The Write Focus

Our topic this time is a little tricky, but we have a fairly simple solution—if we will use that solution. Here’s the question: How do I make my writing form a coherent story? Because if the story confuses us when we finish it, in what state will our readers be? Quick Tips for Writers is a Blast from the Past, extricated from much longer episodes a year ago. TWF hopes you enjoy these quick takes. TIMINGS Total Run Time = 4:38 LINKS Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/05/write-coherent-story-quick-tips-for.html Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting). Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools. As a Blast from the Past, our current focus is a series entitled Quick Tips for Writers. Here is a link to the playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXi3M_aM-d7JoFvT3aJEZPpneLjOH1Ur_&si=j8n2yOeaJz05H4bY Select the most recent episode through the URL after the TIMINGS. Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com . Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com. If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)

We’re onto our third episode in the Quick Tips for Writers series. What are the three cornerstones of every story we write, no matter the length or genre or purpose? TIMINGS Total Run Time = 4:17 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/three-cornerstones-of-story-quick-tips.html Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting). Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools. Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com . Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com. If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.)

In this second episode of the Quick Tips for Writers series, we look at another topic which trips writers up. Whether a total newbie or a seasoned writer, we all ask the same question. It’s the same questions every time we start a new story. How much do I need before I start writing? TIMINGS Total Run Time = 5:33 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/quick-tips-for-writers-2-717.html Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting). Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools. Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com . Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com. If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.) Content copyright is 2020 to 2026, Writers Ink Books.

The Write Focus brings in a Blast from the Past, from Summer 2025. Thirteen—count `em, 13—posts that distill over 30 years of writing knowledge and 10 years of publishing writing. Host M.A. Lee has 60-plus novel-length titles under three pen names that guide this information. We hope you find a spot of wisdom in each of these Quick Tips for Writers. In our first episode of the series, we answer every writer’s burning question: “What do I need to start writing?” TIMINGS Total Run Time = 5:14 LINK Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/quick-tips-for-writers-1-716.html Licensed Music with the Quick Tips content is “Simple Acoustic Guitar” from the creator applehillstudios on Audio Jungle. The music is licensed for podcast and YouTube. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration, also licensed from Audio Jungle for the purpose of podcast and YouTube. All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound (turned off for this posting). Thanks for listening to The Write Focus. We focus on productivity, process, craft, and tools. As a Blast from the Past, our current focus is a series entitled Quick Tips for Writers. Here is a link to the playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXi3M_aM-d7JoFvT3aJEZPpneLjOH1Ur_&si=j8n2yOeaJz05H4bY Select the most recent episode through the URL after the TIMINGS. Support the podcast with a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/winkbooksr For more links and resources, visit www.thewritefocus.blogspot.com . Write to us at winkbooks@aol.com. If you find value in this podcast, please share with your writing friends or write a review. (We’re small beans. We don’t have the advertising budget of the big peeps. You can make a difference.) Listen on your favorite podcast site: from Apple to YouTube, Spotify and Podbean (my favs), Google Play, Amazon Music and Audible, Samsung and Player FM, Deezer and Podcaster, the rivals iHeart and Tune-in, and too many to list. Here are the easiest. Make us a favorite, and follow along easy-peasy, once a week, while you fix a quick dinner, drive a short commute, or take a brisk walk. My favorite podcast is Podbean. https://eden5695.podbean.com/ YouTube direct link to the Current Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXi3M_aM-d7IZWMlW9kLwMNEkuLMySGnq Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-write-focus/id1546738740%20 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4fMwknmfJhkJxQvaaLQ3Gm?si=ffeb71ed17c3409d Amazon/Audible https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/062ecc60-d61c-432a-ad99-8234c1044ef1 ListenNotes https://lnns.co/y_Jg5rpaMNo Google https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2VkZW41Njk1L2ZlZWQueG1s Tune-In https://tunein.com/podcasts/p1608565/ IHeart Radio https://iheart.com/podcast/90647163 Content copyright is 2020 to 2026, Writers Ink Books.

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