In the classic book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (affiliate link), the grandfather of modern productivity, Stephen R. Covey, has some sage advice: Focus on your area of influence. It’s sensible. Why waste your time and energy on things that are outside of your control? Still, I struggle with this — and I […]
What is the purpose of a novel?
“Purpose defines success. It’s the primal reference point for any investment of time and energy, from deciding to run for elective office to designing a form.” David Allen, Getting Things Done (aff.) In the years I wasn’t writing fiction, I was still studying the craft. I was reading books, taking classes, attending conferences — soaking […]
The Old Man on the Corner
Three days a week, I work from my external office. I’ve had an office downtown for almost three years, but recently I moved to a space over in the Ivywild neighborhood that butts up against North Cheyenne Canyon. I miss downtown, but this location has its charms (a cute little bookstore! a funky coffee shop […]
Habits + Creativity
I’m fascinated by habits — how they serve us, how they hurt us, how to create them, how to break them. I’m also fascinated by creativity — how we combine what we’ve learned to build new things, how we block our own creativity and how we can release it, how creativity heals us and connects […]
Cabin Retreat and Testing My Limits
Last Friday morning I headed up to my in-laws’ cabin in the mountains west of Canon City. It’s a long drive on dirt roads, and with much of the land belonging to the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) it can be a bit of an obstacle course with the free-range cows. My goal was to […]
The Difference Between Reflection and Meditation
I’ve been reflecting a lot on reflection lately. It’s meta, I know — but reflection is the topic of the new nonfiction book I’m writing (in the nooks and crannies between writing the mystery novel and writing marketing content for Horizon Peak Consulting clients). Modern life doesn’t give you a whole lot of time to […]
