Transport Your Readers

Make them sense they’re really there.

This past week in Colorado Springs, we expected an inch of snow. We got six.

So I enjoyed a trip to Florida’s Gulf Coast. Mild temperatures, gentle breezes, tropical scents, and great fishing. Even better, I didn’t had to leave my house. I traveled through the pages of a well-crafted novel.

His setting, in effect, becomes a key character.

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Extra Backups

You don’t need them … until you really need them.

This week, I nearly lost several days’ work. A corrupted computer file threatened multiple hours of effort.

I checked my primary backup. But without realizing it, I had copied to my external hard drive the version with a hidden, crippling error. The same with the high-capacity flash drive I always carry.

Fortunately … Continue reading

Getting Unstuck

Sometimes you need to ask for help.

No matter how much you prepare, you can still get caught. This past Friday, having roughed out an article, I ran a few errands.

I pulled into a space by the barber shop, put the van into park, and felt it roll into a deep pothole. Putting the van into reverse did no good. … Continue reading