Category: writing

Main Street Didn’t Die of Natural Causes

When I wanted to use a mom-and-pop shop, I was chastised because they were more expensive than a big box store. The truth is that big box stores, and now companies like Amazon, are putting these folks out of business. When small towns turn into empty buildings and “antique shops,” you have yourself to blame.

The Real Cost of “Saving” Money at Big Box Stores

We’ve all been tempted by the lower price tags at big box retailers. But here’s something worth considering: what are you actually getting for your money?When you walk into a locally owned hardware store, nursery, bike shop, or specialty retailer, you’re not just buying a product. You’re buying decades of accumulated knowledge. That owner has likely used, tested, repaired, and lived with the products on their shelves. They chose each item deliberately because they believe in it.

Expertise You Can’t Put a Price Tag On

Local merchants stake their reputation on every recommendation. They live in your community. They’ll see you at the grocery store. They have every incentive to steer you right.They can troubleshoot problems because they understand how their products actually work in real-world conditions.They’ll talk you out of buying something if it’s not the right fit, something a commission-driven or undertrained big box employee will never do.

The Big Box Reality

Large retailers cycle through employees at staggering turnover rates. Many staff members received a few hours of computer-based training before being placed in departments they know nothing about. They’re reading the same box you’re reading. You’re essentially paying less to help yourself.

The Hidden Costs of Going Cheap

That “savings” evaporates quickly when you

buy the wrong product because no one guided you properly,
have to make return trips because of bad advice,
purchase unnecessary extras you didn’t actually need, or
end up replacing a cheap item sooner than expected.

It’s an Investment in Your Community

Every dollar spent locally circulates back through your neighborhood, funding schools, roads, and local services. When a mom-and-pop shop closes, that expertise leaves with it and doesn’t come back.

The few extra dollars you spend at a local shop aren’t a markup. They’re tuition. You’re paying for someone’s lifetime of knowledge, honest guidance, and genuine accountability. That’s a bargain at any price.

put your thoughts and comments below. “Am I right?”

If you could go back in time and leave yourself a message, what would it be?

We have all had that dream or thought, especially when we think of all the stupid things we did as kids. Some of us wonder how we survived it.

While my book Echoes of Tomorrow deals with this prospect in a science-fictional way, we all know that time, at least at present, does not allow do-overs.

The difference between knowledge and wisdom boils down to one question:

Just because we can, should we?

We just lived through a pandemic that still has lasting effects on many. COVID was most probably an early attempt at biological warfare situated in China (and other countries) to give the United States plausible deniability.

That is most probably why there were so many Biden-era Democratic pardons, including Anthony Fauci’s. To make a virus even more dangerous through gain-of-function research is about as irresponsible as creating other weapons of mass destruction, i.e., nuclear weapons.

We will never know if the dropping of the first atomic bombs was the only way to put an end to World War II.

Through treasonous acts, several spies shared (or sold) nuclear information to the Russians, making technological adolescence a real and immediate thing.

Today we are creating AI and robots that if given weapons would make The Terminator look like Winnie the Effing Pooo!

While Echoes of Tomorrow addresses this as a theme, there is another novel I am currently editing in which mankind goes to Mars after making Earth uninhabitable. Unlike Echoes in Time, where aliens facilitate time travel, Quiet Dust is set in a future where humans have already been on Mars for over forty years. Subscribe to this blog for more info on when it drops.

There are theories suggesting that evidence of humanity will be erased over time. The reasons humanity may never make it off the planet in any meaningful way are as follows.

The Great Filter from the Fermi Paradox is the correct framing of the problem. Sagan’s technological adolescence is likely a real and significant component of that filter, perhaps the dominant one for civilizations that reach our stage. But it probably is not the only filter. The total improbability of a civilization reaching interstellar maturity is likely the product of multiple bottlenecks, with self-destruction during technological adolescence being the final and perhaps most severe.

The darkest implication is this: even if a civilization survives its adolescence, it may face recurring filters. Each new transformative technology (nuclear, AI, nanotech, or whatever comes next) reopens the vulnerability window. Adolescence may not be a single phase but a repeating pattern, each iteration more dangerous than the last. If that is true, then the two frameworks converge completely. The Great Filter is technological adolescence, experienced not once but perpetually, with the cumulative probability of survival approaching zero over sufficient time.

So, before I leave you for today, I have an idea that needs wings. It needs to get to Elon Musk, who has the means to make it happen.

This device would visit the earth once in a lifetime to remind those here not to be an idiot!

We sent two satellites, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, off into interstellar space on one-way trips to nowhere. What if, like Halley’s Comet, we created a device with a similar elongated orbit that passes by Earth every hundred years, making itself known? In that way, after we either blow the planet to bits through our hubris or our flat-out stupidity, we could send future inhabitants a message, much like we might send to our younger selves:

“Don’t do this, idiot!”

Why the future? Have you watched the news? Do you see how irresponsible the media has become and how violence seems to perpetuate into more violence?

Money for clicks and viewership for advertisements are more important than the boring truth.

Dehumanizing your political opponent will trigger the emotionally unbalanced to act, and politicians know this. Politicians are desperate and will do anything to keep power, including importing twenty million new voters. Power is money and those two are addictive, much like Felony Glitter…

I hold little hope for humanity, and I have to wonder if Elon’s vision of Mars has him thinking the same thing.

Please like, comment, and follow, as well as read Echoes of Tomorrow.

Authors like me need all the assistance we can get in order to provide more thought-provoking, entertaining novels for you, when you are not watching hypnotoad programming, designed to make you disbelieve your lying eyes.

my version of hypnotoad feeding the masses lies.

When Signals Travel One Way: Exploring HF Propagation on 7.185 MHz

Last night, after three years of not using the ham radio, I was listening to a net on 7.185 MHz.

To be clear, I enjoy rag chewing. I want to get to know people, hear their stories, and just maybe include bits and pieces of them in some future book. (I am an author.)

While I was working in the shop, the net ended, and the group decided to chase DX, or distant stations typically located in a different country.

After a CQ call and things being slow, I picked up the mic and tossed my call into the ether.

KD2DMR eventually welcomed me; they were a friendly group of folks.

To my surprise, a station in South Africa responded to me.

Jeremy in Illinois heard him, but I did not.

The first point of this post is simple: if you’re a ham, you might want to listen to 7.185 at night. They are a friendly bunch.

The second part of the post, and clearly the question I was asking myself, is this: why could I not hear this fellow in Nimbini when he heard me?

Of course I knew what the answer was but…Why not share?

Think “asymmetrical propagation.”

On HF bands like 40 meters (7.185 MHz), asymmetrical propagation is actually quite common.

Here are the likely culprits:

1. Ionospheric Conditions and Skip Zones:The ionosphere’s state changes constantly. His signal may have taken a different propagation path to reach me than my signal took to reach him. At certain times, one direction might have a clear skip path while the other does not. This is especially true for long-distance contacts, where the signal bounces off the ionosphere at different angles.

2. Polarization Mismatch:My 260-foot horizontal wire antenna radiates horizontal polarization. When HF signals bounce off the ionosphere, the polarization can shift unpredictably. His receiving antenna may have been oriented to better capture the polarization of my transmitted signal, while my antenna was not optimally positioned to receive his return signal’s polarization state after it bounced back.

3. Antenna Directivity and Takeoff Angle:My long wire antenna has directional characteristics that vary with frequency and height. At 30 feet on 40 meters, my antenna likely has a relatively high takeoff angle, which is good for medium-distance skip but may not be optimal for receiving signals coming back from South Africa at a different angle than my transmission went out.

While the long wire is a perfectly fine antenna for general-purpose communication, including DX, antennas (which to me in 1973 were simply magic) are the stuff of amateur radio’s dreams and fascinations, and they are one of the simpler things to experiment with.

If I had a Vertical antenna that I was listening on, there is a high probability I would have heard him. Many DX chasers have two antennas, one for transmitting and another for receiving for this reason. Even a simple inverted V for 40 might have made the difference.

There is even something called a beverage antenna, for receive only…If you want to maximize receive capability specifically, a Beverage antenna is legendary for HF reception. It is a long, low wire (typically 1 to 4 wavelengths long, running 6 to 10 feet high) that is highly directional and excellent at rejecting noise while capturing weak signals. Many serious DXers use Beverage antennas for receiving while transmitting on a separate antenna. *

If you are interested in such things, I would encourage you to find your local ham radio group and get your feet wet. If you are a ham, I will make a point to be listening on 7.185 and chat with them more, if they ever simply rag chew.

Best, and 73 to the hams out there.

About the Cover Picture:

When the world teeters on the brink of nuclear annihilation, a retired Air Force general is given an impossible second chance: to rewrite history. Sent back in time to 1962 by mysterious alien beings, he wakes up trapped in the body of his ten-year-old self—armed with decades of knowledge, but stripped of his power and authority. With the Cuban Missile Crisis looming, global tensions rising, and secrets hidden in the shadows of the past, he must navigate a world that sees him as a child while carrying the burden of preventing humanity’s self-destruction.

As he re-encounters his family, a young JFK, and the love of his life before they’ve even met, he discovers that saving the future isn’t just about stopping a war—it’s about proving that humanity is worth saving. Along the way, secrets buried deep in Area 51, a chilling conspiracy within the U.S. government, and the cryptic motives of the alien beings reveal the stakes are higher than he could have ever imagined.

Echoes of Tomorrow is a sweeping tale of time travel, love, loss, and redemption. With the weight of the world on his young shoulders, one man must face the ultimate question: can the future truly be changed, or is humanity destined to repeat its greatest mistakes?

This gripping journey will captivate fans of thought-provoking sci-fi, historical intrigue, and heart- through time and the fragile threads of destiny.

Get Your Copy Here

*Why It Is Called a Beverage Antenna

The Beverage antenna is named after its inventor, Harold H. Beverage, an American radio engineer who developed and patented the design on June 7, 1921.

The name is entirely unrelated to drinks; it is simply an eponym honoring the man who created it.

A Bit of History: Harold Beverage (later known by his amateur radio call sign W2BML) was working at RCA when he invented the antenna as part of his efforts to improve the reception of transatlantic radio signals.

The design quickly gained popularity for its excellent performance in long-distance communication.

One of the most impressive early implementations was built by AT&T in Houlton, Maine, for the first transatlantic telephone service.

This massive array consisted of four phased Beverage antennas, stretching three miles long and two miles wide.

Why It Remains Popular

More than a century after its invention, the Beverage antenna is still widely used by amateur radio operators, shortwave listeners, and professional monitoring stations. Its ability to deliver an extremely low noise floor and a clean directional pattern makes it unmatched for receiving weak signals on the low bands, typically 160 meters through 40 meters.

The design is elegantly simple: a long wire (often several wavelengths in length) suspended low to the ground and terminated with resistors at one or both ends. This configuration allows it to function as a traveling wave antenna, capturing signals along its length while rejecting interference from unwanted directions.

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.

Exploring Digital Modes in Ham Radio

Lately, I’ve noticed an uptick in interest regarding digital modes in ham radio. Instead of receiving comments on a post, I’ve been getting emails from folks who are curious about this topic. It’s exciting to see such enthusiasm, and I wanted to share my findings so far. That said, I’d love to hear from those with experience in these modes to ensure I’m sharing accurate and helpful information.Digital modes are becoming a cornerstone of modern ham radio, thanks to advancements in computer technology. They offer efficient ways to transmit text, images, and even telemetry over radio frequencies. Below, I’ve outlined some of the most popular digital modes and what’s needed to start using them.

Popular Digital Modes

1. FT8 and FT4

Overview: FT8 and FT4 are weak-signal modes that excel in low-power operations and poor propagation conditions. FT8 is slower but more sensitive, while FT4 is faster but requires stronger signals.
Uses: These modes are part of the WSJT-X software suite and are widely used for quick contacts, DXing, and contests.

2. PSK31

Overview: PSK31 (Phase Shift Keying) is a conversational mode designed for real-time, keyboard-to-keyboard communication. It’s efficient in bandwidth and works well with low power.
Uses: Ideal for casual chats and experimenting with text-based communication.

3. RTTY (Radio Teletype)

Overview: One of the oldest digital modes, RTTY uses frequency-shift keying (FSK) to transmit text. It operates at around 60 words per minute.
Uses: Popular in contests and casual QSOs, RTTY remains a classic mode for ham radio enthusiasts.

4. JS8Call

Overview: Built on the FT8 protocol, JS8Call allows for longer, conversational-style messages. It’s especially useful for emergency communications and casual chats.
Uses: Great for ongoing conversations and low-power operations.

5. WSPR (Weak Signal Propagation Reporter)

Overview: WSPR is designed for propagation studies. It transmits low-power signals to analyze how far and where signals travel under current conditions.
Uses: Primarily used by operators studying propagation and antenna performance.

6. Packet Radio

Overview: Packet radio allows you to send data packets, such as emails or telemetry, over radio frequencies. It’s commonly used in APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) for tracking and messaging.
Uses: Perfect for location tracking and data transfers.

7. DMR, D-STAR, and Fusion

Overview: These are digital voice modes typically used on VHF and UHF bands. They require specific radios and provide crystal-clear voice communication.
Uses: Popular for local and global communication via repeaters and internet-linked systems.

What’s Needed to Access Digital Modes?

To start operating digital modes, you’ll need a few essential components:

1. Radio Transceiver

A transceiver capable of operating on the desired bands (HF, VHF, or UHF) is essential. Many modern radios come with built-in digital mode support.

2. Computer

Most digital modes require a computer to run software that encodes and decodes signals. Popular programs include:

WSJT-X (for FT8/FT4)
FLdigi (for PSK31, RTTY, and others)
JS8Call

3. Interface

You’ll need an interface to connect your radio to your computer. This could be:

A simple audio cable for basic setups.
A USB interface like the Digimode-4-USB, which manages both audio and CAT (Computer-Aided Transceiver) control.

4. Software

Specialized software is a must for operating digital modes. For example:

WSJT-X for FT8 and FT4
FLdigi for PSK31, RTTY, and other conversational modes
APRS software for packet radio operations

5. License

A valid amateur radio license is required to transmit on amateur bands. The type of license (Technician, General, or Extra) determines which bands and modes you can use.

6. Antenna

A suitable antenna for the frequency band you plan to operate on is critical for effective communication.

Conclusion

Digital modes have revolutionized ham radio, offering new ways to communicate and experiment. From weak-signal communication with FT8 to real-time chats with PSK31 or JS8Call, these modes cater to a variety of interests and operational styles.If you’re new to digital modes, all you need is a capable transceiver, a computer, an interface, some software, and your ham license to get started. I encourage anyone interested in the digital side of ham radio to dive in and explore. The versatility and global reach of these modes make them an incredible tool for amateur operators.Lastly, if you’re an experienced ham or actively using these modes, I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share your insights or correct anything I might have missed. Let’s keep the conversation going!

About the Cover, When the world teeters on the brink of nuclear annihilation, a retired Air Force general is given an impossible second chance: to rewrite history. Sent back in time to 1962 by mysterious alien beings, he wakes up trapped in the body of his ten-year-old self—armed with decades of knowledge, but stripped of his power and authority. With the Cuban Missile Crisis looming, global tensions rising, and secrets hidden in the shadows of the past, he must navigate a world that sees him as a child while carrying the burden of preventing humanity’s self-destruction.
As he re-encounters his family, a young JFK, and the love of his life before they’ve even met, he discovers that saving the future isn’t just about stopping a war—it’s about proving that humanity is worth saving. Along the way, secrets buried deep in Area 51, a chilling conspiracy within the U.S. government, and the cryptic motives of the alien beings reveal the stakes are higher than he could have ever imagined.
Echoes of Tomorrow is a sweeping tale of time travel, love, loss, and redemption. With the weight of the world on his young shoulders, one man must face the ultimate question: can the future truly be changed, or is humanity destined to repeat its greatest mistakes?
This gripping journey will captivate fans of thought-provoking sci-fi, historical intrigue, and heart- through time and the fragile threads of destiny.

When Did You Stop Chasing Fireflies?

Have you ever wondered if there’s more to life than the career you built?

After 41 years behind a desk, Jack Harper receives a gold watch, a forced retirement, and a question he can’t answer: Now what?

“Nothing But Time“ by Scott Taylor is a story for everyone who has ever felt the walls of routine closing in—and wondered if it’s too late to break free.When Jack inherits a forgotten farmhouse from a friend he’d lost touch with, he discovers something unexpected: a vintage radio that seems to tune into more than just old broadcasts. Through its amber glow, he reconnects with memories of Sunday dinners at his grandmother’s table, fireflies caught in mason jars, and the simple wisdom of people who knew that living and existing aren’t the same thing .

This book is for you if:

You remember when families gathered around the radio
You’ve ever traded “someday” for “not today”
You know the bittersweet ache of remembering simpler times
You believe second chances don’t have expiration dates

“We were never supposed to be machines. We were supposed to be men.”

This is a story that waited decades to find its readers. Perhaps it was waiting for you.

Because it’s never too late to stop and smell the roses.

Available Now | First Edition 2026

#RetirementReads #SecondChanceStory #NostalgiaFiction #SlowLiving #BookRecommendations #LiteraryFiction #LifeAfterWork #InspirationalReads #BabyBoomerBooks #MeaningfulFiction

What Happens When Your Parrot Is Smarter Than Your Smart Home?

Ever wonder what your pet really thinks about you? What if they’re not just watching you fumble with technology—what if they’re taking notes?In “Who’s a Good Bird Now?”, we meet Archimedes: an African Grey parrot with a flair for the dramatic, a vendetta against discount birdseed, and an unsettlingly sophisticated understanding of voice-activated assistants.This isn’t your typical “cute animal story.” Archimedes opens with a declaration that immediately lets you know what you’re in for:

“Let me be clear about something from the start: I am not your average parrot.”

And he means it. This is a bird who claims to have “whispered secrets into royal ears” in Byzantine courts and watched Renaissance alchemists “turn lead into nothing but debt and despair.” Now? He’s stuck in a cage, subjected to tap water he suspects “flows from the same tap they use to rinse their gym socks” and the daily indignity of being asked: “Who’s a good bird?” But when Archimedes discovers that his captor’s “smart” home responds to voice commands… well, let’s just say the Roomba enters what can only be described as “berserker mode,” and the coffee maker becomes an instrument of psychological warfare. The result? A hilarious, surprisingly philosophical tale about power, respect, and what happens when the overlooked finally decide they’ve had enough.

Want to find out if Archimedes gets his freedom—and what he’s planning next?👉 [Read the full story on Reedsy] and drop a comment letting the author know your favorite moment. (Mine involves ice cubes, a screaming human, and a thermostat reading 91 degrees.)Because sometimes the revolution starts with a single squawk.

12 Activities to Energize Your Writers’ Group and Elevate the Craft

May 28, 2026

As the director of a League of Writers, I’m constantly searching for activities that bring genuine value to our members. Over time, I’ve realized that writers’ groups exist everywhere—each one filled with passionate individuals striving to improve their craft and find community. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of activities that have worked well for us and might benefit your group too.Whether you’re leading a small local circle or a larger organization, these ideas can transform your meetings into dynamic spaces for creativity, learning, and mutual support.

1. Guest Speakers and Workshops

Inviting guest speakers breathes fresh energy into any group. Consider reaching out to published authors, editors, literary agents, or experts in fields relevant to your members’ interests.For example:

A sci-fi author could discuss world-building techniques
A psychologist could share insights into crafting realistic characters with complex psychological profiles
A comedian or humorist could explore how to weave humor into prose

These sessions expose members to new perspectives and provide invaluable insider knowledge.

2. Critique and Feedback Sessions

Constructive feedback is the lifeblood of improvement. Establish a structured critique process that feels safe and productive:

Writers read their work aloud or distribute it beforehand
Listeners provide constructive feedback while the author listens quietly—no defending or explaining during the critique
End with a Q&A where the author can ask clarifying questions

This approach helps writers truly absorb feedback rather than react defensively, allowing them to refine their craft with fresh eyes.

3. Creative Writing Prompts and Challenges

Prompts spark imagination and push writers outside their comfort zones. Try these approaches:

Write a short story based on a single evocative word or phrase
Use provocative music or artwork as inspiration for a scene
Challenge members to write in a genre they’ve never attempted—sci-fi, psychological thriller, romance, or horror

The element of surprise and constraint often produces surprisingly powerful work.

4. Themed Writing Exercises

Align exercises with your group’s collective interests:

Humor Writing: Craft a comedic piece inspired by a favorite comedian’s style
World-Building: Collaboratively create a fictional universe, with each member contributing a unique element—technology, culture, history, or geography
Character Deep Dives: Develop a character harboring a dark secret and brainstorm how it could drive an entire plot

Themed exercises create cohesion and allow members to learn from each other’s interpretations.

5. Book and Style Analysis

Studying the masters sharpens our own skills. Dedicate sessions to analyzing published work:

Compare the opening lines of two novels to discuss style, tone, and hooks
Have members share a favorite book and explain why the author’s voice resonates with them
Dissect humor writing techniques by examining essays or routines from beloved comedians

Understanding why something works teaches us how to replicate that magic.

6. Writing Retreats

There’s something transformative about stepping away from daily life to focus entirely on writing. Organize a retreat where members can immerse themselves in their projects:

A weekend getaway at a cabin, hotel, or retreat center
A virtual retreat with scheduled writing blocks and group check-ins

The camaraderie, shared goals, and uninterrupted focus can be profoundly motivating—and often produce breakthrough progress.

7. “Brags” and Celebrations

Writing can be isolating, and achievements often go unnoticed. Dedicate time at each meeting for members to share their wins:

Completing a chapter or draft
Submitting a manuscript to agents or publishers
Publishing a piece, receiving positive feedback, or hitting a word count goal

Celebrate these milestones with applause, small rewards, or simple acknowledgment. This fosters a sense of accomplishment and reminds everyone that progress—however small—matters.

8. Collaborative Projects

Working together builds community and teaches valuable lessons about the writing process:

Anthology: Each member contributes a short story around a shared theme
Collaborative Novel: Use the Snowflake Method or another plotting technique to outline a novel together, then divide chapters among members
Round-Robin Stories: One member writes the opening paragraph, then passes it to the next person to continue

These projects create tangible results the group can be proud of—and potentially publish.

9. Skill-Building Sessions

Target specific craft elements that challenge your members:

Writing natural, compelling dialogue
Crafting openings that hook readers immediately
Editing and revision techniques
Show versus tell
Pacing and structure

Use writing craft books, online resources, or invite a writing instructor to guide the session. Focused skill-building creates measurable improvement.

10. Fun and Interactive Activities

Not every meeting needs to be serious. Inject playfulness into your group:

Storytelling Games: Use random prompts or words to create a story collaboratively in real-time
Writing Roulette: Each member writes a paragraph, then passes their paper to the next person to continue—chaos and creativity ensue
Genre Swap: Rewrite a scene from your current project in a completely different genre (turn a thriller into a comedy, or literary fiction into sci-fi)

Laughter and play unlock creativity in unexpected ways.

11. Unconventional Inspiration Exercises

Draw writing prompts from unexpected sources:

Craft a story based on overheard conversations, mysterious radio transmissions, or strange signals
Use historical photographs or news headlines as story seeds
Write from the perspective of an inanimate object or an unusual narrator

Unusual starting points lead to original stories.

12. Psychological Exploration for Character Development

Deep, believable characters drive memorable fiction. Create exercises that explore psychology:

Write a scene from the perspective of a character with a specific psychological trait, fear, or condition
Explore how a character’s past trauma influences their present decisions and relationships
Develop detailed backstories that never appear on the page but inform every action

Understanding the human mind—its quirks, defenses, and desires—makes characters leap off the page.

Final Thoughts

A writers’ group should be more than a meeting—it should be a space where creativity flourishes, skills sharpen, and writers find the support they need to keep going. By incorporating a variety of activities, you can keep your group fresh, engaged, and continuously growing.I hope this list proves useful to writers’ groups everywhere. After all, when we lift each other up, we elevate the entire craft.What activities have worked well for your writers’ group? I’d love to hear your ideas.

Happy writing!

Here are a few of my projects…

When “Love” Becomes a Cage: The Silent Exploitation of Aging Parents

The Scene We Know All Too Well

“Oh Dad, you fell. Listen, you can’t live by yourself anymore. You need someone taking care of you.”It sounds like concern. It looks like love. But far too often, it’s neither.What is disguised as an act of compassion is, in reality, a calculated move to get Dad out of the way—so that his assets can be quietly liquidated, his autonomy erased, and his life reduced to a transaction.

The Question No One Wants to Ask

Instead of bringing Dad into their home—cooking for him, checking on him, being present—what do you think this generation is all too eager to do?They put him in a facility. Out of sight. Out of mind. Out of the way.I’ve seen it far too many times. In fact, I wrote a short story based on a true account of this very thing: “Just As I Am”—because some truths are too painful to ignore and too important to stay silent about.

A Prison Disguised as “Care”

Once the parent is removed from their home, their freedom is absconded. They become a prisoner of their children’s making.The “rules” are set—not by doctors, not by the parent—but by the kids:

Dad is not to leave the facility under any circumstances unless they decide to take him out for a doctor’s appointment.
His world shrinks to a small room, a bed, a small TV, and a communal bathroom shared with strangers.
His identity dissolves. The man who built a life, raised a family, and earned everything he had is now reduced to a room number.

And then what happens?Dad becomes depressed. Bitter. Isolated. He tries to hold on through the few friends who still come to visit—but the light fades faster than it ever would have at home.He dies earlier than he should have. Not from illness, but from heartbreak.

Follow the Money

While Dad withers in his small room, here’s what’s happening on the outside:

His pension becomes their income.
His savings become their spending money.
His Social Security gets redirected.
His home and belongings are sold off or trashed.

The kids figure out exactly what it costs to keep Dad “housed”—and spend the rest on their own debt, a vacation, maybe a new car. After all, they’ve convinced themselves they deserve it.

The Lie They Tell Themselves

Once the adult children convince themselves that the Boomers owe them something—that they’re entitled to what their parents built—it becomes disturbingly easy to justify taking it.“They had it easier.”“They ruined the economy.”“They owe us.”But do they? They absolutely do not.

The Truth

Let me be blunt: This is a disgraceful way to treat your parents.Your parents deserve dignity—while they’re living and even after they stop breathing. No generation—Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z—has any right to anything that was not freely given to them.Your parents’ home is not your inheritance to claim early. Their pension is not your piggy bank. Their freedom is not yours to revoke because it’s inconvenient for you to actually care for them.A fall does not mean a life sentence. A moment of vulnerability does not give you permission to strip someone of everything they are.

A Call to Do Better

If your parent falls, help them up. Move in with them. Check on them daily. Hire in-home help. Modify their house. Be present.Do not warehouse them so you can raid their life’s work.They raised you. They sacrificed for you. They gave you the foundation you’re standing on.The least you can do is let them live—and die—with dignity.

Have you witnessed this happen to someone you love? I’d like to hear your story. And if you haven’t yet, read “Just As I Am”—a story born from watching this tragedy unfold in real life.

Here are some truths worth knowing…

Generational Responsibility: Moving Beyond Blame and Toward Action

While Millennials and Gen X face real economic challenges, blaming Baby Boomers for their financial struggles overlooks deeper cultural shifts in mindset and personal responsibility. History shows Boomers overcame severe adversity through frugality, hard work, and self-reliance—values that remain relevant today. Millennials who reject the blame narrative and embrace actionable financial discipline, such as Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps, are proving that personal accountability is still the most effective path to financial independence.

Blaming Baby Boomers for the financial difficulties faced by Millennials and Gen X is, in many cases, an oversimplification that ignores both historical context and the power of personal responsibility. While it’s true that the cost of living has risen and economic conditions have changed, Boomers also faced significant adversity—such as double-digit inflation and sky-high mortgage rates—yet responded with a mindset of frugality, delayed gratification, and self-reliance. Today, a cultural shift toward instant gratification, externalized blame, and increased reliance on government assistance has contributed to a victimhood narrative among some younger generations. However, many Millennials who reject this narrative and instead focus on actionable steps—like those outlined in Dave Ramsey’s financial philosophy—are successfully building wealth and achieving independence.

1. Generational Mindset Gap: Work Ethic, Frugality, and Responsibility

Baby Boomers:

Core Values: Hard work, perseverance, loyalty, and the belief that success is earned, not given.
Financial Habits: Frugality, saving diligently, avoiding unnecessary debt, and practicing delayed gratification.
Attitude Toward Assistance: Strong stigma against government dependency; self-reliance was a point of pride.
Cultural Narrative: Setbacks were internalized as personal challenges to overcome, not blamed on external forces .

Millennials & Gen X:

Core Values: Flexibility, agility, and seeking purpose or fulfillment in work.
Financial Habits: Greater focus on experiences, instant gratification, and pragmatic use of debt.
Attitude Toward Assistance: More openness to government support and systemic solutions; increased focus on external barriers.
Cultural Narrative: Greater tendency to attribute setbacks to systemic issues, sometimes fostering a sense of victimhood or entitlement . | Dimension | Baby Boomers | Millennials & Gen X | | —————————- | ————————————- | ——————————————– | | Work Ethic | Earn what you have, loyalty | Flexibility, purpose-driven | | Financial Responsibility | Frugality, saving, delayed rewards | Experience-focused, instant gratification | | Attitude to Assistance | Self-reliance, stigma on welfare | Openness to support, systemic critique | | Narrative on Success/Failure | Personal responsibility | Systemic barriers, externalized blame |

2. Historical Examples: Boomers Overcoming Adversity

1970s-80s Economic Turmoil: Boomers faced double-digit inflation and mortgage rates as high as 17%. Instead of relying on government aid, they responded by aggressively paying down debt, practicing minimalism, and prioritizing savings .
Debt Aversion: Consumer debt was avoided; Boomers aimed to be debt-free before retirement.
Steady Investing: Despite market downturns, Boomers invested consistently and lived below their means.
Cultural Frugality: Many Boomers repaired rather than replaced, bought in bulk, and delayed gratification to build long-term wealth .

Boomers’ financial discipline was forged in adversity, not ease. Their wealth-building habits were rooted in a culture of self-reliance and long-term planning.

3. Cultural Shift: From Self-Reliance to Victimhood

Boomers: Internalized setbacks, focused on what they could control, and saw government assistance as a last resort.
Millennials/Gen X: Greater focus on external barriers (e.g., student debt, housing costs), amplified by social media and cultural narratives that sometimes encourage blame and entitlement .
Result: While some economic challenges are real, the core difference is a shift in mindset—from “What can I do?” to “Who is to blame?” .

4. Millennials Succeeding Through Personal Responsibility

Despite the narrative, many Millennials are rejecting blame and building wealth through:

Budgeting and Saving: 59% prioritize saving, 41% stick to budgets, and 42% focus on debt payoff.
Side Hustles: 44% consider second jobs or side gigs to boost income.
Financial Literacy: Leveraging online resources and communities for education and support.
FIRE Movement: Many Millennials are pursuing Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) through aggressive saving and investing .

Millennials who embrace personal responsibility and disciplined financial habits are disproving the notion that generational circumstances are destiny.

5. Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps: A Roadmap for Financial Responsibility

Dave Ramsey’s program offers a practical, actionable path for Millennials (and anyone) to take control of their finances:

Step	Description	Key Principle
1	Save $1,000 for a starter emergency fund	Build a buffer against small emergencies
2	Pay off all debt (except mortgage) using the debt snowball	Motivation through quick wins
3	Save 3–6 months of expenses in a fully funded emergency fund	Safety net for major life events
4	Invest 15% of household income in retirement	Prioritize long-term wealth
5	Save for children’s college fund	Plan for future generations
6	Pay off your home early	Achieve financial freedom
7	Build wealth and give	Generosity and legacy
Core Ramsey Principles:

Live below your means and avoid lifestyle inflation.
Attack debt with intensity (debt snowball method).
Build an emergency fund before investing or increasing lifestyle spending.
Take personal responsibility: “Personal finance is 80% behavior and 20% head knowledge.”
Avoid blaming external factors; focus on what you can control.
Hard work and hustle are essential for breaking cycles of debt and dependency .

Dave Ramsey Quote:
“You have to control the person in their mirror.”
“There’s freedom on the other side of debt. You don’t have to live like everyone else.”

Blaming Boomers for today’s economic challenges is not only historically inaccurate but also disempowering. Boomers faced—and overcame—serious adversity through a culture of self-reliance, frugality, and hard work. Millennials who reject the blame narrative and instead embrace personal responsibility, disciplined money management, and actionable steps like Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps are proving that financial independence is still achievable. The most effective path forward is not to point fingers, but to take ownership and act.

Read the story on Reedsy and tell me what you think in the comments below. Thanks

What a Vermont Farmhouse Novel Taught Me About GMO Corn

Writing for the ADHD

As a writer, I’m no stranger to research rabbit holes—especially the kind that start with a simple “why?”After completing Nothing But Time—a literary fiction novel about redemption, second chances, and learning to live after a lifetime of existing—I found myself pulled into unexpected territory. The book follows a retired workaholic who inherits a Vermont farmhouse from a deceased friend, along with an urgent final message about what it means to be alive. Originally written in 1985 and restored in 2026, the story required me to understand something I’d only glimpsed as a child: farming.

A Memory Resurfaces

My uncle had a farm in Minnesota. When I was very young, he set me on a yellow tractor and pointed me toward a field. That memory has never faded.While researching modern agriculture online, I discovered Laura Wilson‘s story on Pioneer’s website—and that childhood memory came flooding back. Laura and her husband Grant are working farmers whose videos gave me the inspiration I needed. In Nothing But Time, my protagonist Jack Harper learns what I learned watching them: that farming is both simpler and far more complicated than most people imagine.

The Question That Stopped Me

One detail in Laura and Grant’s videos made me pause. They mentioned the cost of corn seed—roughly $110 per box, covering about two and a half acres—and then said something I didn’t expect:It’s illegal to replant your own seed.They didn’t elaborate. They stated it as fact and moved on. But I couldn’t.

Why Can’t Farmers Save Their Own Seed?

The answer leads to one name: Monsanto (now part of Bayer).The seed Laura and Grant purchase is genetically modified—what consumers know as “GMO.” Farmers are legally prohibited from saving and replanting patented seeds because seed companies hold intellectual property rights over modern crop varieties, particularly genetically engineered or hybrid strains. These protections give corporations exclusive control over how their products are used, including the right to ban replanting.The strictest restrictions apply to utility-patented seeds (most GMOs), where saving and replanting is prohibited outright. For some other protected varieties, limited saving for personal use may be allowed, but selling or sharing is not. Enforcement comes through a combination of patent law, licensing contracts, and active monitoring by seed companies.

What Genetic Modification Does to Corn

Here’s what modern GMO corn is engineered to do:1. Resist Pests Bt corn contains a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis that produces a protein toxic to insects like the European corn borer but reportedly safe for humans and animals. This reduces the need for chemical pesticides. The open question: how confident can we be about long-term human ingestion of these proteins?2. Tolerate Herbicides GM corn is engineered to survive specific herbicides such as glyphosate, allowing farmers to kill weeds without harming their crop. This simplifies weed management and can reduce soil-eroding tilling.3. Increase Yields Researchers have altered genes like zmm28 to function as growth triggers, producing varieties that yield up to 10 percent more than conventional types.4. Reduce Chemical Use By decreasing reliance on pesticides and herbicides, GM corn can contribute to more sustainable practices—at least in theory.5. Improve Nutritional Content Some varieties are biofortified with higher levels of vitamin A, lysine, or tryptophan, targeting nutritional deficiencies in regions where corn is a dietary staple.6. Adapt to Climate Stress GMO corn can be engineered to withstand drought, temperature extremes, or poor soil—extending viable growing regions.

The Health Question No One Wants to Fund

Here’s what concerns me: while no long-term human health studies exist, laboratory rats fed GMO corn have shown evidence of prediabetic conditions and organ changes. That alone should warrant rigorous, independent research.Why doesn’t it exist? Consider the economics:

U.S. GMO corn gross sales (2025 est.): ~$14 billion annually, projected to reach $19.8 billion by 2035
Global GMO corn market (2023): $264 billion, expected to grow to $440 billion by 2033
U.S. adoption rate: More than 90 percent of American corn production uses genetically engineered varieties

With that much revenue at stake, the absence of funded long-term health research feels less like an oversight and more like a choice. Which government officials are looking the other way? What financial relationships exist between regulators and seed corporations? I suspect transparency there would be illuminating—and uncomfortable.

The Takeaway

Know what’s in your food. If it’s overprocessed and genetically modified, I’d recommend caution.And as for me—I’d love to go back to that Minnesota farm. To remember the quiet. The only sounds at night were wind through the trees or distant thunder rolling across the fields.

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