Five and Up

The research on early childhood exposure to pornography is particularly alarming .

Immediate Emotional Responses: Children report feelings of disgust, shock, embarrassment, anger, fear, and sadness after viewing pornography. Exposure at young ages often results in anxiety, and these children can suffer all the symptoms of anxiety and depression .

Behavioral Consequences: Children may become obsessed with acting out adult sexual acts they have witnessed, which can be highly disruptive . One comparative analysis found that youth who committed sexual offenses had earlier exposure (between ages five and eight) to pornographic material compared to other delinquent youth. Notably, youth who offended against other children were exposed to this material most frequently .

Long-Term Developmental Harm: Exposure to pornography at a young age may lead to poor mental health, sexism, objectification, sexual violence, and other negative outcomes. When children view pornography portraying abusive and misogynistic acts, they may come to view such behavior as normal and acceptable .

General Mental Health Effects of Screen Time

Research demonstrates that excessive screen time carries significant mental health implications. A U.S. study found that teens who spent more than three hours per day on social media faced almost double the risk for mental health challenges, particularly symptoms of depression and anxiety . Regular social media use has been linked to feelings of anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem in vulnerable youth .For children and adolescents specifically, over-digitalization can trigger a chain of negative physiological effects, including dysregulation of neural circuitry related to serotonin and dopamine, key neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation .

The Influencer Effect and Misinformation

Constant exposure to idealized versions of influencers can take a powerful toll on self-esteem and create unrealistic expectations that no one can achieve . What proves particularly troubling is how we process influencer content: even highly informed, alert individuals who know factually that they are not seeing every aspect of an influencer’s life do not process that information emotionally in the same way . When influencers present opinions as facts, especially incorrect ones, this creates a compounded problem :

Emotional processing overrides critical thinking: Viewers tend to absorb information emotionally rather than analytically.
Trust dynamics: Followers often develop parasocial relationships with influencers, making them more susceptible to accepting claims without verification.
Self-esteem damage: When incorrect advice about health, success, or relationships does not work, individuals may blame themselves rather than questioning the source.

Congressional Approaches That Respect Rights

Congress faces the challenge of balancing efforts to combat harmful misinformation while respecting First Amendment protections . Several constitutionally sound approaches have been proposed or could be expanded.

Promoting Media Literacy Education: The Educating Against Misinformation and Disinformation Act (H.R. 6971) provides a strong model. This legislation directs the Department of Education to study and promote media literacy, including methods to identify misinformation, evaluate context for information from different sources, detect manipulation of images or information on digital platforms, and understand how influencers target and manipulate audiences . The bill also authorizes competitive grants to nonprofits and institutions of higher education to develop educational materials and public awareness campaigns .

Funding Research and Developing National Strategy: Congress could mandate a national strategy for information and media literacy along with required reports containing recommendations for legislative or administrative action . This approach keeps the focus on empowering citizens rather than restricting speech.

Transparency Requirements: Legislation like the Honest Ads Act focuses on transparency in political advertising online, a model that could extend to requiring clearer disclosure when influencers are paid or incentivized .The education-first approach appears to be the most rights-respecting path forward, empowering people to think critically rather than deciding what they can or cannot see .

The Case for Tailored Mental Health Education in Schools

The evidence is clear: schools are uniquely positioned to serve as primary settings for mental health promotion for students in grades K through 12 . With the near-universal exposure of young people to harmful online content, social media pressures, and real-world threats, a comprehensive and tailored approach to mental health education is no longer optional; it is a public health imperative .

Why Tailored Education Matters

A one-size-fits-all approach fails children. Schools in different environments face distinct challenges: urban schools may need to address gang violence or drug abuse, while rural schools might focus on social isolation or limited access to mental health services . Similarly, age and developmental stage must determine what content is appropriate and how it is delivered.Young people themselves have indicated they believe educational institutions should provide information and raise awareness of mental health issues . This is their expressed need, and we should listen.Curricula must include medically accurate and developmentally appropriate information that addresses different health experiences and behaviors for youth of all ages and abilities . A tiered approach might include:

Ages 5 to 10: Foundational concepts about emotions, personal boundaries, trusted adults, and recognizing uncomfortable situations
Ages 11 to 14: Expanded education on online safety, manipulation tactics, healthy versus unhealthy relationships, and early warning signs of exploitation
Ages 15 to 18 and beyond: Comprehensive discussions including real-world case studies, digital literacy, consent, and understanding how predators operate

Should Education Include Difficult Real-World Examples?

The question of whether to include difficult real-world examples, such as the organized grooming gangs documented in the United Kingdom, deserves careful consideration.

The argument for inclusion (delivered in age-appropriate ways): These are not abstract threats. The UK grooming gang scandals, spanning cities like Rotherham, Rochdale, Telford, and others, involved the systematic exploitation of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children over decades . Similar patterns exist globally. Children deserve to understand that such threats are real, not hypothetical.

Knowledge is protection. Many victims of grooming gangs have described not recognizing the signs of manipulation because no one had taught them what exploitation looks like . Education that includes real patterns of predatory behavior, such as being “befriended,” given gifts, isolated from family, or introduced to substances, can help children identify danger before it escalates.Such education also combats normalization. As discussed, exposure to violent pornography leads some children to view abusive behavior as normal . Counter-education using real cases demonstrates that such behavior is criminal, harmful, and absolutely unacceptable, regardless of how it may be portrayed online.

Responsible implementation requires:

Age-appropriate framing: Younger children do not need graphic details; they need to understand boundaries, trusted adults, and that some people try to trick children. Older students can handle more specific case studies.
Trained educators: Teachers should receive professional development workshops led by mental health professionals to recognize early signs of issues and deliver sensitive content appropriately .
Support systems in place: Any education on difficult topics must be paired with access to counseling and reporting mechanisms. School-based mental health support needs to be fully funded .
Empowerment, not fear: The goal is to build resilience and recognition skills, not to traumatize. Framing should emphasize that adults failed to protect these children and that systems are being improved to prevent future harm .

Integrating Mental Health with Safety Education

Effective programs combine classroom-level and student-level interventions to sustain educational, health, and mental health improvements . This means incorporating anti-bullying programs and socioemotional learning as core components, teaching children to communicate about mental health with trusted adults, addressing the impact of social media and digital platforms on mental health, and creating mental health champions within schools.The connection between online exploitation, pornography exposure, mental health deterioration, and real-world sexual violence must be taught as an interconnected reality, not as isolated topics .

Conclusion

Protecting children in the digital age requires acknowledging uncomfortable truths about the threats they face and responding with comprehensive, evidence-based education. By investing in media literacy, tailored mental health curricula, and trauma-informed teaching practices, we can empower young people to recognize danger, build resilience, and develop the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate an increasingly complex world.Our children are our greatest treasure. It is time our policies and educational systems reflected that truth.

I realize that this is not my normal material on this site. I usually showcase my writing via some short story or perhaps offer writing or publishing advice. This news brought tears, anger, and disgust. The prime minister resigned, and so should that worthless mayor, he knew. Anyone that looked the other way should face consequences. Comment below if you care to discuss this.-Best

Plotter + Pantser = Planster: The Best of Both Worlds

What happens when you stop choosing sides in the great writing debate and embrace the chaos and the structure? You get what I like to call a Planster — and it just might be the most productive approach to writing you’ve never tried.

The Pantser Days

When I first started writing, I was a pure stream-of-consciousness writer — much like Stephen King, who famously describes his process as uncovering a fossil, brushing away the dirt one sentence at a time. I’d sit down, let the words pour out, and trust the story to find its own shape. There was a raw, electric energy to writing that way. The surprises my characters threw at me were my surprises too.But here’s the thing about pantsing: for every story that found its way to a satisfying ending, there were others that wandered into dead ends, spiraled into subplots that led nowhere, or simply ran out of steam halfway through. I had hard drives full of half-finished manuscripts collecting digital dust — stories with heart but no spine.

The Shift to Plotting

Eventually, I began studying story structure — the beats, the arcs, the underlying architecture that makes a narrative work. I dove into frameworks like the three-act structure, Save the Cat, and the Hero’s Journey. I learned about inciting incidents, midpoint reversals, dark nights of the soul, and satisfying climaxes.And suddenly, I understood why some of my old stories had stalled. They had voice. They had characters I loved. But they were missing the bones that hold a story upright.So I became a plotter. I outlined. I structured. I mapped every scene before writing it.And something was lost.The outlines were solid, sure — but sitting down to write a scene I’d already planned in detail felt like retracing someone else’s steps. The spontaneity, the discovery, the magic of pantsing had dried up.

The Planster Revelation

Then a thought hit me: What if you plot the structure but pants the beats?What if, instead of choosing one camp or the other, you used story structure as a roadmap — just the major landmarks, the critical turns — and then let your pantser brain run wild between them?That’s the Planster method in a nutshell:

Create a beat sheet. Identify the key structural moments your story needs — the hook, the inciting incident, the first plot point, the midpoint, the crisis, the climax, the resolution.
Know your destination for each beat. Understand what needs to happen at each structural turn and why it matters.
Pants everything in between. Let the characters breathe. Let the scenes surprise you. Let the dialogue flow the way it wants to. Trust your creative instincts to fill the space between the signposts.

You get the reliability of structure with the energy of discovery. The bones are there, but the flesh is alive.

The Proof Is in the Publishing

I decided to put this method to the test — not with a brand-new idea, but with those old stories buried on dusty hard drives from my pantsing days. Stories that had voice, had spark, but had never found their shape.I pulled three of them out, built beat sheets around their cores, and then pantsed my way through the beats.The results? Three completed novels in a fraction of the time it would have taken me using either method alone:

📖 Written in Skin — published on Amazon
📖 Nothing But Time — published on Amazon
📖 The Girl Who Broke Everything — coming soon

Three abandoned stories. Three finished books. That’s not a fluke — that’s a process that works.

Why the Planster Method Works

Structure prevents you from getting lost. You always know where you’re headed next.
Pantsing keeps the writing alive. You’re still discovering the story as you write it — just within guardrails.
It’s faster. You spend less time staring at a blank page and less time rewriting entire drafts that went off the rails.
It resurrects old work. Got abandoned manuscripts? They might just need a skeleton to stand on.

Are You a Planster?

If you’ve ever felt torn between the freedom of pantsing and the security of plotting, give yourself permission to be both. Grab a beat sheet template, sketch out your structural landmarks, and then let yourself fly between them.You might be surprised how many stories you’ve already started that are just waiting for the right structure to finally be told.

Have you tried the Planster method? Got old manuscripts collecting dust? I’d love to hear about your experience — drop a comment below or find my published works, Written in Skin and Nothing But Time, on Amazon. And keep an eye out for The Girl Who Broke Everything, coming soon.

A Tiny, Totally Non-Desperate Plea From Your Friendly Neighborhood Author

If you enjoyed this post — or even if you just tolerated it with mild amusement — I have a few small, completely reasonable requests:1. Share this post. Hit that share button like it owes you money. Text it to a friend. Email it to your mom. Print it out and leave it on a stranger’s windshield. I don’t judge distribution methods.2. Spread the word. Tell people about this blog. Whisper it in crowded elevators. Mention it casually at dinner parties. Skywriting is also acceptable.3. Buy a book. Look, I’m not starving. Let’s not be dramatic. But I am a coffee-dependent creature with a very real and very expensive caffeine habit, and those lattes aren’t going to fund themselves. Every book purchase keeps a moderately-fed author adequately caffeinated and typing away at the next thing you’ll (hopefully) enjoy.So if you’re feeling generous, kind, or just impulsive enough to click “Add to Cart” — I salute you, you beautiful human.☕ Keep the coffee flowing. Keep the words coming.

Accountability in Crisis: When the System Fails, Who Answers?

Are we safe?

In nearly every profession, accountability is non-negotiable. Engineers who design faulty equipment face consequences. Pharmaceutical companies that release harmful drugs are held liable. Employees who perform negligently lose their jobs.Yet when decisions within our criminal justice system lead directly to preventable deaths, accountability remains elusive. The question we must ask: When dangerous individuals are released and kill again, who is responsible?

A Pattern of Preventable Tragedy

The year 2025 alone produced numerous cases that expose systemic failures:

Case	Background	Release Mechanism	Outcome
Eddie Duncan (Minneapolis, MN)	Arrested for police pursuit, illegal firearm possession	Posted $35,000 bail	Killed two cousins (ages 14 and 23) within three hours of release
Colorado Parolee	Prior violent convictions; assessed as “very high” risk	Released on parole	Accused of four murders across three counties
Roybal-Smith (Colorado)	On parole for violent offenses including murder; risk level downgraded from “very high” to “moderate”	Parole	Murdered three people
Virginia Case	30+ prior arrests; known violent offender	Prosecutor repeatedly declined or reduced charges	Killed a mother in violent attack

These are not isolated incidents. They represent a systemic pattern.

Case Study: Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr.

Perhaps no case illustrates institutional failure more starkly than that of Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., who murdered Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail in August 2025.Brown’s criminal history spans nearly two decades:

2007–2009: Multiple charges (assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest)—all dismissed
2011–2014: Convicted of felony breaking and entering; received 30 days jail and probation
2013–2014: Convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon and felon in possession of a firearm; sentenced to six years
2020: Released on parole after just over five years; subsequently arrested for assaulting his sister
2022–2024: Three additional arrests for assault and property crimes—no corresponding court records
January 2025: Arrested for repeated misuse of 911; released without bond on written promise to appear
July 2025: Court-ordered forensic evaluation never completed; remained free
August 2025: Murdered Iryna Zarutska

Critical questions remain unanswered:

Why were early charges repeatedly dismissed?
Who supervised his probation, and how was his progress evaluated?
Why did three arrests between 2022–2024 produce no court records?
Who was responsible for ensuring completion of his court-ordered mental health evaluation?

Brown had a documented schizophrenia diagnosis. His record shows clear escalation from misdemeanors to violent felonies. Yet at every juncture, the system failed to intervene meaningfully.

The Deeper Failure

Beyond the institutional breakdowns, the circumstances of Iryna Zarutska’s death reveal something equally troubling: bystanders on the train reportedly walked past her as she bled out. Audio captured Brown’s words as he exited: “I killed the white bitch.”This indifference compounds the tragedy.

A Call for Systemic Accountability

The path forward requires honest examination:

Mental health intervention must be prioritized and actually enforced—court-ordered evaluations cannot remain incomplete without consequence
Risk assessments must carry weight; downgrading a “very high” risk offender to “moderate” demands rigorous justification
Decision-makers must answer when their choices directly enable preventable violence
Transparency is essential—dismissed charges, incomplete evaluations, and missing court records must be explained

What You Can Do

Don’t let these stories disappear. Systemic change begins with sustained attention. These cases deserve public debate focused on identifying root causes—not political posturing, but genuine analysis of where and why interventions failed.The current status quo protects no one.

What are your thoughts? How should we balance rehabilitation with public safety? Who should be accountable when the system fails?

Why Health Insurance Calls Are So Frustrating: A Personal Account

Have you noticed that when you call for help with a claim, you’re told that “call volumes are heavier than normal and wait times are longer at this time”?

Last week, I received a bill for a procedure that should have been fully covered. The bill was for $517.15.

I called the doctor’s office and was transferred to billing, where I was told, “You need to call the carrier and dispute it.”The old joke about needing patience to call HP for support pales in comparison to dealing with people working from home.The problem started at the doctor’s office. They need more training—or they need to care about their work.However, I didn’t know that at the time, so I called the insurance carrier. Even Job would have lost patience with these people. After hours on hold, multiple transfers, and being ignored by one agent (whose child screamed in the background), my call was left on hold and never resumed.Automated claim systems don’t think; they check boxes. A person could have reviewed the issue and prompted the doctor to submit the EOB to the correct group from the start.After hours of listening to terrible hold music, someone finally answered the phone. I could barely hear him, but the bottom line was that I needed to call another party.

After more time on hold, I reached the next party, who told me the doctor’s office needed to fix their billing system and resubmit the claim properly.Back to the doctor’s office—press 1 for this, 2 for that, 3 for something else, but no option for billing. I was told to leave a message and “have a blessed day.”

To their credit, they called back before closing and told me to call the carrier again.We were stuck in a loop, and I spent most of the day listening to commercials and tinny music.I insisted on speaking to the office manager, who took my information and commented, “People—they’re stupid.”I replied, “No argument from me.”This billing error from the doctor’s office took hours of my time to address, and I’m still not sure it will be resolved correctly.Working from home is not working—these people are clearly not working.The representative at the carrier was belligerent and curt. I’m sure she just hung up when her child screamed, “Mom!”

When you finally reach a person, they look for any excuse to transfer you.After hours of commercials and hold music, I wondered why I would ever do business with this group again.AI does not possess critical thinking skills.In my experience, people working from home lack the work ethic of those in an office, especially when a supervisor is nearby.Corrective action is needed:

A: Every denied claim should be investigated by a person. As a health insurance company, is it wise to make people in need of medical care navigate a maze of IVR and AI systems that don’t understand them?

B: Calls that are recorded, as announced, should be reviewed. You can clearly hear kids screaming, dogs barking, and TVs in the background. Let’s return to hiring people who want to work and cut the dead weight.

C: Wait times should never exceed a few minutes. Waiting for over two hours is unacceptable.Thank you for your attention to this matter.

The Decline of Personal Service: From Gas Stations to Grocery Stores

Considering that roughly 216 million people shop at Walmart, one might ponder the sheer number of stores. The number hovers near 4,500.I don’t need to tell you that Walmart is responsible for the death of many mom-and-pop shops in small-town America. Now Amazon is killing what is left.

Do you remember the friendly face behind the counter, the one that might ask you about your family or even know your name?

Not that long ago, I’d pull up to the filling station and, before I could even step out of my car, an attendant would be at my window with a friendly smile. They’d fill my tank for me, and if I asked, they’d wash my windows until they sparkled, check the air in my tires, and even pop the hood to make sure my oil was topped off. It felt like a small ritual of care, a moment when someone else looked after both me and my car.

These days, I do it all at the gas station. I’m pumping my own gas, washing my own windows, and if I decide to step into the store, there’s a good chance I might not even understand the person behind the counter.

After finishing my transaction, I think what irritates me the most is that cold, robotic “THANK YOU” that comes from some computer chip with absolutely zero agency.

It’s not a person expressing gratitude; it’s just a programmed response, a hollow echo of politeness designed to mimic human interaction. I know it’s just a chip running instructions, processing inputs, and spitting out outputs, but it feels so empty.

It’s as though the machine is trying to replace the human touch, and instead it just reminds me how far we’ve drifted from real, meaningful interactions.

I can still remember a time when going to the grocery store felt like a completely unique experience.

Back then, I’d push my cart through the aisles, and when I was done, someone would take it from me and handle everything.

They’d ring up my order, carefully bag or sack the groceries, and then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, someone would carry them out to my car. They’d even ask where I wanted them placed (trunk, backseat, wherever) and do it with a smile.

It wasn’t just about the service; it was the warmth of the interactions.

There were genuine pleases and thank-yous, and as I drove away, I felt appreciated, as though my business actually mattered.

It wasn’t just a transaction; it was a moment of connection, a small but meaningful exchange that made the whole experience feel human.

Now I can’t help but miss those days, when customer service wasn’t just a buzzword but something you could feel in every interaction.

Now they want $25 an hour to let you take your groceries and put them in the cart, or, like at Aldi, you get to box them or bag them after the sale.

Sorry, but where is the service in that?

Today, things couldn’t be more different. Now there’s an app for everything, even grocery shopping.

I’m expected to pull out my phone, open the app, and start scanning my groceries as I pick them out. I place them in my cart myself, and when I’m ready to leave, I just show the machine a barcode on my phone. And voilà, transaction complete.

It feels a lot like shopping at Aldi or one of those other stores where you’re left to bag, box, or otherwise pack your own groceries for the ride home.

As I glance around, I see several employees standing, not ringing people up or bagging groceries but instead directing traffic or helping someone with an item that refuses to scan properly.

Is it quicker? Sure, sometimes it is. But can it be slower? Oh, absolutely.

The entire process feels so detached. What used to be a personal, interactive experience now feels as though I’m just another cog in a self-service system, one in which the human touch has been replaced by machines and apps.

IKEA and many other stores are doing away with people to check you out altogether.

They just stand there chatting with one another, waiting for some beep from a machine so they can swoop in and push the correct button.

Are prices lower now that you are working for them?

Can we get on their company benefit plan, since we are essentially performing job functions that their employees should be doing?

Here’s the bottom line: H-E-B and Tom Thumb are the only places around here that still have full-service stores. So I’ve decided to run a brief experiment. I’m going to visit each one and rate them on three things: price, availability of products, and the overall customer experience. Because let’s face it, prices are already way too high, and shrinkflation is everywhere.

If I’m going to get screwed over, I’d at least like a little courtesy to go along with it.

Give me a kiss afterward, you know?

IKEA was the first one I checked on after this post, hence the rewrite.

Here’s the truth of it: I’m tired.

Tired of walking out of stores feeling frazzled, angry, and worn down by machines that don’t care and workers who were never given the chance to.

I don’t want a barcode.

I don’t want a beep.

I don’t want a chip chirping “THANK YOU” at me like I’m a vending machine that just dispensed a candy bar.

I want a person. A real, breathing human being who looks me in the eye, cracks a small smile, and says,

“Thank you, have a great day,” and actually means it.

Is that too much to ask?

Somewhere along the way, we traded connection for convenience, and I’m not convinced we got the better end of the deal.

So here’s my challenge to you.

The next time you shop, pay attention. Notice who greets you, who thanks you, who treats you like a customer instead of a task to be processed. Then vote with your wallet, because that’s the only language these companies still understand.

Take your business to the places that still remember your name, still bag your groceries, still bother to care.

And do me one favor: drop a comment below and tell me where the good ones are, the last full-service stores in your town that haven’t forgotten what service actually means. Let’s find them together, before they disappear for good.