The Write Focus

Our More: Easter series concludes in this episode with my confession of a longtime failing and the way I’m casting off that sin … which was one of the motivations for the entire series on More. And our final Creativity for Writers segment, we consider the daily practice of gratitude to the greatest Creator of all. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 12:05 LINKS Prazoli Christian Bible Prayer Journal https://www.amazon.com/Prazoli-Christian-Prayer-Journal-3-Month/dp/B0D3PFXNX5/ Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/02/more-easter-bright-sunday-with.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.

David’s prayer in Psalm 143 is our focus, following God’s timeline rather than the world’s. In the Creativity for Writers segment, we look at three techniques to generate new ideas from the blankness. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 12:12 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/02/more-easter-bright-saturday-and.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.

As we age, we think the three most common bedtime prayers for children are only for the little people. They seem too plain for our complex lives. Our mistake is when we try to make our prayers more when simple is better. In looking at the simple, we often see things we have forgotten because our so-called complex lives are actually only filled with distractions. In the Creativity for Writers segment, we look at overcoming the burdens of the daily grind by awakening our child. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 13:03 LINKS Versions of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_I_Lay_Me_Down_to_Sleep The Shema https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KQLOuIKaRA Christ with four arch-angels Painting https://media.craiyon.com/2025-04-10/cNA-qexEQ2SwteWDcqbNKg.webp Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/02/more-easter-bright-friday-with.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.

While the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed and even little Glory Be offer the basic tenets of Christian faith, we can still add more to intensify our daily walk with Christ. More can mean a greater understanding of the church year, such as knowing Holy Week and Bright Week. More can also mean additional readings to add to our daily devotions. Reading through the Bible can be a challenging daily devotion, especially when we are deep into Leviticus or the minor prophets or weeping Jeremiah. Supplementing with additional small readings can make the uphill struggle of the laws or the Lamentations bearable. The Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi is one such addition. In the Creativity for Writers segment, we consider the hardest method of all to refresh our creativity. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 10:30 LINKS The Prayer As a Song https://youtu.be/ZABZroCGXTU?si=J0OYhJ763_KXJnZf Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/02/more-easter-bright-thursday-with.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.

He is Risen! That’s the word the women gave, based on the evidence of the tomb and the word of the bright angel who reassured them. Yet the disciples could not bring themselves to believe. They wanted to, desperately, but their earthly realism prevented complete belief. Our focus today is on the event three days after the Crucifixion, on the day of the Resurrection, when two of the Jesus’ followers are walking on the road to Emmaus. In the Creativity Refresh segment, we discuss the management of two guiding principles of writing that constantly affect creativity. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 11:51 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/02/more-easter-bright-wednesday-emmaus-and.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.

In this day of contemporary music and blended worship services, with guitars and drums accompanying the pianos and organs, the bland traditional services of my childhood now seem strange. God calls upon us to make a joyful noise in praise to Him. Music creates a harmonious celebration. Psalm 150 even lists the instruments for accompaniment. Our question today is how do we use music in our daily life? In the Creativity Refresh segment, we focus on managing the flatness of our ideas and words and encountering roadblocks. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 12:05 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/02/more-easter-bright-tuesday-and.html Audio Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.

Easter began with Sunrise—the tomb open and empty, the faithful women first to see, first to receive the good news, first to spread the good news. This week should be the most celebrated time in the church, yet it is often more neglected than any other time of the church. Fasting and grief are over; feast and joy return. Christ is Risen! Christ is Lord of All! Today is Easter Monday, Bright Monday. On this day, let’s examine one of the foundational creeds of Christianity, a creed that helped fight heresies of the past and that can fight heresies of today. In our Creativity for Writers segment, our focus continues to be ways to fuel the creative spark. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 18:16 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/more-easter-bright-monday-with.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.

On Easter, we greet each other with “He is risen.” The traditional response is “He is risen indeed.” Easter is our great hope and assurance, the fulfillment of the promise of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” My efforts for an Easter reflection to share with you were poor indeed, and it is a wise writer who recognizes her inadequacies. Thus, I have three reflections by others to share on this most holy day. In the Creativity for Writers segment, the topic is finding a new perspective. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 11:30 LINKS Johann Habermann https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Habermann Book of Common Prayer, 1552 :: 1928 edition https://www.amazon.com/1928-Book-Common-Prayer/dp/0195285255/ OR 1979 edition https://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Deluxe-Personal/dp/0898691117/ Charles Spurgeon, sermon delivered April 21, 1889, in London. Available in its entirety in The Complete Spurgeon Sermons Collection. https://www.amazon.com/Spurgeons-Sermons-Volumes-C-Spurgeon/dp/1598568329/ OR https://www.spurgeongems.org/spurgeon-sermons/ Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/more-easter-easter-day-with-creativity.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.

What is the key to Holy Saturday? The church is bare, the altar blackened, all hope entombed with Christ. Black Saturday is the vigil before Easter’s Resurrection. After the Crucifixion, the black veil is removed from the altar cross, for Christ is brought down from the 300-pound cross that the Sanhedrin and the Romans intended to be His failure. They didn't know the key, though. After our focus on Black Saturday, the creativity segment considers our physical workspace for writing. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 10:37 LINKS Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/3-michelangelos-sistine-chapel-michele-falzone.jpg Matt Papa “The Story of God” https://youtu.be/E4cL-Zcxa9M Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/01/more-easter-black-saturday-with.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.

Why is Good Friday “Good”? That is the official title of this meditation, but the focus is something else. First, the answer to the question is basically because we received the best gift in the world, the gift of redeeming salvation from Christ Jesus. Our focus is an aspect of that question / answer, wrapped up in a behavior of self-denial. On this Good Friday, let us consider the reason we say no to opportunities. In the Refresh that Creativity segment, we focus on a strong method to awaken new ideas. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 15:53 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/more-easter-good-friday-and-creativity.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.

The “Maundy” of Maundy Thursday is such an odd word. It comes down to us from the Middle Ages, entering English in the old French form of mandé, which leads back to Latin and mandatum, meaning command, order. The mandatum comes from Jesus’ words to his disciples. In this episode, we explore Christ’s new commandment to his disciples at the Last Supper. In the Writing segment, we look at several types of journals in order to Refresh that Creativity that writers depend upon. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 14:35 LINKS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y9qCsIPzNo taken from The Passion of Christ Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/more-easter-maundy-thursday-tenebrae.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound. #Easter #Maundythursday #holyweek #creativity #journal #morningpages #tenebrae #writing

Holy Wednesday is often called Spy Wednesday. Spy Wednesday sounds like a cool name with more going on than simply Holy Wednesday. Holy Wednesday is given the name Spy to remind us of the horrible conspiracy that began on this day: Judas Iscariot and the high priests negotiated a deal in which Judas would betray Christ Jesus, who would then be brought before the Sanhedrin Court, an assembly of rabbis. That means SPY Wednesday is not cool. In our writing segment, our focus is seeking the other arts to Refresh our Creativity. TIMINGS 00:00 Welcome 00:40 Introduction 00:50 Spy Wednesday 08:06 Refresh # 4 13:00 Closing Total Run Time = 13:59 LINKS Who Can Be Called Rabbi? - Torah Musings https://www.torahmusings.com/2012/05/who-can-be-called-rabbi/ Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/01/more-easter-spy-wednesday-704.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.

In this episode for Holy Tuesday, The Write Focus looks at the More we need to do for God. I think most of us live a minimalist lifestyle with God. He’s in a neat little corner, tucked away, with a bit of brightness, brought out only when we need him. There He is, over there. See Him? He’s for Sunday. No. No, no, no. He’s for every day. For writers, Refresh 3 offers a way to sink into Flow while drowning out unnatural noises. TIMINGS 00:00 Welcome 00:44 Holy Tuesday 04:48 Refresh 3 09:42 Closing Total Run Time = 10:41 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/01/more-easter-holy-tuesday-703.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.

On Holy Monday, many churches observe the anointing of Christ with oil at Bethany. The scourging of the money-lenders from the churches may also have occurred on this date. Most modern paintings and captions on old artwork say “cleansing” rather than “scourging”, which requires anger. Christ became angry at the people who turned the church into a money-making scheme. People could not reach God unless they passed the money-lenders. Here’s the question for this episode: What often stands between us and Christ? For writers, Refresh 2 offers a whole-body experience to spark the mind. TIMINGS 00:00 Welcome 00:42 Holy Monday 05:50 Refresh 2 10:14 Closing Total Run Time = 11:13 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/01/more-easter-holy-monday.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.

Changing churches will change your life, especially if you are Wanting More. I grew up in one of those stripped-down Protestant churches that barely, barely noticed the church year. We had Easter—which was usually a competition to see who brought the most family members. (Yes, I know. I thought that promotion inappropriate, too.) I wanted More. Join The Write Focus throughout the 15 days of the Easter season, called Holy and Bright Weeks, when I share my journey and findings as a Christian. Each episode concludes with an appropriate writing focus for Spring, Refresh that Creativity. Our first writing focus offers 3 solutions to that tricky problem of starting a new project from total blankness. TIMINGS 00:00 Welcome 00:42 Intro and Palm Sunday 07:50 Refresh 1 14:32 Closing Total Run Time = 15:32 LINKS Hosanna (Praise is Rising) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMBDWG9tseU Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/01/more-easter-palm-sunday.html Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music with opening and closing is provided in the audio. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.

The fourth candle for the last Advent Sunday stands for Love. What Christ has done for us, what He is doing, and what He will do—all reveal His love for us. The greatest gift in the world? That is giving what is most dear. Sacrificing what we want to provide what others need. The dearest thing in the world? Our own lives. What would cause us to sacrifice ourselves for others? Great love. So, we ask again ~ what is the greatest gift in the world? Christ, who sacrificed His mortal life to grant redemption for us all. In today’s episode of The Write Focus, we discuss Christian Love and review our last seven Chrismons. The Writing Connection discusses crafting stories with flow and breaking the flow, positive and negative, order and chaos, appropriate at this transition time, Old Year becoming New Year. TIMINGS 00:00 Intro 00:40 Advent ~ the Week of Love 02:30 Chrismons ~ last 7 06:21 Twelve Days of Christmas 09:35 For Writers 12:30 Closing Total Run Time = 13:33 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2025/12/more-advent-week-4.html

Look around. Even with the sun radiantly bright, our world is dark. Humans can argue about raising a family, budgeting for expenses, politics, politicians, climate change, whether the change is cyclical or anthropogenic, diet, exercise, sleep deprivation, big Pharma, vaccines, green spaces, carbon footprints, and more and more and more and more. That list barely grazes the debatable differences we have with each other. Shadows upon shadows create a darkening world. Then we remember cancer and other diseases, the bad health suffer from our own causes and the poisoning that the modern industrial world causes. Drug abuse and depression and other psychical injuries can destroy our interest in the world, damaging us as much as disease does. And I haven’t even touched upon digital addictions. Count all of these shadows, and our world is dark. What gives us light? What gives us Joy? Hope. Promise. Unconditional love. Peace. All embodied in Christ our Savior, the Light of the World. Christ’s all-powerful light casts the darkness away. That gives us JOY, the theme of the third week of Advent. In this episode, we discuss the spectrum of crosses that reveal all aspects of Christ, then in the Writing Connection, we reveal the uses a writer can make of spectrum as well as how to use spectrum, with an example story discussed. TIMINGS 00:00 Opening 00:40 Content 03:37 Chrismons 05:42 For Writers 08:48 Closing Total Run Time = 9:48 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2025/12/more-advent-week-3.html

As the first week is Hope, the second week is preparing the way for Christ. That knowledge—of what Christ has done, is doing, and will do—gives us PEACE, for we know that He directs our lives. Many people become caught up in the questions: Who and What? Why and How? Christ is a mystery that we can’t answer. Should we try to understand Him? Yes, but the factual details only reveal bits and pieces. We have historical evidence of His life. Yet we also have Truth, and Truth is eternal. Christ is Truth, at one with God the Father, the great Atoner. Everything He does and says reveals to us the Kingdom of Heaven. When we believe on Him, we have our entry to Heaven. This is the heavenly Peace, when everyone is dealt with equally, when the innocent are protected and the violent are judged. The Chrismons for this week all contain symbolic imagery, a picture or icon. Each presents an essay of meaning through the image. The Lighted Candle / the Burning Bush / Manger / Lyre / Alpha & Omega / Crossed Keys / the Lamb with a Flag The Writing Connection of More: This time let’s look at motifs, metaphorical imagery that return several times during the course of a story. Chrismons are metaphorical imagery, images that carry meanings. Motifs occur several times for stories as long as novellas and longer, at 30,000 words and more. For shorter than novellas, think of repeating the motifs about one per 4,000 to 5,000 words. More than that becomes too repetitive and obvious. TIMINGS 00:00 Welcome 00:40 Content 02:36 Chrismons 07:23 Writing Connection 10:58 Closing Total Run Time = 11:56 Website Link: https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2025/12/more-advent-week-2.html

More: Advent, Chrismons, & Writing ~ 1st Week Welcome to More and a celebration of the Advent season. The denomination of my formative Christian years didn’t celebrate the church year. We had Easter and Christmas, but those two Sundays were the only ones devoted to special events of the church: Sunrise Service and Gift-Giving for the Poor. All the other Sundays were a ceaseless progression of one sermon to the next. My soul was unhappy. I didn’t know that I needed more, and that part of that more was discovering the church year as a constant reminder of God’s relationship with people. Gradually, I encountered elements of the church year. Lent was mentioned because my high school French class celebrated Mardi Gras. All Hallow’s Eve was followed by All Hallow’s Day on an almanac calendar. Epiphany and Pentecost were Christian words; while I knew them, I didn’t understand their importance. Advent is upon us, and I’ve learned to celebrate More. Join me as I share a bit of More with you as well as relate each Advent with More on Writing. TIMINGS 00:00 Intro 1:15 Opening 1:55 Advent ~ the Week of Hope 4:10 Chrismons ~ 1st 7 7:12 For Writers 10:00 Closing Total Run Time = 11:00 LINKS Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2025/11/more-advent-week-1.html

Well, this has never happened. Changes disrupt ~ but do bring progress. Listen to learn while The Write Focus is on hiatus.