Category: Writing

Studio interview with Lady Dana from Deadman’s Planet: Lady Dana of the Badlands 

Today special guest in the studio is Lady Dana. You may know her from Deadman’s Planet: Lady Dana of the Badlands. Let me say, she’s one of the baddest teenagers in the Badlands, tough as nai…

Source: Studio interview with Lady Dana from Deadman’s Planet: Lady Dana of the Badlands 

Studio interview with Lady Dana from Deadman’s Planet: Lady Dana of the Badlands 

Today special guest in the studio is Lady Dana. You may know her from Deadman’s Planet: Lady Dana of the Badlands. Let me say, she’s one of the baddest teenagers in the Badlands, tough as nails too, and one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. Please, give us a warm welcome to Lady Dana.

The audience roars and claps as Lady Dana walks as her stride announces confidence with a light blue dress that flutters around her. Her dark hair pulled back in a French braid, she waves to the audience with a huge grin that lights up her face. She sits in a plush chair; the audience continues to cheer for her.

“Wow! What a welcome,” Dana says excitedly.

“You’re a very popular young lady, Lady Dana,” the interviewer states.

“Please, call me Dana. Lady is part of my job title, for working for the council.”

“Fair enough, Dana. Let me say, I read the first episode of the Deadman’s Planet: Lady Dana of the Badlands. It was amazing. You’re a tough teenager with a sweet side you keep hidden. Why?”

“First off, thank you for your compliment. I was warned you were tough too.” Dana pauses. “I worked for my mother who runs the council. No matter what planet I live on people are people dealing with misconceptions and biases against me. I learned from the start I had to enforce the law. Boy… I sound like my dad.” She giggles.

“Our parents influence our lives in different ways. Are you close to your father?”

Dana taps her fingers on the armrest to conceal her nervousness. “Yes, I would like to think so. But, it’s hard when my dad is a freedom fighter. He’s gone a lot.”

“Isn’t he the commander of a fleet?”

“Yes. With the war against the Sun Empire keeps him away from home. I’m worried about my brother, Chad needs our father more since he is quickly becoming a teenager. He will be a hand full.”

“I thought it was interesting that you consider the Badlands your home. I mean, how anyone makes a home in such a barren and harsh desert planet in the blazing sun.”

“Well, living on Deadman’s Planet is tough and to thrive a person has to be tougher than the planet. But the politics are even more deadly.”

“Really? How so?”

“Living on a planet that has non-existing resources and a small war could easily erupt in the village or at the homesteads. My mother has stopped a number of incidents from developing.”

“I understand why you are so tough. Let’s discuss the Life Domes and the Recruiter, Seth.”

“I can’t discuss Seth. My gut tells me he’s up to no good, and on my wanted list,” Dana says with an anger tone in her voice.

“You heard it first, folks. There will be a battle between Dana and Seth. I hope we learn more in the next episode what happens with Seth.”

“More like a war. I’ll win,” Dana states.

The audience cheers.

“What was your reaction when you and your family first arrived at Deadman’s Planet?”

“I hated it! Nothing but waves of sands that invades everything. With simple things become major pleasures. My family’s dwelling unit was cramped I couldn’t turn around without hitting something or someone.”

“What changed your mind?”

“A kind woman taking me under her wing and taught me how to thrive on Deadman’s Planet. Her loved and teachings changed my views. My family moved to our homestead to work the mines. Things improved.”

“Why did your mother bring you and your siblings to the planet?”

“My mom wanted us to grow up on Deadman’s Planet instead of a ship. The best resources are the rare materials lies underneath the sand providing a decent income.” 

“Have you thought about your future?”

“Not really. Sounds strange. My mom is a political leader and my dad a high ranking commander in the fleet. I haven’t thought about it. Though, my parents top priority is education. I guess, I’ve been busy existing there hasn’t been much time to think about my future.”

“My last question, do you want to get married?”

“Maybe. If I want children, I would have to leave my home because of the alien sand. The Badlands is my home.”

“Dana, our time has ran out. You’ve been an intriguing guest, I hope you will return to the Studio.”

“Thank you. I look forward to our next visit,” Dana says.

The lights fade.

Feb 3, 2017

I read an awesome book on fiction writing about writing deep scenes that engage the reader to keep reading. Many things I learned about scenes that it was mind blowing. It has me thinking about my first draft.

The book I read was called, “Writing Deep Scenes: Plotting Your Story Through Action, Emotion, and Theme.

A must-have for every writer!

The book expanded my thinking about a scene’s role in the story. Before, I thought a scene’s purpose shoved the story along until the end.

There are 15 different scenes and each scene can play an important part in the story. The book explains how to use a scene in the story. With the five Energetic Markers. I love the book explained the concepts in a crisp and clear way by using examples from popular novels.

I thought was helpful that the authors took their time at the end of the book to explain the theme. With wonderful suggestions and tips how to discover themes in my revision drafts. 

This book is worth reading and the time to study the concepts.
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Deep-Scenes-Plotting-Through

CCP Effect

2017 has officially arrived! The year is fresh with new beginnings and promises waiting to be seize. Perhaps, one of your goals is to write that novel or continue on a on-going novel. The realization sets in with the massive undertaking of writing a novel creeps into your thoughts and creating a wave of doubts to flutter around in your mind.

Now, the task seems more daunting and an overwhelming to finish the first draft of your manuscript. 

Those are normal emotions to have from my experience. When I start a new project: a short story, a blog post, or the first chapter of my novel, I find myself in a brawl with the Mind Battles arena. 

It’s the realization of the task of writing. In my mind I see what needs to be written. It can be a overwhelming emotion to deal with. At times, I wondered if I can write a scene at all; let alone, a complete first draft of a manuscript.

How I handle these battles in the Mind Battle arena with CCP Effect.

What is CCP Effect? That is a simple answer: Confidence, Commitment, and Passion. Three very important tools that writers need in their mental toolbox. When used the effect produces a complete first draft.

Confidence: Believing in your ability and your story despite the nagging doubts or fear that creeps into your mind. As you continue to pound away at the keyboard. That is confidence. At times, may not feel like it, but the strong belief to keep going no matter what your internal editor, family, and friends tell you.

Commitment: Setting a certain time in your schedule to sit down. Just write your story regardless how busy you are with work and family obligations. Even if you have 15 – 30 minutes, you can get a lot done.

Passion: Is simply put, a love for writing and always searching for ways to improve your writing abilities.

Let’s take a quick look at Confidence: it’s a belief in your ability and story no matter what your doubts say or the world. I see with newbies (beginning amateur writers) struggle with their internal editor while writing the first draft. 

Tips on keeping your Confidence intact:

• Turn off your internal editor by ignoring your doubts or replacing your thoughts:

  1. That’s what writing is for to produce a first draft.
  2. What I don’t know I can learn it.
  3. It’s the first draft, and that doesn’t need perfection. 
  4. Be quiet, I am writing here! ( I told myself many times that.)

• When writing a first draft don’t show it to your friends and family. They will start sharing their opinions or give you unnecessarily feedback that you are not ready for. That can feed your doubts and your internal editor. I have learned that one, the hard way, by listening to others negative thoughts to much in the beginning of the writing process can kill a story. 

• The first draft will be terrible. It’s not supposed too be perfect. So, don’t believe the myth it needs to be perfect, so just finish the first draft. 

Commitment is where a lot of writers fail because they don’t make their writing a priority. It takes commitment to write a story, whether it’s a short story, novelette, novella, or novel because it takes time to develop the story. Writers who don’t set time in their schedule won’t have a complete draft of their work or take a long time to complete it; I have witnessed that with my writer friends.   

Tips on Commitment:

• Be realistic about your life and your obligations. If you are married with children and working a full time job. Let’s say you have health issues besides your other obligations. Is it a realistic goal to have a first draft completed in a month? Most people fail because they don’t study their reality of their life. Your writing goals must fit with your life style and your schedule.

• If your schedule is jammed full of your obligations, then carved out 15 – 30 minutes everyday or three days. You will be surprise how much you can get done in writing the first draft.

• By setting a certain time in your schedule you will start getting your creative juices flowing. You’ll find over time sitting down to write will be easier to get the story on paper or screen.

Passion is something you love to do that brings you joy in life, like the love for writing. I don’t know if passion is born or develops over time. It is an important ingredient of success to be a publish author in today’s market. Passion will keep you going in those dark moments of writing when it seems hopeless.

Tips on passion:

• Protect your passion by avoiding yourself from negative people. 

• To keep your passion strong, read books on fiction writing to learn new techniques.

• Read your favorite novels to keep your creative juices full.

• Take time to relax and hang out with your family and friends. Just because you are a writer doesn’t mean you’re a hermit. 

When CCP Effect is use, you will get your first draft done. That’s a wonderful feeling to have at the end of your endeavor. 

Three types of writers


With the New Year just around the corner you may be thinking about writing that novel or story in 2017. Nothing wrong to having a goal about writing. In reality, writing is a good way to keep your mind active and strong.

From my experience there are three types of writers: the hobby writer, the amateur writer, and the professional writer. It is a good idea to figure out which writer you are, and most of us will fit in two categories the hobby writer and amateur writer.

  • The hobby writer is a person who enjoys writing in his/her spare time by creating poems, stories and keeping a journal. This person loves creating with words and there’s nothing wrong with that.
  • The amateur writer is a person who has the desire to become published by writing a novel and searching for techniques to take his/her writing to the next level.
  • The professional writer is published and has established his/her writing career.

The vast difference between the hobby and amateur writer is that the amateur writer is searching out ways to improve his/her craft by reading novels and books on fiction writing, taking a class, attending a writers group, writing, and learning from his/her favorite authors.

Another huge difference writing a novel takes commitment, dedication, and passion. These three words, weed out the amateurs and the hobbyists for writing a novel isn’t easy and at times just plain old difficult.

There is no greater thrill to have a complete manuscript ready to be edited at your fingertips at the end of the first phase.