Books

Here is where you will find my reviews of books I've read and my recommendations. 

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The End

Hello Jars of Words readers. Unfortunately, I’ve come to the conclusion that keeping up a blog is not beneficial to me at this time. The blog detracts from time I could be spending on my fiction. I may begin posting again one day, but, as of right now, my work on this platform is at an end. Thank you for understanding.
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Very Berry Smoothie Recipe

I’m a morning writer and smoothies are easy to sip when I’m typing. So naturally, they’re my favorite breakfast. Removing your eyes from the screen to use utensils or bite a granola bar is distracting. If you write during lunch or snack as you write, you know what I’m talking about. Try drinking a smoothie instead. Set it before your laptop and sip through a straw while maintaining eye-contact with your screen. Here is my favorite smoothie recipe. ½ banana ¼ cup blueberries 3-4 strawberries ⅓ cup raspberries (this is optional and can be substituted with more blueberries) ½ scoop vanilla (or chocolate) protein powder 2 teaspoons green powder (or a handful of greens - broccoli, kale, spinach, etc.) ¼ teaspoon turmeric 1 tablespoon peanut butter ½ cup unsweetened almond milk or water This is a safe estimate of the ingredients I use. I usually don’t measure and throw in a handful of each. Don’t be afraid to vary the berries you use or substitute any ingredients. Enjoy!...
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Story Structure: The Orientation

It’s fascinating how most stories follow the same structure. Generally, there’s the Orientation, the First Plot Point, Pinch One, the Midpoint, Pinch Two, the Second Plot Point, then the Resolution. I’ve found that this structure is the cure to writer’s block. A sculptor cannot mold a statue from mud. A painter cannot create a masterpiece on his front lawn. Sculptors need clay, painters need canvases. In the same way, this structure serves as the foundation for our art form. Without it, it’s difficult to create anything at all.   That being said, some people think of structure as restricting, similar to how discovery writers view outlines. But, honestly, this foundation makes the process easier and your story stronger. There’s a reason this same basic story structure has been used since the beginning of time; it works. All of the familiar plot points are there, but that doesn’t make the story trite. Readers like structure. We’d all get annoyed if the villain w...
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