Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Lynette M. Burrows Fiction that transforms. History that inspires. Tools for carving your own path. ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://lynettemburrows.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog](https://lynettemburrows.com/blog/) - Author, Lynette M Burrows blogs about heroines from history, inspiration, and creativity. She also shares books to read and progress on her latest book. - [They Stood Trial for Impersonating a Man](https://lynettemburrows.com/they-stood-trial-for-impersonating-a-man/) - For many years, U.S. history neglected many people due to their race or ethnicity or gender. Yet they existed. Meet Lucy Lobdell aka Joe. - [Three More Creativity Myths to Challenge](https://lynettemburrows.com/three-more-creativity-myths-to-challenge/) - We believe we are a modern people and don't believe in myths. Alas, we are wrong. Find out which creativity myths are untrue. - [7 Ways You Can Make Magic (Inspiration) Happen](https://lynettemburrows.com/7-ways-you-can-make-magic-inspiration-happen/) - I've learned you don't have to wait for an inspirational "aha!" moment. In this post, I'm sharing my top 7 ways to actively pursue inspiration. - [Are You Hooked by these First Lines from Superhero Novels?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-hooked-by-these-first-lines-from-superhero-novels/) - As a kid, I longed for novel-length fiction about superheroes but they were rare. Today I'm celebrating they aren't so rare anymore. - [Twelve Ways to Spark Your Creativity in the Mundane Moments](https://lynettemburrows.com/twelve-ways-to-spark-your-creativity-in-the-mundane-moments/) - The repetition common in our everyday lives can make us feel uncreative. But here are twelve ways to spark your creativity. - [5 Ways Writers Use All Senses Without Overwhelming Readers](https://lynettemburrows.com/5-ways-writers-use-all-senses-without-overwhelming-readers/) - Don’t make your readers pine for more sensory details or drown in too many. Learn strategic sensory integration and hit the sweet spot in your writing. - [Inspiration from War and Resistance](https://lynettemburrows.com/inspiration-from-war-and-resistance/) - Sometimes a novelist research allows a writer to write what they don't know. This is one source of inspiration for the first novel in the Fellowship Dystopia. - [More than an Inventor for Mothers](https://lynettemburrows.com/more-than-an-inventor-for-mothers/) - Today we celebrate the woman who invented the Boater for babies & their mothers. But Marion Donovan was more than an inventor for mothers. - [The Maid Who Fought Back](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-maid-who-fought-back/) - Hattie Canty an African-American labor activist who was the maid who fought back so that hospitality workers made a living wage. - [A Drag King with Zero Tolerance for Discrimination](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-drag-king-with-zero-tolerance-for-discrimination/) - Because of her skin color, bullies hung by her leg on a fence. She stopped running and later threw a punch and launched the Gay liberation movement. Or did she? - [5 Vacation Hacks That Boost Creativity, Backed by Research](https://lynettemburrows.com/5-vacation-hacks-that-boost-creativity-backed-by-research/) - Lynette offers a study-backed guide to creative vacations & staycations: rituals, journaling, and sensory tips to spark more creativity this summer. - [Promising First Lines From Out-of-this-World Vacations](https://lynettemburrows.com/promising-first-lines-from-out-of-this-world-vacations/) - Are you ready for a vacation? Take a virtual vacation when you read one of the books listed in this "First Lines" blog post, a monthly feature on this blog. - [After Grief, Growth, Creativity, & Intention](https://lynettemburrows.com/after-grief-growth-creativity-intention/) - From grief to new stories, discover how intentions, not goals, helped me rebuild my writing life, launch a new series, and find joy again. See my 2026 wins too. - [A Writer Only Begins a Book](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-writer-only-begins-a-book/) - In A Writer only begins a book, Lynette M Burrows discusses what a reader brings to a book. What do readers want? Read more - [How to Sharpen Your Writing Skills with These 4 Exercises](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-sharpen-your-writing-skills-with-these-4-exercises/) - Can you describe a potato so precisely a stranger picks it from a pile? That's one skill great writers need. Practice these exercises to sharpen your skills. - [3 Secrets to Creating the Time for Your Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/3-secrets-to-creating-the-time-for-your-creativity/) - Perhaps you despair of ever finding the time for your creative passion. Here are 3 secrets to creating the time for your creativity. - [How To Vanquish the Fear that Silences Your Stories ](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-vanquish-the-fear-that-silences-your-stories/) - Fear has a purpose but it’s not to stop a writer from writing. Learn what fear is and how to identify what you fear and how to defeat it. - [3 Awesome Systems to Improve Your Productivity](https://lynettemburrows.com/3-awesome-systems-to-improve-your-productivity/) - Lynette M. Burrows discusses the 3 systems she discovered that increased her productivity.. She adapted them to suit her life is more productive now than ever. - [Celebrate Best Friend Day AND Discover Your Next Read](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrate-best-friend-day-and-discover-your-next-read/) - This post is part of a monthly series that offers the first paragraphs of science fiction and fantasy titles. The stories in these books celebrate best friends. - [On Memorial Day Remember Women Who Made the Final Sacrifice](https://lynettemburrows.com/on-memorial-day-remember-women-who-made-the-final-sacrifice/) - Memorial Day in the U.S. is set aside to remember those who died in service to our country. Let us not forget the women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. - [You are More Creative than You Think. Proven.](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-are-more-creative-than-you-think-proven/) - School taught us that creativity wasn't valuable. They were wrong. Discover why your creative flame never went out and the small steps to reignite it today. - [The Woman Who Turned Grief and War into Powerful Art](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-woman-who-turned-grief-and-war-into-powerful-art/) - Käthe Kollwitz turned grief into art that shook the world. Discover how one woman's sorrow became the most powerful political statement of the 20th century. - [First Lines from Finalists for the 2026 Hugo Award](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-finalists-for-the-2026-hugo-award/) - Discover the 2026 Hugo Award Finalist novels! My First Lines series highlights top sci-fi & fantasy reads to help you find your next favorite book or series. - [Love Your Local booksellers Year Round](https://lynettemburrows.com/love-your-local-booksellers-year-round/) - Don’t wait 364 days to support indie book stores. Don’t know why you need to support them? Here are 17 reasons, plus 8 non-book-buying ways to support them. - [She Refused to be Silenced](https://lynettemburrows.com/she-refused-to-be-silenced/) - Full of contradictions, the fight for freedom of speech and workers rights killed her husband so she took up the fight. And wouldn’t be silenced. - [Balancing the Costs and Benefits of Being Creative](https://lynettemburrows.com/balancing-the-costs-and-benefits-of-being-creative/) - Creative products are undervalued by customers and creators. This writer takes a look at the numerous invisible costs and decides creativity is worth the cost. - [First Lines from Stories of Hope & Disaster for Earth Day](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-stories-of-hope-disaster-for-earth-day/) - First lines, a monthly series shares select first lines from novels. These titles in the broad category climate fiction were selected with Earth Day in mind. - [The Surprising Benefits of Silence And Why Creatives Need It](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-surprising-benefits-of-silence-and-why-creatives-need-it/) - We treat silence like punishment. But what if that fear is costing you your health, your creativity, and your peace? It's time to learn the science of silence. - [Develop a Page-Turning Plot with Character-First, Part II](https://lynettemburrows.com/develop-a-page-turning-plot-with-character-first-part-ii/) - Part two discusses the need for careful consideration of story stakes, overall pacing, and why words matter with examples of how word choices affect pace. - [Use the Right Mindset to Free Your Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/use-the-right-mindset-to-free-your-creativity/) - Mindset is the attitude you have about a thing. Learn about how it affects your creativity and how you can maximize your creative mindset. - [Summer vacation: Terror in the Tent, part II](https://lynettemburrows.com/summer-vacation-terror-in-the-tent-part-ii/) - After recovering from the fright in part one of Terror in the Tent, rolled with the punches of an adventure punctuated with discomfort and unpleasant surprises. - [Summer Vacation: Terror in a Tent](https://lynettemburrows.com/summer-vacation-terror-in-a-tent/) - Summer vacation meant adventure when I was a teen. But some of our family adventures got a little intense. This one had me screaming more than once. - [Going to Mars, Word by Word](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-to-mars-word-by-word/) - Celebrating the landing of Curiosity on Mars, I'm reviewing books written about Mars during the past seventy-plus years. We're going to Mars word by word. - [A Strong Woman and her Silent Spring Inspired the Environmental Movement](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-strong-woman-and-her-silent-spring-inspired-the-environmental-movement/) - A strong woman and her Silent Spring inspired the environmental movement, led to a nationwide ban on DDT and the creation of the EPA. - [The Insanity of Inequality](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-insanity-of-inequality/) - In the summer of 1860, Elizabeth Packard was a victim of a law that gave husbands all the power. Such was the insanity of inequality. - [A Passionate, if little Known Voice, Taught Big Lessons](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-passionate-if-little-known-voice-taught-big-lessons/) - Anna Julia Cooper overcame many obstacles on her path from slave to "the Mother of Black Feminism." Her passion for education never waivered. - [The Not Yet Forgotten Madame Carteaux ](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-not-yet-forgotten-madame-carteaux/) - You didn't learn about Madame Carteaux in your history classes, did you? More than a hair stylist, she wasn’t a superwoman, she was an everyday hero. - [Celebrating Women's History Month with Powerful First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrating-womens-history-month-with-powerful-first-lines/) - First Lines is a blog series posted the first week of the month. This month celebrate Women’s History Month with titles listed as feminist. Will be hooked? - [You Ought to Be Able to Focus](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-ought-to-be-able-to-focus/) - I find it difficult to focus these days. Do you? Read on for why your focus sucks and how you can improve your focus on writing and creativity. - [Being Creative When the S#$t Hits the Fan](https://lynettemburrows.com/being-creative-when-the-st-hits-the-fan/) - If you’re struggling to be creative during this time of uncertainty, remember you aren’t powerless. Regain your creativity with these tips. - [You Can Develop a Page-Turning Plot with Character First](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-can-develop-a-page-turning-plot-with-character-first/) - Part one of two, discusses the Russian nesting dolls method of developing a story, including examples of how both pantsers and planners can use this method. - [The Story of Female Olympians](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-story-of-female-olympians/) - WIth it's roots in ancient Greece, the Olympics has had a long history. But the history of female athletes in the Games is shorter and not at all smooth. - [Crush Your Creative Blocks With these 6 Powerful Exercises](https://lynettemburrows.com/crush-your-creative-blocks-with-these-6-powerful-exercises/) - When "life" sucks up all your time and energy for creativity, don't just suffer through it. Try one or more of these exercises and revitalize your creativity. - [Is there a Doctor in these First Lines?](https://lynettemburrows.com/is-there-a-doctor-in-these-first-lines/) - Celebrate National Women Physicians Day with these excerpts from science fiction books that include a physician or medical concern in the story line. - [Born to Save Children from Whooping Cough](https://lynettemburrows.com/born-to-save-children-from-whooping-cough/) - Leila Daughtery-Denmark believes doctors are born, not made. She became a pediatrician. She was born to save children from whooping cough. - [A Crisis Survival Guide for Creatives](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-crisis-survival-guide-for-creatives/) - Whys and how creatives can take care of their highly sensitive selves during a time of crisis. The world needs creatives in times like these. - [The First Lady of Oklahoma Isn’t Who You Think](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-lady-of-oklahoma-isnt-who-you-think/) - She was a woman, so she didn't belong in the history department. But she persisted and made her mark on history by writing about Native American history. - [Character Reveal: Beryl Clarke](https://lynettemburrows.com/character-reveal-beryl-clarke/) - In the character reveal, characters from my books complete a standard personality assessment test. Today’s character reveal: Beryl Clarke. - [Dr. Patricia Bath Helped the Blind to See](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-amazing-woman-who-helped-the-blind-to-see/) - It’s March. That means it is Women’s History Month. Today, this blog salutes Dr. Patricia Bath the amazing woman who helped the blind to see. - [Life After the Last Book: An Emotional Rollercoaster](https://lynettemburrows.com/life-after-the-last-book-an-emotional-rollercoaster/) - Lynette M. Burrows shares the emotional journey of having finished the last book in a series and how she copes with not knowing what to write next. - [First Lines From the top 100 Dystopian Books](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-the-top-100-dystopian-books/) - This post is part of a monthly series that offers the first paragraphs of dystopian books currently in the top 100 dystopian novels on Amazon. - [Last-Minute Ways to Protect Your Creativity & Holiday Cheer](https://lynettemburrows.com/last-minute-ways-to-protect-your-creativity-holiday-cheer/) - if you’re a procrastinator like me, you have no plan for the holidays and are winging it. Here are 4 ways to be creative and enjoy the holidays. - [My Journey to the Last Book in a Trilogy](https://lynettemburrows.com/my-journey-to-the-last-book-in-a-trilogy/) - From lonely kid finding hope in books to author creating hope for readers. The themes and real-life events that shaped The Fellowship Dystopia trilogy - [The Frame of a Story: The Forces of Antagonism, Part One](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-frame-of-a-story-the-forces-of-antagonism-part-one/) - I first came across the idea of forces of antagonism in Robert McKee’s book. No disrespect, but I didn’t get it. Until I re-worked it. - [First Lines From Books that Celebrate December Holidays](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-books-that-celebrate-december-holidays/) - Speculative fiction holiday stories do exist! Here are first lines from a few you may find interesting enough to buy. Which one is your holiday read? - [New Lessons, New Experiences, and New Looks](https://lynettemburrows.com/new-lessons-new-experiences-and-new-looks/) - Lynette shares a review of the first quarter of 2025 for her business including a cover reveal and an excerpt from her next book. - [Honor Pearl Harbor by Remembering to See](https://lynettemburrows.com/honor-pearl-harbor-by-remembering-to-see/) - It is 1,190 miles from where I live in Kansas to the Pacific Ocean. Pearl Harbor is 3,895 miles away. Yet, in my small Kansas town, we honor Pearl Harbor. We remember the lives taken and the survivors in a small city park. It is important to remember the attack, the horror, and most especially - [When a Plot Twist Changes Your Plans](https://lynettemburrows.com/when-a-plot-twist-changes-your-plans/) - Learn how Lynette managed a plot twist in her life and why she changed the publication date of book 3 in the Fellowship Dystopia, And When I Wake. - [Powerful Ways You Can Have an Overflowing Thankful Jar](https://lynettemburrows.com/powerful-ways-you-can-have-an-overflowing-thankful-jar/) - Gratitude isn't just for Thanksgiving Day. Build your gratitude muscle in just 2 minutes a day. See how a little thanks can transform your life. - [The Survival Skill You Need is Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-survival-skill-you-need-is-creativity/) - Creativity is much more than art. It's a way of thinking and seeing things differently. It allows us to solve problems, no matter what that problem is. - [Which Native American Author Wrote Your Next Awesome Read?](https://lynettemburrows.com/which-native-american-author-wrote-your-next-awesome-read/) - Celebrate Native American Heritage month, with these first lines. Perhaps one of these passages compels you to read the whole story. - [My Journey to a Trilogy + A look at: And When I Wake](https://lynettemburrows.com/my-journey-to-a-trilogy-a-look-at-and-when-i-wake/) - A reveal of log lines created for The Fellowship Dystopia trilogy and a sneak peek at book three, And When I Wake. Book three will be released in Dec 2025. - [10 Mindset Shifts to Build Your “I Can Handle This” Toolkit](https://lynettemburrows.com/10-mindset-shifts-to-build-your-i-can-handle-this-toolkit/) - Sometimes being a writer is overwhelming. So much to learn. So much to do. Here are 10 mindset shifts that will help you say "I can handle this." - [5 Ways to Support Your Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/5-ways-to-support-your-creativity/) - Feeling Overwhelmed? Overstimulated? Anxious? Can't focus on your creative work? These 5 (plus one) ideas may help you reset and support your creativity. - [The Emotional Toll of Writing Dark Fiction](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-emotional-toll-of-writing-dark-fiction/) - I created characters I thought couldn't exist in America—then watched them appear on the news. How to keep writing when reality feels dystopian. - [Sci-Fi and Fantasy First Lines That Will Give You Chills](https://lynettemburrows.com/sci-fi-and-fantasy-first-lines-that-will-give-you-chills/) - In October, many Americans celebrate all things spooky. So if you like stories that raise a chill bump or two & aren’t necessarily about ghosts, take a look. - [Make the Scary Parts Less Scary](https://lynettemburrows.com/make-the-scary-parts-less-scary/) - What makes something less scary? In this two part article, Lynette discusses how we can use science to modify and use fear so you feel like you can handle it. - [Celebrate Women's History with Some of the 1st First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrate-womens-history-with-some-of-the-1st-first-lines/) - This First Line's post celebrates Women's History month with a fun sampling of some of the women who broke through the male-dominated genre of science fiction. - [How to: Writing Dark Fiction When Reality Feels Dystopian](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-writing-dark-fiction-when-reality-feels-dystopian/) - How to write dark dystopian fiction when reality feels like a dystopia. Including examples from writing the final book in The Fellowship Dystopia series. - [Tip of the Hat to America's First Female Newspaper Publisher](https://lynettemburrows.com/tip-of-the-hat-to-americas-first-female-newspaper-publisher/) - September is Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month. Learn about a widowed woman pregnant with her seventh child who became a newspaper publisher. - [Mother Jones: Champion of the American Working Class](https://lynettemburrows.com/mother-jones-champion-of-the-american-working-class/) - Irish immigrant, Mary Harris, aka Mother Jones, lost everything twice. Undaunted, she became a tireless advocate of the American working class. - [Fantastic Fantasy First Lines to Tickle Your Funny Bone](https://lynettemburrows.com/fantastic-fantasy-first-lines-to-tickle-your-funny-bone/) - This month's fun first line excerpts come from title by authors: Caitlin Rozakis, Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Helen Harper, Jen Lassalle, and Rob Childson. - [Writing How-to: Create Characters Your Readers Love and Hate](https://lynettemburrows.com/writing-how-to-create-characters-your-readers-love-and-hate/) - Want to know why readers put down your books? Lynette M. Burrows discusses six common character problems that make readers put books down and how to fix them. - [A tiny Crack in Male-dominated Science](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-tiny-crack-in-male-dominated-science/) - Despite the limitations 19th century society put on amateur scientist, Eunice Newton Foote, she made a tiny crack in male-dominated science. - [Consistently Inconsistent OR Striving for Consistency](https://lynettemburrows.com/consistently-inconsistent-or-striving-for-consistency/) - This recycled post from 2017 serves as a reminder and a measure of my progress as a blogger, author newsletter provider, and the behavioral changes I've made. - [First Lines from Tales of Spaceships and Aliens](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-tales-of-spaceships-and-aliens/) - The hooky-ness of a first line is in the reader's eyes. These first lines are from books with classic space ships and aliens tropes. - [Create Compelling Scenes with the MRU](https://lynettemburrows.com/create-compelling-scenes-with-the-mru/) - Learn about the motivation-reaction unit, (MRU), a tool from Dwight V. Swain's Techniques of a Selling Writer, that can make your characters more realistic. - [What You Should Have Learned About the Second First Lady](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-you-should-have-learned-about-the-second-first-lady/) - Abigail Adams, the second First Lady, was a strong woman who influenced and helped shape America through her husband and her son. - [What False Comfort Zone Are You In?](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-false-comfort-zone-are-you-in/) - Lynette M. Burrows explores what false comfort zones are and steps you can take to push out the walls of your false comfort zone. - [First Lines from SF and F to Make You Smile](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-sf-and-f-to-make-you-smile/) - First lines highlights first lines SF & F for readers who want a lighter story, something that might lift spirits that need a refresh. - [13 Tips to Create Irresistible Stories with Powerful Pacing](https://lynettemburrows.com/13-tips-to-create-irresistible-stories-with-powerful-pacing/) - Varying the intensity and speed of your storytelling is a delicate balance between too fast and too slow. Learn how you can control the pacing of your story. - [Honor Small Wins in Your Life to Feel Successful](https://lynettemburrows.com/honor-small-wins-in-your-life-to-feel-successful/) - Many people, creatives in particular, struggle with not feeling successful. Learn why you don't feel successful and what you can do to change that. - [Charlotte Cushman, Strong Enough to Play the Breeches Parts](https://lynettemburrows.com/charlotte-cushman-strong-enough-to-play-the-breeches-parts/) - Charlotte Cushman was a force of nature on stage and off. She gained fame and fortune and earned acclaim in both America and Europe. - [Turn On the Romance of June with First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/turn-on-the-romance-of-june-with-first-lines/) - Celebrating weddings and romance and relationships with first lines from romances in the spec fic subgenres. And bonus! More romance and LBGTQ+ first lines. - [How To Protect Your Creative Life Against Imposter Syndrome](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-protect-your-creative-life-against-imposter-syndrome/) - Imposter Syndrome hits all creatives. Understand what it is, how it works, and how you can protect your creative life from being trapped in imposter syndrome. - [Memorial Day, It's a Privilege to Remember](https://lynettemburrows.com/memorial-day-its-a-privilege-to-remember/) - Over the years, I've written many blog posts about Memorial Day and about American and others who served their country in conflicts throughout history. - [She Lived with Courage and Conviction](https://lynettemburrows.com/she-lived-with-courage-and-conviction/) - Hannah Szenes, a Hungarian Jew, saw the swell of anti-Semitism before WWII. Because of that, she became a symbol of courage, conviction, and self-sacrifice. - [Life - It's a Balancing Act - Really!](https://lynettemburrows.com/its-a-balancing-act-really/) - Lynette M. Burrows discusses the desire for work-life balance, what it really means, and how you might think about it differently. - [First Lines Celebrating Mexican Heritage on Cinco de Mayo](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-celebrating-mexican-heritage-on-cinco-de-mayo/) - Reminding readers why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with a bit of history and first lines from science fiction and fantasy by Mexican-American authors. - [Creativity in a Time of Chaos](https://lynettemburrows.com/creativity-in-a-time-of-chaos/) - Chaos is part of the “circle of life.” But when chaos reigns being creative can feel impossible. Read on for ways to make it possible. - [First Lines For LL & LD Awareness Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-for-ll-ld-awareness-month/) - It's April which means it's LL & LD Awareness month. Read these first lines of science fiction stories whose primary character lives with a disability. - [How To Build a Reading Toolkit for Your Writing Toolbox](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-build-a-reading-toolkit-for-your-writing-toolbox/) - Lynette M. Burrows shows how to turn your reading time into a way to improve your writing. Read more to learn why and how to build your reader's toolbox. - [She was One Who Tried for Justice And Freedom](https://lynettemburrows.com/she-was-one-who-tried-for-justice-and-freedom/) - Learn about the woman who wanted to be known as one who tried Dorothy Height did more than try. Her dedication and tireless efforts were remarkable. - [How to Generate Creative Ideas from Unexpected Sources](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-generate-creative-ideas-from-unexpected-sources/) - Ideas can be like seeds. Sometimes they are from a like plant. Sometimes they've been cross-pollinated from unexpected sources. - [Recognize Your Stress Levels](https://lynettemburrows.com/recognize-your-stress-levels/) - We are all under stress almost all the time. When you live with stress every day, you may not recognize your stress levels and how they affect your life. - [She Did Remarkable Things All in a Day’s Work](https://lynettemburrows.com/she-did-remarkable-things-all-in-a-days-work/) - American history hasn’t been kind to women, less so to Black women. Learn about the remarkable Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black female medical doctor. - [Celebrate National Storytelling Week with First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrate-national-storytelling-week-with-first-lines/) - I love to check the first lines of a book to see if I want to read it, don't you? Here are first lines that you might enjoy, too. - [Valuable Lessons Learned at a Local Writers Workshop](https://lynettemburrows.com/valuable-lessons-learned-at-a-local-writers-workshop/) - I constantly talk myself out of things because they cost "money" or "takes too much time." Well, look what I learned when I took a chance. - [How I Found Amazing Mentors and You Can Too](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-i-found-amazing-mentors-and-you-can-too/) - A mentor is a trusted counselor or guide, a guide. One can make significant contributions to your writing. But how do you find a mentor? - [A Sneak Peek for Your Entertainment](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-sneak-peek-for-your-entertainment/) - COVID-19 has changed our world. What I can do for others is limited. But I can share my stories. Listen and watch a sneak peek for your entertainment. - [A Day to Pray for Peace](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-day-to-pray-for-peace/) - Seventy-five years ago death and destruction rained on Hiroshima. Three days later Nagasaki was hit. Remember and make August 6th a day to pray for peace. - [Nearing The End](https://lynettemburrows.com/nearing-the-end/) - I am nearing THE END of this eternal re-write. This novel was first attempted years ago. Earlier drafts got me two different agents and almost sold twice. - [9 Things Rarely Seen Today](https://lynettemburrows.com/9-things-rarely-seen/) - These things rarely seen today appear in my soon-to-be-published novel, My Soul to Keep. Take a trip down memory lane or explore past technologies with me. - [Inspired by a Maximum Security Prison](https://lynettemburrows.com/inspired-by-a-maximum-security-prison/) - In My Soul to Keep, Miranda Clarke lands in a prison that resembles a real federal penitentiary. That's right I was inspired by a maximum security prison. - [Inspiration from Real-life, Heart-wrenching History: Part II](https://lynettemburrows.com/inspiration-from-real-life-heart-wrenching-history-part-ii/) - As inspiration for my novel, My Soul to Keep, the idea of Eugenics in America fascinated me. Unfortunately, my inspiration came from real-life. Read more. - [I Was Alone But Not Alone](https://lynettemburrows.com/i-was-alone-but-not-alone/) - My book, My Soul to Keep, launched yesterday. It was a special moment. But as I reflected on the hours, days, weeks, and years I worked on this book, I realized something important. I was alone but not alone. So many things go into writing a book. All the books read, the friends roped into - [If She Loves a Rag Doll, Is She Still Evil?](https://lynettemburrows.com/if-she-loves-a-rag-doll-is-she-still-evil/) - How do you create an evil story villain who has some redeeming qualities? Here's a hint: If she loves a rag doll, is she still evil? - [Sneak Peek At A Work-In-Progress](https://lynettemburrows.com/sneak-peek-at-a-work-in-progress/) - Sneak Peek at a work-in-progress. Ian must stop their pursuers, the Cleaners, or he and his siblings face re-education or death. - [Inspiration from Fire and Brimstone and Redemption.](https://lynettemburrows.com/inspiration-from-fire-and-brimstone-and-redemption/) - I come from a family with deep roots in conservative religion and found inspiration from fire and brimstone and redemption. Where did I find that inspiration? American Christianity has a history of periodic revivals of conservative religious fervor called the Great Awakening. During each of these periods of Awakening, there were widespread revivals led by - [Inspiration Behind the Scenes with a Female Sniper](https://lynettemburrows.com/inspiration-behind-the-scenes-with-a-female-sniper/) - What has the youngest sniper-in-training at a school for Komsomol to do with my novel, My Soul to Keep? Inspiration Behind the Scenes with a Female Sniper. - [A Frustrated High School Teacher and Disinterested Students Created a Legacy](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-frustrated-high-school-teacher-and-disinterested-students-created-a-legacy/) - A frustrated high school teacher and disinterested students created a magazine, an anthology, a teaching method, and a legacy. And inspired a character. - [I Can't and It's Okay](https://lynettemburrows.com/i-cant-and-its-okay/) - I can't and it's okay. Normally on Wednesdays I try to blog about some interesting bit of history I’ve learned in researching my books. But today, I can't. - [Unimpressed to Loving the Blue Ridge Mountains](https://lynettemburrows.com/unimpressed-to-loving-the-blue-ridge-mountains/) - A soft blue haze enveloped the first mountains I ever saw. They didn’t impress me much. I went from unimpressed to loving the Blue Ridge Mountains. - [When a Department Store was an Experience](https://lynettemburrows.com/when-a-department-store-was-an-experience/) - Department Stores, they ain’t what they used to be. There was a time when a trip to the department store was an experience. - [Come with Me Down the Novel Research Hole](https://lynettemburrows.com/come-with-me-down-the-novel-research-hole/) - Come with me down the novel research hole. Learn about the U.S. Coast Guard(USCG). It's average day is far busier than you know. - [Who Gets to be a Saint?](https://lynettemburrows.com/who-gets-to-be-a-saint/) - Today, is All Saints’ Day. A day when Christians honor their saints. The Catholic church has canonized around 3,000 people. But who gets to be a saint? - [Character Reveal: Irene](https://lynettemburrows.com/character-reveal-irene/) - Character reveal: Irene. A character from one my books (in print or works in progress) answers questions from a standard personality assessment test. - [Character Reveal: Miranda Clarke](https://lynettemburrows.com/character-reveal-miranda-clarke/) - The character reveal Miranda is part of a feature on my website. Characters from my books answer questions from a standard personality assessment test. - [Character Reveal: Leslie](https://lynettemburrows.com/character-reveal-leslie/) - In a character reveal, characters from my books or WIP answer questions from a standard personality assessment test. Today’s character reveal: Leslie. - [Character Reveal: Wanda](https://lynettemburrows.com/character-reveal-wanda/) - It’s character reveal: Wanda! Wanda Terry, 22, is Miranda’s second mate, chief engineer, and ship’s cook in If I Should Die (coming soon). - [Progress Report One: Book 2 of The Fellowship Dystopia](https://lynettemburrows.com/progress-report-one-book-2-of-my-soul-to-keep/) - I'm having fun writing strong female characters on both sides of good and evil. This is the first official progress report for If I Should Die. - [Sneak Peek: If I Should Die Chapter 4](https://lynettemburrows.com/sneak-peek-if-i-should-die-chapter-4/) - Sneak Peek: If I Should Die Chapter 4. Miranda, a woman of peace, must to resort to violence and save lives or stick to her principles and sacrifice many. - [Sneak Peek, If I Should Die Chapter 5](https://lynettemburrows.com/sneak-peek-if-i-should-die-chapter-5/) - TGIF! Though these days Fridays don’t feel the same, do they? However, this Friday is your Sneak Peek, If I Should Die, Chapter 5 episode. - [Sneak Peek: If I Should Die Chapter 6](https://lynettemburrows.com/sneak-peek-if-i-should-die-chapter-6/) - Welcome to sneak peek, If I Should Die, Chapter 6. This is the sixth (Duh) installment of sneak peeks at my WIP (work-in-progress). - [A Never Give Up-Never Surrender Attitude](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-never-give-up-never-surrender-attitude/) - My Never Give Up-Never Surrender attitude has kept me moving through the first half of 2021, though at a much slower pace than normal. - [Sneak Peek at If I Should Die, Part 2](https://lynettemburrows.com/sneak-peek-at-if-i-should-die-part-2/) - It's Friday. And its story time again. This is a sneak peak at the next book in the My Soul to Keep series, a work-in-progress, If I Should Die, part 2. - [A Novel Announcement](https://lynettemburrows.com/novel-announcement/) - A novel announcement, My Soul to Keep is available as a paperback and an ebook - [How I Found My Cover Artist](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-i-found-my-cover-artist/) - How I Found My Cover Artist was a realitively straightforward process. I write but words failed me when I began looking for a cover artist. Read More. - [A Writer’s Serendipity or How Research Saved My Book](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-writers-serendipity-or-how-research-saved-my-book/) - A writer's serendipity or how research saved my book relates how a little research and a lot of paying attention goes a long way. - [Book Cover Reveal: My Soul to Keep](https://lynettemburrows.com/book-cover-reveal-my-soul-to-keep/) - Book cover reveal: My Soul to Keep, by Lynette M. Burrows. It's 1961, America's a theocracy, & angel-assassins stalk the land. Miranda hasn't got a prayer. - [Inspiration from Real-life, Heart-wrenching History](https://lynettemburrows.com/inspiration-from-real-life-heart-wrenching-history/) - The most difficult inspiration for My Soul to Keep came from real-life, heart-wrenching history. The sad fact is that America practiced a form of eugenics. - [A Train Station with a Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-train-station-with-a-story/) - Union Station of Kansas City has seen tears of joy, tears of sadness, and even blood and tears. Its history inspired If I Should Die, the Fellowship Dystopia, Book Two. - [The Hidden History of Afong Moy & American Prejudice](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-hidden-history-of-afong-moy-american-prejudice/) - At 18-year-old Afong Moy was the first recorded Chinese woman who entered the US Sadly, her sparse history says more about early America’s citizens than Moy. - [Remembering American Women in Military Service](https://lynettemburrows.com/remembering-american-women-in-military-service/) - A Memorial Day remembrance: Remembering American Women in Military Service who died for their country as well as the men. - [Will You Help Forge a Gender Equal World?](https://lynettemburrows.com/will-you-help-forge-a-gender-equal-world/) - It takes hard work to forge a gender equal world. International Women’s Day reminds us that gender has been used to justify abuse for centuries. - [How Do You Recognize a Strong Woman?](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-do-you-recognize-a-strong-woman/) - Many women are strong. But their strength is often isn't physical. If it’s not physical strength, how do you recognize a strong woman? - [Are You an Anti-Strong Female Protagonist Protester?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-an-anti-strong-female-protagonist-protester/) - Have you read the protests? Are you one of the Anti-Strong Female Protagonist Protesters? Stop a minute. There are reasons we need the label. - [First Lines for Women's History Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-for-womens-history-month/) - Let’s celebrate Women’s History Month with first lines from books about women of history. Would you read one of these? Do you have one you'd recommend? - [First Lines from the Books Picked "Best of 2023"](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-the-books-picked-best-of-2023/) - First Lines is a regular blog series. These first lines are from Amazon’s Editors' Picks. Do you agree? Do these first lines hook you? - [You Wouldn't Be Here Without Them](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-wouldnt-be-here-without-them/) - You wouldn't be here without them. We're talking about the women of history who had the strength to get through the next day after the next. - [Leading on a White Horse, Girl Wants Voting Rights ](https://lynettemburrows.com/leading-on-a-white-horse-girl-wants-voting-rights/) - What image comes to mind when you think of the women’s suffrage movement in America? A woman in a long suffragette white dress? Is she Chinese? She was. - [She Saved the Moon Landing](https://lynettemburrows.com/she-saved-the-moon-landing/) - It's July 20, 1969. U.S. astronauts in the lunar module near the surface of the moon. Alarms blare. Should they abort? No, she saved the moon landing. - [Preserving Your Creative Self When Disaster Strikes](https://lynettemburrows.com/preserving-your-creative-self-when-disaster-strikes/) - Whether it's from a current disaster or an old trauma, emotional wounds don't have to spell the end of your creativity. Healing is possible. - [First Lines In Adventures](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-in-adventures/) - It's darker and colder in the Northern hemisphere. The perfect time to get cozy and read. These first lines present adventures in other places or other times. - [Reflecting on 2024, A Year of Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/reflecting-on-2024-a-year-of-creativity/) - Lynette M. Burrows shares her reflections on the past year of creativity, learning, and coming out from the fog of grief. - [Do Your Characters Play Well With Others?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-your-characters-play-well-with-others/) - Do your characters play well with others? While writing the first draft you can allow your characters to ‘'take over' your story, but not so in revision. - [From the End to the Beginning](https://lynettemburrows.com/from-the-end-to-the-beginning/) - Many writers spend a lot of time crafting the critically important beginning of a story. Did you know the ending is just as important? - [Putting the Pieces Together](https://lynettemburrows.com/putting-the-pieces-together/) - You’ve analyzed your story for seven long Revisioning Your Story lessons. It’s time learn how to prepare and then put all the pieces together. Are you ready? - [Is There a Time and Place in Your Story?](https://lynettemburrows.com/is-there-time-and-place-in-your-story/) - Set the time and place in your story. It makes a big difference, like the difference between Sleeping Beauty's castle and Windsor castle. - [Are Your Character's Goals Golden?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-your-characters-goals-golden/) - The second installment in Lynette M. Burrows's "Re-vision Your Story," discusses how to make your character's goals golden. - [As the Plot Turns: Re-Visioning Your Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/as-the-plot-turns/) - As the plot turns, so turns your story. Pantser or Planner, HOW you choose to write the story MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. Fine tune the plot in the second draft. - [Conflict: Twist the Knife Slowly](https://lynettemburrows.com/conflict-twist-the-knife-slowly/) - Diagnose dull-knife conflict and learn to twist the knife slowly to make your story conflict compelling in week three of Re-Visioning Your Story. - [A Carol of the Blog: Revisiting Past Winter Holiday Posts](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-carol-of-the-blog-revisiting-past-winter-holiday-posts/) - The spirit of past posts is visiting. Journey to holidays across the world, to the science of Christmas trees, to being alone, and finally Dr. Seuss. - [Depressed for the Holidays](https://lynettemburrows.com/depressed-for-the-holidays/) - Being depressed for the holidays sucks. Count your blessings? How do you count your blessing when everything adds to your burdens? - [Celebrating and Remembering: 5 December Holidays](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrating-and-remembering-5-december-holidays/) - December is a month of celebrating and remembering, a month of symbols. Let's explore 5 of the holidays and celebrations during the first week of the month. - [10 Celebrations During the Third Week of December](https://lynettemburrows.com/10-celebrations-during-the-third-week-of-december/) - The third week of celebrations in December include e more than the Christmas celebrations many of us are familiar with. Learn more in this blog post. - [5 December Celebrations](https://lynettemburrows.com/5-december-celebrations/) - Continuing my exploration of the holidays and celebrations in December let's look at 5 December celebrations held during the second week of the month. - [17 Celebrations during the final week of December](https://lynettemburrows.com/17-celebrations-during-the-final-week-of-december/) - During the final week of December there are many celebrations, traditions, and holidays across the world. Is your holiday or celebration in this list? - [Secrets Behind a Character’s Wound](https://lynettemburrows.com/secrets-behind-a-characters-wound/) - This how-to article identifies what to avoid when creating a character with a wound and how fear makes the wound and character relatable. - [Give Your Creative Self Grace When You Need It ](https://lynettemburrows.com/give-your-creative-self-grace-when-you-need-it/) - Trying to be creatively productive during times of extra activities and stress can obliterate your goals. Read 5 tips on being productive & self-compassionate. - [Do You Have a Mental Health First Aid Kit?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-have-a-mental-health-first-aid-kit/) - What do you do when you suffer a blow to your mental health? What would that be? Do you have a mental health first aid kit? What would be in it? - [Jolly First Lines for a Happy Holiday Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/jolly-first-lines-for-a-happy-holiday-month/) - First Lines of books are written to entice people to read more. These first lines are from humorous science fiction & fantasy books. Which one do you like? - [Tips for Transforming Your Thanksgiving into Your Art ](https://lynettemburrows.com/tips-for-transforming-your-thanksgiving-in-your-art/) - Get valuable insights and tips on how to embrace your creativity and find inspiration in your holidays and your everyday experiences. - [No More Banging Your Head Against Waning Inspiration](https://lynettemburrows.com/no-more-banging-your-head-against-waining-inspiration/) - If your inspiration wanes, don’t despair. Spur your inspiration rather than just soldiering on or giving up. Be prepared. Keep this list of things to try. - [The Woman Who Made it an American Thanksgiving](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-woman-who-made-it-an-american-thanksgiving/) - The author of the nursery rhyme, "Mary Had a Little Lamb," was an influencer (before social media) and the mother of the American Thanksgiving holiday. - [Explore New Lands and New Peoples with these First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/explore-new-lands-and-new-peoples-with-these-first-lines/) - First lines from science fiction books that explore the challenges of new lands and new peoples to inspire writers and point readers to books they might enjoy. - [The Truth about Witches, a Special Edition of First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-truth-about-witches-a-special-edition-of-first-lines/) - This is a special edition of First Lines from fiction books for readers of all ages, featuring witches. Do these first lines make you want to buy books? - [Scenes, the Lego bricks of Story Structure](https://lynettemburrows.com/scenes-the-lego-bricks-of-story-structure/) - A child learns to use Lego bricks and builds a tower one brick on top of another. The older the child gets, the more he understands that interlocking the bricks makes a stronger structure. Her structures grow taller, sturdier, and more complex. So it is with understanding story structure. Scenes are the Lego bricks of story structure. - [You Don't Have to be an Artist](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-dont-have-to-be-an-artist/) - Sadly, many people seem to think they aren’t creative because they don’t make art. You don’t have to be an artist to be creative. - [Undo the Brainwashing-Be Creative](https://lynettemburrows.com/undo-the-brainwashing-be-creative/) - Do you think you aren't creative? Or you're blocked or lost your creativity? Lynette M. Burrows shows you ways to undo the brainwashing and be creative. - [First Lines to Help You Survive Back-to-School Days](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-to-help-you-survive-back-to-school-days/) - Celebrating (or commiserating) with the USA as the nation enters back to school days, these first lines are from stories about space cadet or magic school. - [Need a Last Minute Gift for Your Writer Friend?](https://lynettemburrows.com/need-a-last-minute-gift-for-your-writer-friend/) - I'm a procrastinator in nearly every aspect of my life. This includes finding and buying gifts. So I am sharing some "golden" gift ideas you might use for your writer friends. - [Warrior Wordsmiths, First Lines by Veterans](https://lynettemburrows.com/warrior-wordsmiths-first-lines-by-veterans/) - This month’s First Lines post is dedicated to the veterans who served or are serving in the U.S. military. It also acknowledges those who serve elsewhere. - [Take Charge of Your Next Creative Growth Spurt](https://lynettemburrows.com/take-charge-of-your-next-creative-growth-spurt/) - Creative growth spurts are possible. Learn to recognize what a creative growth spurt is, what the symptoms are, and how to take advantage of one. - [Special First Lines To Celebrate World Letter Writing Day](https://lynettemburrows.com/special-first-lines-to-celebrate-world-letter-writing-day/) - First lines is a blog series quoting the first few lines of books currently being sold. Which of these hooks you enough to buy a copy? - [Spy, Loyalist, and Diplomat](https://lynettemburrows.com/spy-loyalist-and-diplomat/) - She was an influential Mohawk woman during the Revolutionary War. A spy, loyalist and diplomat, and a Clan Mother, Molly Brant straddled two worlds. - [First Lines by Indigenous Authors](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-by-indigenous-authors/) - Monday, October 14th is Indigenous People’s day. Let's commemorate the day with first lines from science fiction and fantasy books by Indigenous authors. - [Listen & Learn: Podcasts](https://lynettemburrows.com/listen-learn-podcasts/) - We’re all busy, right? We juggle pets, children, spouses, chores, jobs, and more. So how does one make time for learning and personal growth? - [More than One Kind of Courage](https://lynettemburrows.com/more-than-one-kind-of-courage/) - Courage in the face of extreme danger is admirable, but there’s more than one kind of courage. Some types of courage you use everyday. - [The Passionate One Dared Fight Discrimination and Neglect](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-passionate-one-dared-fight-discrimination-and-neglect/) - Emma Tenayuca fought passionately for the rights of Mexican Americans to earn a living wage, to get jobs, and to have a voice. - [Reward Your Readers with a Battle that Earns the Ending ](https://lynettemburrows.com/reward-your-readers-with-a-battle-that-earns-the-ending/) - Don't disappoint your reader with a story ending that fizzles. Learn to set up your characters to earn the ending. Reward your reader with the final battle. - [Do You Know About Women’s Equality Day?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-know-about-womens-equality-day/) - August 26 is Women's Equality Day. Women’s right to vote has been and continues to be a world-wide struggle. Learn about Women's Equality Day. - [How to Recognize & Follow Your Creative Instincts](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-recognize-follow-your-creative-instincts/) - Don't wait for the lightning bolt. Learn what creative instincts are, how to recognize, trust, and use them to live your best creative life. - [She had an Ahead of Her Time Passion for Education](https://lynettemburrows.com/she-had-an-ahead-of-her-time-passion-for-education/) - Society thought women didn’t need a higher education. Emma Hart Willard made it her life’s work to improve female education. - [Do More than Survival with a Brilliant Me Revival](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-more-than-survival-with-a-brilliant-me-revival/) - Sometimes the lack of focus isn’t because you don’t know how to focus, it’s that you’ve depleted your focus energy. You need a Me Revival. - [Build Your Focus Enhancing Toolbox](https://lynettemburrows.com/build-your-focus-enhancing-toolbox/) - The “don’t wanna” is strong in me today. I’m distracted by every little thing, every muscle twitch, the silent house, the lyrics of music, noises outside my home, Facebook, the television, everything except the nearly completed manuscript, the blog post due tomorrow, and finishing the cutting in paint job that will lead to completion of - [A Woman Ahead of Her Time](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-woman-ahead-of-her-time/) - She was a woman ahead of her time, an author, a songwriter, a social justice advocate, an advocate for her culture, and the last and only Queen of Hawaii. - [The Pervasive Myth of the Creativity Cliff](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-pervasive-myth-of-the-creativity-cliff/) - Many people firmly believe you will have your best creative early on. After that, your creativity drops like an anvil off a cliff. - [Do First Lines from Prologues Inspire You to Read?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-first-lines-from-prologues-inspire-you-to-read/) - Common knowledge says most readers don't read prologues. Put the "they say" to the test in this first lines post featuring prologues from Space Operas. - [The Goldilocks Solution to Too Much or Too Little Feedback](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-goldilocks-solution-to-too-much-or-too-little-feedback/) - Too much or too little feedback can be harmful. You can manage feedback so that, like Goldilocks, you find the “just right” solution to your feedback needs. - [Do You Know Diva and Swords Woman Extraordinaire, La Maupin?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-know-diva-and-swords-woman-extraordinaire-la-maupin/) - Pride Month continues to be recognized with this woman of history. Opera singer, Fencing duelist, and bisexual, La Maupin lived a bold if short life. - [Successful Creativity is Planned Like a DIY Project](https://lynettemburrows.com/successful-creativity-is-planned-like-a-diy-project/) - We often assume the ease or difficulty of an activity based on the basic skill. For greater success, treat your creativity like a DIY project. - [First Lines Celebrating Pride Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-celebrating-pride-month/) - Celebrating Pride month, this First Lines post features novels that run the science fiction and fantasy subgenre gamut. I hope you enjoy them. - [Accept Your Fear to Break Free of Creativity Blocks](https://lynettemburrows.com/accept-your-fear-to-break-free-of-creativity-blocks/) - Fear and its cousin, anxiety, are sneaky. Most of the time, they are protective and helpful. But fear can be a creativity-killer. - [Crafting a Story with the Forces of Antagonism,Part Two](https://lynettemburrows.com/crafting-a-story-with-the-forces-of-antagonismpart-two/) - Using a high concept theory like Robert McKee’s Forces of Antagonism to frame a story isn’t easy. Let’s take a closer look at how I use it to develop a story. - [the Indispensable NEW Companion to the Emotion Thesaurus!](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-indispensable-new-companion-to-the-emotion-thesaurus/) - #Writers, you're in for a special treat today. I’m helping to get the word out about a new book and a HUGE giveaway Angela and Becca are running to celebrate! - [First Lines From the 2024 Hugo Nominees](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-the-2024-hugo-nominees/) - First Lines is a first of the month blog post series. These lines are from some of the nominees for the 2024 Hugo Awards. Which would you pick to win? - [A Change for the Better](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-change-for-the-better/) - It’s been a long time since my last progress report. I changed my planning method for the better. This is how the first quarter of 2024 has gone. - [Hoots and Derision did not Worry Lilian Bland](https://lynettemburrows.com/hoots-and-derision-did-not-worry-lilian-bland/) - Lilian Bland didn't follow Edwardian society's expectations. Artist, journalist, mechanic, and pilot, she flew true to herself despite the era she grew up in. - [How Creatives Can Improve their Motivation: It Isn't Magic](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-creatives-can-improve-their-motivation-it-isnt-magic/) - It can be a struggle to create when it's not your full-time job—and sometimes, even when it is. Understand why you resist and how motivation works can help. - [Tantalizing First Lines from Science Fiction for Children](https://lynettemburrows.com/tantalizing-first-lines-from-science-fiction-for-children/) - These first lines are from science fiction and fantasy celebrate Hans Christian Andersen’s April 2nd birthday and International Children’s Book day. - [The Sentence: One Plotting Tool for All](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-sentence-one-plotting-tool-for-all/) - There are tools that can help all writers, regardless of their preferred story development method. One plotting tool for all is the story sentence. - [Where You Can Find Inspiration](https://lynettemburrows.com/where-you-can-find-inspiration/) - What do we do when we feel uninspired or blocked creatively? This post reminds you why you might be blocked and gives some exercises to reawaken your ideas. - [Women Who Love Their Slacks Owe Amelia Bloomer a Thank You](https://lynettemburrows.com/women-who-love-their-slacks-owe-amelia-bloomer-a-thank-you/) - Amelia Bloomer edited and published what is probably the first newspaper by and for women. But her real fame came from the clothes she wore. - [First Lines To Start Your SF Adventure](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-to-start-your-sf-adventure/) - Each of these quotes are from SF Adventure novels written by women. Do these first lines hook you? Do you want to read more? - [Ground Your Characters with these Writing Tips](https://lynettemburrows.com/ground-your-characters-with-these-writing-tips/) - Have you tried to put ground beneath the feet of your characters but need to be better? With tips and examples, Lynette shows you how. - [First Lines of Science Fiction Love Stories](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-of-science-fiction-love-stories/) - It's February so this month's First Lines post is all about Love Stories. Science Fiction Romance that is. Get your romance by reading a books. - [Flash Fiction: Gift of a Lifetime](https://lynettemburrows.com/flash-fiction-friday-gift-of-a-lifetime/) - This flash fiction story is about a grieving widow trying to cope with the loss of her beloved husband. She'd been promised a lifetime. Should she try again? - [35 Tips to a Healthier Writer You ](https://lynettemburrows.com/35-tips-to-a-healthier-writer-you/) - Writers tend to be workaholics who work in a less than perfect environment. Avoid back pain and RSI by following these tips. - [Re-Visioning Your Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/re-visioning-your-story-week-1/) - Revision is probably the single most difficult thing a writer must do. Lynette M. Burrows calls it re-visioning and shares six lessons on how to re-vision your story. - [She Challenged Invisibility with Truth](https://lynettemburrows.com/she-challenged-invisibility-with-truth/) - Yosano Akiko spoke courageous, raw truths that threatened to free Japanese women. She was one of the country’s most controversial poets. - [The Pull-me, Push-You of Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-pull-me-push-you-of-creativity/) - I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You are creative. Don't believe me? It's time you learn about the creative personality. - [One Word to Guide You](https://lynettemburrows.com/one-word-to-guide-you/) - Words are so interesting. They are defined yet have multiple connotations. They can be inspirational. That is what I'm aiming for with my word for 2024. - [5 Steps to Living Your True Creative Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/5-steps-to-living-your-true-creative-life/) - Creativity is one of the things that makes us whole. Read further for five steps on how to re-discover your creativity and begin living your creative truth. - [Celebrating December Moments For and By Strong Women](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrating-december-moments-for-and-by-strong-women/) - Amazing and awe-inspiring these are the women and events about women that were noticed in the news or historical documents during the month of December. - [First Lines from the Best SF & F Books of 2023](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-the-best-sf-f-books-of-2023/) - Do these first lines from their novels hook you? First Lines is a series of blog articles. Celebrate 2023 with first lines from the best SF of the year. - [Feed and Water Your Creativity to Make it Grow](https://lynettemburrows.com/feed-and-water-your-creativity-to-make-it-grow/) - Think you aren’t original enough to create anything? Your condition is painfully common. Read further for ways to nurture the creativity you hold inside. - [Alone for the Holidays or Self-Care for the Holidays](https://lynettemburrows.com/alone-for-the-holidays-or-self-care-for-the-holidays/) - Learn the difference between emotions and feelings so you can practice self-care. Give yourself the holiday season you need. - [Part 4 of Traps to Avoid When Measuring Your Success](https://lynettemburrows.com/part-4-of-traps-to-avoid-when-measuring-your-success/) - When your approach to your creative outlet and product is uniquely yours, no one can tell you how to measure your success. But there are traps to avoid. - [A Weird Trick or Treat Means First Lines on Last Monday](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-weird-trick-or-treat-means-first-lines-on-last-monday/) - For Halloween, Sci fi or fantasy 1st lines featuring events that defy rational explanation, the afterlife, the underworld, or the heavens. - [Part 3 of Traps to Avoid When Measuring Your Success](https://lynettemburrows.com/part-3-of-traps-to-avoid-when-measuring-your-success/) - Lynette M. Burrows can't tell you how to succeed as a creative, but in series of articles she discusses the top 10 traps to avoid when measuring your success. - [Part 2 of 10 Traps to Avoid When Measuring Your Success](https://lynettemburrows.com/part-2-of-10-traps-to-avoid-when-measuring-your-success/) - This series of articles discusses the top 10 traps to avoid when measuring your success. Avoid these traps on and create a path to success. - [Avoid These 10 Traps When Measuring Your Success](https://lynettemburrows.com/avoid-these-10-traps-when-measuring-your-success/) - While I can’t tell you what you must do to succeed, I can tell you what not to do. This series of blog posts will discuss the 10 traps to avoid. - [The First Latin American to Win the Nobel Prize](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-latin-american-to-win-the-nobel-prize/) - Her poetry spoke about the complexities of life, love, and death. She was the first Latin American to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. - [A First Lines Post - Guess What These Books Have in Common](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-first-lines-post-guess-what-these-books-have-in-common/) - In this collection of first lines, the books do not share a common genre or subject or trope. Can you guess what they have in common? - [A Self-described "Ugly Duckling" Who Changed the World](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-self-described-ugly-duckling-who-changed-the-world/) - Childhood in America during the mid-1800s was difficult and often not survived. We are lucky Jane Addams, self-described ugly duckling, survived hers. - [The Power of Your Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-power-of-your-creativity/) - It takes a lot of energy to be creative. The good news is that creative energy is renewable. And it is a powerful tool for good health. - [First Lines from the Future of Blue Collar Workers](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-the-future-of-blue-collar-workers/) - First Lines is a series of blog articles posted at the first of the month. Today'is a sample is from “Blue Collar” science fiction books. - [Frida Kahlo: A Life of Creative Resilience](https://lynettemburrows.com/frida-kahlo-a-life-of-creative-resilience/) - When her plans for life crashed, Frida Kahlo tapped into her creative side. She used art as therapy and became one of the most well-known artists of the 20th century. - [A High Flying Hero Who Made Yes Happen](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-high-flying-hero-who-made-yes-happen/) - Born a poor, black woman, society told Bessie Coleman, no you can’t, over and over. She didn't accept that answer. - [Discover Your Writing Strengths (and Weaknesses)](https://lynettemburrows.com/discover-your-writing-strengths-and-weaknesses/) - Do you know which of your writing skills are stronger, and which are weaker? Learn to use and improve your strengths and weaknesses. - [8 Exercises to Recharge Your Creativity Every Day ](https://lynettemburrows.com/8-exercises-to-recharge-your-creativity-every-day/) - You’ve already tried changing your diet, exercising more, and decorating your creative space. None of that has worked. So what do you do? Recharge. - [Are You Saying No to Success?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-saying-no-to-success/) - Do you feel unsuccessful? Are you afraid "they" will figure out you're a fraud? Or you're saying no to success you have had? You might have Imposter Syndrome. - [Tempting Your Reader Imagination with First Lines ](https://lynettemburrows.com/tempting-your-reader-imagination-with-first-lines/) - First Lines is a series of blog articles posted on around the first of the month. Do these first lines tickle your imagination? - [The First Woman in US Law Enforcement](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-woman-in-us-law-enforcement/) - Over time, history changes from unknown to known. Why? Time blurs memories, newspapers sensationalize stories, and sometimes the facts are blurry. And so it is with the story of the first female in US law enforcement, Undersheriff, Constance Kopp. - [You Need Permission to Have Fun](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-need-permission-to-have-fun/) - In the hustle and bustle of our modern lives, our creative side often takes a back seat. How do you balance it all? - [Mining the Good Out of a Stormy Night](https://lynettemburrows.com/mining-the-good-out-of-a-stormy-night/) - On Friday I began drafting an article I planned to use as today’s blog. About 3:00 p.m. , a storm disrupted my plans. - [First Lines Fighting for Freedom](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-fighting-for-freedom/) - For this month's first lines post here are older books that are about fighting for liberty. Is there one or two you want to read? - [Proud to Celebrate Pride Month with First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/proud-to-celebrate-pride-month-with-first-lines/) - The first line of a story, we’re told, must hook the reader. Ambivalent about reading LBGTQ+ fiction? If the first line hooks you, read it. - [Juggling My Life from May Day to Memorial Day](https://lynettemburrows.com/juggling-my-life-from-may-day-to-memorial-day/) - Author Lynette M Burrows reports on her month's progress using intentions and the Maker, Manager, Marketer model of time management. - [Ignite Your Reader’s Imagination with the Inciting Incident](https://lynettemburrows.com/ignite-your-readers-imagination-with-the-inciting-incident/) - Capture your readers’ hearts and minds with a spark that grabs the reader. Learn to create an inciting incident that ignites the reader’s imagination. - [Going Where No One Has Before May Make Life Sustainable](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-where-no-one-has-before-may-make-life-sustainable/) - The hostile-to-humans environment of outer space presents seemingly infinite obstacles to our desire to explore. But scientists may be on the way to making - [When You Choose Change, You Choose Growth](https://lynettemburrows.com/when-you-choose-change-you-choose-growth/) - No matter who you are, where you are, change is part of life. Let these quotes by women we admire inspire you to choose change. - [The First Woman Elected Mayor in the US](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-woman-elected-mayor-in-the-us/) - In 1887, Kansas granted women the right to vote in municipal elections. Afraid of the temperance movement, some townsmen made a joke nomination for mayor. - [Why Your Beliefs About Creativity Matter More Than Talent](https://lynettemburrows.com/why-your-beliefs-about-creativity-matter-more-than-talent/) - Do you believe creativity is a gift or a talent? Maybe you think you aren’t creative, or you lost your creativity. All these beliefs can be true…and false. - [Celebrate May Day and Mother’s Day with Great Reads ](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrate-may-day-and-mothers-day-with-great-reads/) - For these two special occasions I’ve collected novels and short reads in a range of science fiction and fantasy genres. Does one of these first lines hook you? - [Story Time Reviews: Entanglement](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-entanglement/) - Today's Story Time, Reviews Entanglement, a story with a fascinating "what if" question in the first line. Can someone survive inside a black hole? - [Breathe Life Into Your Characters](https://lynettemburrows.com/breathe-life-into-your-characters/) - Breathe life into your characters. But how? With lists? Or by knowing the basic keys to creating realistic, relatable characters? - [Story Time Reviews: “Glow Worm” by Harlan Ellison](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-glow-worm-by-harlan-ellison/) - For this episode of Story Time Reviews, Lynette reviews the story, the author, and the voice talent of "Glow Worm." - [Exploring Mars Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow ](https://lynettemburrows.com/exploring-mars-yesterday-today-and-tomorrow/) - Lynette M. Burrows reviews how NASA has been exploring Mars in preparation for a review of her popular Going to Mars Word by Word blog series. - [The Unsolved Murder of Alberta Odell Jones ](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-unsolved-murder-of-alberta-odell-jones/) - An African American equal rights trailblazer and the city's first female and first black prosecuting attorney was brutally murdered. The case remains unsolved. - [The Daughter of the Desert](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-daughter-of-the-desert/) - The dashing British officer Lawrence of Arabia, is a legend of history. Yet, we should recognize the name, Gertrude Bell, along with (or more than) his. - [Your Enthusiastic Chaos is the First Step to Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/your-enthusiastic-chaos-is-the-first-step-to-creativity/) - Are you one of the people who rate creativity as something “someone else” was born with? Perhaps you need to look at creativity in a different way. - [Story Time Reviews: “Solemnity - Firing Blanks”](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-solemnity-firing-blanks/) - Today’s post introduces you to “Solemnity - Firing Blanks” by Richard Noel, a space opera short story, performed by Chris Herron on Tall Tale TV. - [Wishes in the Season of Love, Kindness, and Wisdom](https://lynettemburrows.com/wishes-in-the-season-of-love-kindness-and-wisdom/) - No matter which holiday you celebrate during this season of love, kindness, and wisdom may you find a little love, a little kindness, and a little wisdom here and where ever you are - [First Lines for Black History Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-for-black-history-month-2/) - From Martin R. Delany to Nnedi Okorafor these are first lines from fantasy and science fiction stories by black authors from the 1800s to today. - [Fun Facts and Trivia about America's Patriotic Music](https://lynettemburrows.com/fun-facts-and-triviaaabout-americas-patriotic-music/) - Let’s celebrate this month’s theme of Independence and Liberty and Freedom with fun facts and trivia about America’s patriotic music. - [Make Flat Characters Genuine in 8 (Sort of) Easy Steps](https://lynettemburrows.com/make-flat-characters-genuine-in-8-sort-of-easy-steps/) - Have you been told you have flat characters? Don’t worry. You can take your flat characters to genuine in 8 (sort of) easy steps. - [I Am Disappointed But I Am Not Discouraged](https://lynettemburrows.com/i-am-disappointed-but-i-am-not-discouraged/) - One night, on a quick run home from my husband's hospital room I learned there's a difference between disappointed and discouraged. - [Writing How-to: Put Ground Under Their Feet](https://lynettemburrows.com/writing-how-to-put-ground-under-their-feet/) - Writers, have you been told to "put ground under your character's feet?" Author Lynette M. Burrows provides some helpful examples. - [Powerful Words](https://lynettemburrows.com/powerful-words/) - It starts as a childhood wish: When I grow up I wanna . . . . You try on dreams, roles. One day, you discover your true dream. Mine was to write fiction. - [Warning! 10 Signs You’ve Pushed Too Hard](https://lynettemburrows.com/warning-10-signs-youve-pushed-too-hard/) - Sometimes, there is no Kaboom, no catastrophe that derails your plan. Sometimes you simply pushed yourself too hard. Don't ignore the warning signs. - [And the Answer is: Happy Rodents and a Lucky Snippet](https://lynettemburrows.com/and-the-answer-is-happy-rodents-and-a-lucky-snippet/) - Tagged, I am honored by my online friends. Read my responses to the 11 Questions Game and the Lucky 7 Meme. The answer is Happy Rodents and a Lucky Snippet. - [A Void in My Heart](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-void-in-my-heart/) - Sometimes there is a loss that leaves a void in your heart. This weekend's loss of a four-legged companion left a void in my heart. - [13 Links for Friday the 13th](https://lynettemburrows.com/13-links-for-friday-the-13th/) - Do you have paraskevidekatriaphobia — a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th? If you do, this year will be difficult. Tomorrow is the second of three Friday the 13ths this year. I found 13 links for Friday the 13th to help you avoid bad luck and attract good luck. - [Do the Pros Measure Up to the Lucky 7 Meme?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-the-pros-measure-up-to-the-lucky-7-meme/) - The Lucky 7 Meme asked us to go to page 77 of our work-in-progress and share the 7 lines that were 7 lines from the top of the page. Do the Pros measure up? - [Space Shuttle Era Ends, What's Next?](https://lynettemburrows.com/space-shuttle-era-ends-whats-next/) - I am sad that Space Shuttle era ends. The Space Shuttles became museum relics when they were delivered to the Smithsonian this week. - [So Bad It's Good](https://lynettemburrows.com/so-bad-its-good/) - Some movies are so bad they just die on the screen. But some movies are so bad, it's good. They become fan favorites. What about books? - [Taking A Risk](https://lynettemburrows.com/taking-a-risk/) - My online friend, Asrai Devin, wrote a post last week about a contestrunning on Men with Pens: The Best Online Writing Contest. Two people will win a place as a student in the May edition of the Damn Fine Words writing course. (Retail value $1,599.) We're taking a risk. How about you? All you have - [First Impressions with First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-impressions-with-first-lines/) - Once upon a time. . . it was tradition to begin a story with those words. Today, making first impressions with first lines is a skill all authors need. - [Facing the Mind-Killer: Fear](https://lynettemburrows.com/facing-the-mind-killer-fear/) - I tried to warn my ex- that heights terrified me and horror gave me nightmares. He took me to one of the local haunted houses to face my mind-killer: fear. - [Friday Fiction Sample: The White Hope](https://lynettemburrows.com/friday-fiction-sample-the-white-hope/) - A box, electricity, and illness reversed. What could possibly go wrong? Read the Friday Fiction Sample: The White Hope by Robert Chilson and Lynette M Burrows. - [Celebrating Daydreams and Heroes](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrating-daydreams-and-heroes/) - The arts are so much more than mere entertainment. They speak to us on an emotional level. Music helps me celebrate daydreams and heroes. Want to join me? - [Glorious Mistakes or Wave of the Future?](https://lynettemburrows.com/glorious-mistakes-or-wave-of-the-future/) - Yikes! Some of my stories are about become reality – well, sort of. . . . What do you think? Are they Glorious Mistakes or Wave of the Future? - [Is Technology Clouding Your Ethics?](https://lynettemburrows.com/is-technology-clouding-your-ethics/) - Technology allows us to do many wonderful things. But is technology clouding your ethics? That's what the Trichordist addresses in his June 18th post. - [A Meeting of Minds: the Alchemy of Science, Art, and Poetry](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-meeting-of-minds-the-alchemy-of-science-art-and-poetry/) - A Meeting of Minds: the Alchemy of Science, Art, and Poetry is a collection of poetry that blends with science. Read about it, the author and the illustrator.A Meeting of Minds: the Alchemy of Science, Art, and Poetry is a collection of poetry that blends with science. Read about it, the author and the illustrator. - [Top Ten Science Fiction Novels I Love to Re-Read](https://lynettemburrows.com/top-ten-science-fiction-novels-i-love-to-re-read/) - Since I'm busy studying for my PALS certification, I decided instead of a post, I'd share a list of the top ten science fiction novels I love to re-read. - [The Perfect Trap](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-perfect-trap/) - Perfection is a trap. My first blog post shared how recognizing that had allowed me to go forward. Well, here I am again. Caught up in the perfect trap. - [The Hero of Your Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-hero-of-your-story/) - A few years back, I decided I would make my living as a writer and would teach a 'How to Write Fiction' class at a local community center. It was an awesome experience but I never expected a lesson about being the hero of your story. - [An Idea That Grew Into a Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/an-idea-that-grew-into-a-story/) - After one meeting, a friend came to me with an idea for a story. He thought as a writer and nurse I'd be the perfect partner. The idea grew into a story. - [Red Rover, Red Rover, Send the Humans Over!](https://lynettemburrows.com/red-rover-red-rover-send-the-humans-over/) - Congratulations to NASA! The rover Curiosity landed on Mars. It will collect data for a future manned mission. Red Rover, Red Rover, Send the Humans Over! - [A Home Grown Power Plotting Weekend](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-home-grown-power-plotting-weekend/) - Having been a pantser from day one of my writing career, the plot has been a second or third step, carved into shape through one excruciating revision after another. Short on budget and time, I decided to devise my own power plotting weekend with the help of my writers' group. You can, too. - [Going to Mars Word by Word: A Princess of Mars](https://lynettemburrows.com/mars-word-by-word-a-princess-of-mars/) - What do you get when you mix a Civil War hero with barbaric Green Martians, ferocious beasts, and a Princess of Mars? Did you say Edgar Rice Burroughs? - [Sometimes You get Spilled . . . Ice Cream](https://lynettemburrows.com/sometimes-you-get-spilled-ice-cream/) - Sometimes you get spilled ice cream or desires. Life didn't go as planned for Lynette M Burrows. When things go wrong you do the best you can. - [Be a Child](https://lynettemburrows.com/be-a-child/) - Children perceive the world differently from adults. Whether you are a writer, an artist, a laborer or scientist, all adults should remember to be a child, at least once in a while. - [Going To Mars: Word By Word - Northwest Smith](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-to-mars-word-by-word-northwest-smith/) - This is my second GTMWBW* post. Come along on this trip to Mars via the words of C.L Moore in her Northwest Smith stories - [Happy Birthday, WANA1011](https://lynettemburrows.com/happy-birthday-wana1011/) - I am grateful for the calendar. What? Did I just say that? Yes, I did. Without the calendar, I would not be able to mark this week, this birthday. Happy birthday, WANA1011. Did you know that birthdays weren't celebrated until after the calendar was perfected? Once there was a calendar, then the days had to be - [Changing Direction](https://lynettemburrows.com/changing-direction/) - Change. Good or bad, it's going to happen in your life. Probably more than you want it to. I know it has in my life. This time, though, I chose to change directions. Changing direction is scary, hard, emotional, and much more. - [Art Glass Lessons for Writing](https://lynettemburrows.com/art-glass-lessons-for-writing/) - The earliest known manmade glass is in the form of Egyptian beads from between 2750 and 2625 BC. My interest in art glass (more commonly known as stained glass) doesn't go back that far, but it goes back more than a few years. Recently I was surprised to realize there were art glass lessons for writing. - [How Bad Do You Want It?](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-bad-do-you-want-it/) - On October 14th Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian skydiver, daredevil, and BASE jumper achieved his goal. For the high risk, the level of technology and training needed, he wanted success badly. How bad do you want it? - [A Halloween Mash-up](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-halloween-mash-up/) - Otis and Spike, invite you to join them at their Halloween mash-up party. Learn the origins of Halloween, how other countries celebrate, and other fun stuff. - [Going to Mars Word by Word: C.S. Lewis style](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-to-mars-word-by-word-c-s-lewis-style/) - Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis is the third in my Going to Mars Word by Word series. It offers a fascinating C.S. Lewis style view of Mars. - [Remembering: Veterans History Project](https://lynettemburrows.com/remembering-veterans-history-project/) - It's Veteran's Day in the United States. Other countries also honor their veterans. Whether it's called Veteran's Day, Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, it's a day dedicated to thank and remember the men and women who have served in one of their country's armed services. Now we also have the Veterans History Project. - [A Very Small Heart with a Lot of Gratitude](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-very-small-heart-with-a-lot-of-gratitude/) - Being small, being human and getting caught up in things we think we should do, we often forget what's important. Gratitude is what it's all about. - [When is a Clone Not a Clone](https://lynettemburrows.com/when-is-a-clone-not-a-clone/) - Bees do it. Lizards and snakes do it. Turkeys and Komodo Dragons do too. Have babies without daddies, that is. When a clone isn't a clone, has a big name. - [Going to Mars, Word by Word: Bradbury and Unintended Consequences](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-to-mars-word-by-word-bradbury-and-unintended-consequences/) - The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is a series of “Martian penseés, Shakespearean 'asides.' Hop aboard for Bradbury and Unintended Consequences. - [Breaking Out of Numb](https://lynettemburrows.com/breaking-out-of-numb/) - You know how when your foot or hand falls asleep and you don't notice until the tingling of 'waking up' starts? I'm there. I'm breaking out of numb. - [Wake Up the Happiness](https://lynettemburrows.com/wake-up-the-happiness/) - Financial worries, crowds at the mall, parking lot show-downs, to-do lists, and all the other practicalities of life weighing you down? Then, how do you wake up the happiness in you? - [Top Ten Posts of 2012](https://lynettemburrows.com/top-ten-posts-of-2012/) - As we say goodbye to 2013, I'm revisiting my top ten posts for 2012. Thanks to all who've followed, commented, and shared my posts this year. You're the best. - [Going to Mars Word by Word with an Optimistic Knight](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-to-mars-word-by-word-with-an-optimistic-knight/) - We're going to Mars today via Sir Arthur C. Clarke's story, The Sands of Mars. It's a about the early days of colonizing Mars, a story of an Optimistic Knight. - [Set Yourself on Fire for 2013](https://lynettemburrows.com/set-yourself-on-fire-for-2013/) - It's a new year and many of you have set ambitious goals or resolutions. Here are some thoughts on how you might actually meet those goals this year. Maybe you'll set yourself on fire and exceed your goals. - [It's Not the Dust Bunny's Fault](https://lynettemburrows.com/its-not-the-dust-bunnys-fault/) - I've got a secret. My house is a mess. I battled dust bunnies and the like. Until I learned that it's not the dust bunny's fault. - [Whoopensocker Words](https://lynettemburrows.com/whoopensocker-words/) - I am up to my elbows in elephants and alligators or several large projects. Large projects with lots of words, whoopensocker words. What's that? Read on. - [Going to Mars Word By Word via a Time Slip](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-to-mars-word-by-word-via-a-time-slip/) - Jioin me for the next book review, Going to Mars Word by Word via a Time Slip. Martian Time Slip by Phillip K. Dick is a dark, moody story. - [Valentine's Day: Procrastinator's Delight](https://lynettemburrows.com/procrastinators-delight-valentines-day/) - Did you know that more than 50% of Valentine's Day cards are bought in the six days immediately preceding the holiday? I thought I was the only one who found Valentine's Day a procrastinator's delight. (Not!) - [I Can Not Tell a Lie: It's Not Presidents Day](https://lynettemburrows.com/i-can-not-tell-a-lie-its-not-presidents-day/) - While the U.S. holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February is often called Presidents' Day it is officially, legally, not Presidents' Day. - [Celebrate With Me!](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrate-with-me/) - Completion of the redesign is worthy of a celebration all by itself, but I don't want to party by myself. Come on! Celebrate with me! - [Going to Mars, Word by Word with Man Plus](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-to-mars-word-by-word-with-man-plus/) - The next stop on our Going to Mars, Word-by-Word tour is the Nebula award-winning novel, Man Plus by Fredrik Pohl, published in 1976. - [Subtitles Please](https://lynettemburrows.com/subtitles-please/) - I haven't spoken cat for nearly twenty years so it's up to you. To boldly go where no cat has gone before . . .in the comments below, provide subtitles please. - [5 Days and Money Bags](https://lynettemburrows.com/5-days-and-money-bags/) - What do I mean by 5 days and money bags? I saw a post on Facebook today that said "This year March has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens once every 823 years. - [March Madness!](https://lynettemburrows.com/march-madness/) - I love the seasons, especially the change of seasons. And that's a good thing because in the land of Oz we have our own brand of March Madness. - [Fools Risk Magic](https://lynettemburrows.com/fools-risk-magic/) - April Fools' Day is one of my favorite holidays. Not because of silly tricks, but because it reminds me to take risks. It's good that not only fools take risks. - [Going to Mars: Word-by-Word Bear Style](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-to-mars-word-by-word-bear-style/) - The Forge of God by Greg Bear is our next stop in this series Going to Mars: Word by Word. Hop aboard for an exploration of Mars Bear Style. - [Monday's Bad Rap](https://lynettemburrows.com/mondays-bad-rap/) - Did you know that the average person will see about 4,040 Mondays in a lifetime? Do we really dread seeing Monday's so much? What gave Monday's bad rap? - [Hooked](https://lynettemburrows.com/hooked/) - Once upon a time . . . it was tradition to begin a story with those words. Today's reader wants to be hooked. Regardless of the genre or style of fiction, the beginning of the book is critical. Often readers will open a book and read the first few paragraphs before deciding to spend their time on the story. - [Would You Want to Know?](https://lynettemburrows.com/would-you-want-to-know/) - Have you seen the commercial where the woman squeals excitedly about her engagement ring. Her beau says he saved thousands at Overstock. Would you want to know? - [Going to Mars Word by Word With Kim Stanley Robinson](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-to-mars-word-by-word-with-kim-stanley-robinson/) - Going to Mars Word by Word with Kim Stanley Robinson is a review of the book with a special emphasis on examining how the book views the planet Mars. - [Is it OCD or OHO?](https://lynettemburrows.com/is-it-ocd-or-oho/) - Have you watched TV news and TV reality shows about hoarders? I fear I may have a problem with paper. But is it OCD or OHO? - [After Weekend Fun](https://lynettemburrows.com/after-weekend-fun/) - I'm exhausted after weekend fun. I had a lovely weekend at ConQuesT 44, an annual science fiction and fantasy convention. But I had a little too much fun. - [Going to Mars Word-by-Word: the Landis Way](https://lynettemburrows.com/going-to-mars-word-by-word-the-landis-way/) - The next stop in our Going to Mars Word-by-Word tour is a gritty, near-future exploration of Mars the Landis way. Hop aboard and learn about Mars Crossing. - [Greek for a Day](https://lynettemburrows.com/greek-for-a-day/) - What do you do when you want to travel abroad but can't afford the time or expense? If you want to go to Greece or learn about Greece for a work-in-progress (I wouldn't know who was doing that). You go to a Greek Food Festival and become a Greek for a day. - [Perfection, Failure and Inspiration](https://lynettemburrows.com/perfection-failure-and-inspiration/) - Do you struggle with perfection, failure, and inspiration? The Benefits of Failure is a speech everyone should hear. Perhaps avoiding failure is a failure. - [Does Summer Mean Sleep Deprivation?](https://lynettemburrows.com/does-summer-mean-sleep-deprivation/) - It's summertime. There's a ton of fun to do. Plus, the usual list of things to do. How do we accomplish it all? Does summer mean sleep deprivation? - [All You Need Is The Air You Breathe](https://lynettemburrows.com/all-you-need-is-the-air-that-you-breathe/) - The average person doesn't think about the act of breathing. If your lungs are compromised, you are all about the air that you breathe. - [Greatest Hits of Science Fiction](https://lynettemburrows.com/greatest-hits-of-science-fiction/) - It's no secret that I love science fiction and I love music. So today I'm sharing a melding of the two in my collection of the greatest hits of science fiction. - [Walking on Sunshine](https://lynettemburrows.com/walking-on-sunshine/) - I am “Walking on Sunshine” thanks to Pat O'Dea Rosen. The award is passed from bloggers to bloggers who 'positively and creatively' inspire others. - [10 Warning Signs You're Doing Too Much](https://lynettemburrows.com/10-warning-signs-youre-doing-too-much/) - Are you like me and burning the candle at both ends? You're busy with a day job, care for loved ones, and more. How do you know when you're doing too much? - [SciFi Mashup](https://lynettemburrows.com/sciencefictionmashup/) - This week is a SciFi Mashup that isn't really a mashup. For your reading pleasure, here are some fun science fiction magazine sites. - [The Wormhole of Wrecked Resolutions](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-wormhole-of-wrecked-resolutions/) - I was lost in a wormhole. When life handed me the ticket through the wormhole, I battened down the hatches to focus on two things: my writing and my family. - [Remembering with Respect](https://lynettemburrows.com/remembering-with-respect/) - It's Veteran's Day 2017. It's an important day. A day when all never served are remembering with Respect and gratitude all those who have served our country. - [Writing the Hard Stuff](https://lynettemburrows.com/writing-the-hard-stuff/) - Writing the hard stuff doesn't mean what you think it does. The most difficult stuff to write comes from our deepest, darkest shadows, memories, and fear. - [Listen & Learn: Podcasts on Writing](https://lynettemburrows.com/listen-learn-podcasts-on-writing/) - Busy lives mean we must be creative in the ways we use our time. For me, that means when I'm doing mindless chores, I listen to podcasts and learn. - [More than a Game](https://lynettemburrows.com/more-than-a-game/) - When I was eight, my mother went to the hospital to have her third child. My brother and I stayed with an aunt and uncle. One night fun became more than a game. - [Do You Need a Break?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-need-a-break/) - Is your summer as busy as your fall and winter? Are you frantic? Maybe you need a vacation from your vacation. Perhaps you need a break. Read on. - [Don't Wait for the Storm to Pass](https://lynettemburrows.com/dont-wait-for-the-storm-to-pass/) - We all have challenges in life whether it is just getting through a bad day or getting through months of illness or a lifetime of grief. Don't wait for the storm to pass. - [On the Wings of a Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/on-the-wings-of-a-story/) - Soar on the wings of a story. Without a word of dialog, it will take you flying. It will tell you a story. A story that can be interpreted many ways. - [July in Review](https://lynettemburrows.com/july-in-review/) - Wow, another month is gone. I’ve been working hard trying to increase my productivity in writing and ALL THE THINGS that must be done. So, for the first time, I’m sharing my progress, or lack thereof, with you. Let's look at July in review. - [Finding Hope](https://lynettemburrows.com/finding-hope/) - People were killed and people were severely injured last week. Is finding hope in the midst of this turmoil and suffering even possible? Let's see. - [Why Did You Buy That Book?](https://lynettemburrows.com/why-did-you-buy-that-book/) - Why did you buy that book? According to this quote, the first page sells that book, the last page sells the next one. Do you agree with Mickey Spillane? - [I Surrender!](https://lynettemburrows.com/i-surrender/) - Some weeks I’ve battled the day job demons, been a caregiver, done the chores, and I’ve wrangled words on paper. By Friday, I’m done. I surrender. - [August in Review](https://lynettemburrows.com/august-in-review/) - August wasn’t like any other August. Kansas weather was wacky. There was the solar eclipse, a visiting writer, a wet basement—twice, and a family crisis. - [Reader's Corner](https://lynettemburrows.com/readers-corner/) - Reader's Corner features a questionnaire based on a concept similar to The Actor's Studio and completed by readers. Which readers? Anyone who enjoys reading. - [7 Quotes on Writing](https://lynettemburrows.com/7-quotes-on-writing/) - Seven successful authors each offer a piece of advice on how to write. Together these 7 quotes on writing may be all you need to know about writing fiction. - [What Readers Want](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-readers-want/) - You're told to identify your reader, to write what readers want to read. Wouldn't it be nice if you could look into a crystal ball and find who they are? - [What Does Reader Rob Want?](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-does-reader-rob-want/) - What Does Reader Rob Want? Read his answers to the reader questionnaire created with a tip of the hat to the Actor's Studio. - [What Does Reader Sarah Want?](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-does-reader-sarah-want/) - What does reader Sarah want? Her answers to this interview, that was done with a tip of the hat to the Actor's Studio, will tell you. - [What Reader Jess Wants](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-reader-jess-wants/) - Learn What Reader Jess Wants. Read her answers to the reader questionnaire created with a tip of the hat to the Actor's Studio. - [We Interrupt this Blog. . . .](https://lynettemburrows.com/we-interrupt-this-blog/) - We interrupt this blog--life often interrupts creativity. Sometimes the interruptions are onerous and difficult to overcome. Sometimes the interruption is fun. - [What Reader Cindy Wants](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-reader-cindy-wants/) - I created a reader questionnaire based on questions asked in the Actor's Studio show.Today, let's see What Reader Cindy wants in a book. - [You Might Be An Alien If--](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-might-be-an-alien-if/) - You might be an alien if you use more than 10% of your brain. Join Lynette M Burrows and add a "you might be an alien joke" to the list. - [Connections: Nature Beauty Gratitude](https://lynettemburrows.com/connections-nature-beauty-gratitude/) - I have always found connecting with nature to be restorative. This TED talk "Connections: Nature Beauty Gratitude" takes that connection even further. - [Connections: Nature Beauty Gratitude](https://lynettemburrows.com/connections-nature-beauty-gratitude-2/) - Part of my special week of giving thanks, this TED talk makes Connections: Nature Beauty Gratitude. Won't you join in and express your gratitude? - [Thankful for what we cannot see](https://lynettemburrows.com/thankful-for-what-we-cannot-see/) - Music, poetry, love, the air that we breathe. Josh Groban's song "Thankful for what we cannot see" is a reminder to be grateful for what we cannot see. - [13 Things For Which I Give Thanks](https://lynettemburrows.com/13-things-for-which-i-give-thanks/) - To complete this week of gratitude, here are 13 things for which I give thanks. Family, Friends, fur babies, Music, and more. - [Grateful: A Love Song to the World](https://lynettemburrows.com/grateful-a-love-song-to-the-world/) - In the song Grateful: A Love Song to the World 'everything is a gift.' In this post, I express gratitude for the gifts I've received. - [Lessons from 2017 & Strategies for 2018](https://lynettemburrows.com/lessons-from-2017-and-strategies-for-2018/) - Instead of resolutions why not look back at lessons from 2017 and apply strategies from those lessons to next year? Learn how Lynette M Burrows did it. - [Achieving and Pursuing](https://lynettemburrows.com/achieving/) - Achieving is important according to this inspirational quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It is the achieving and doing that is worthwhile. - [Motivational Quote from a Trumpet Player](https://lynettemburrows.com/motivational-quote-trumpet-player/) - A few notes about a motivational quote from a trumpet player, that intends to inspire and motivate you. Don't give up. Get what you need. Pursue your dream. - [Check Your Core Values](https://lynettemburrows.com/check-your-core-values/) - We are besieged with bickering, name calling, fake news, shoddy services, abuse, and mass shootings. What has happened to us? We've lost our core values. - [What Reader Holly Wants](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-reader-holly-wants/) - Learn What Reader Holly Wants. Read her answers to the reader questionnaire created with a tip of the hat to the Actor's Studio. - [7 People Who Changed My Writing Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/7-people-who-changed-my-writing-life/) - Seven people who changed my writing life are recognized and thanked in this November post. The impact of their lessons and encouragement is everlasting. - [Alone for the Holidays](https://lynettemburrows.com/alone-for-the-holidays-2/) - The holidays can be a particularly stressful time for those people who believe the holiday is about what should be done, for people who cannot be with family, for people who have had recent personal challenges or tragedies, and for people who feel alone. If you are alone for the holidays this post offers guidance. - [Educating the Heart, the Writer's Heart](https://lynettemburrows.com/educating-the-heart-the-writers-heart/) - "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." As writers, it's important that we are mindful that our writing must educate the hearts of our readers. Read how writers can do that. - [Your Valentine's Day Survival Guide](https://lynettemburrows.com/your-valentines-day-survival-guide/) - This Valentine's Day Survival guide will help stave off pity parties and disappointment. Learn to think differently, act differently, and feel differently. - [Heart Stories](https://lynettemburrows.com/3057-2/) - February isn’t over yet and neither is my list of heart stories. This week we look at history, at a true love story, an organization dedicated to helping women make time for and feel the love, and some real heart stories reminding you to take care of your heart health. - [Talking About Guns](https://lynettemburrows.com/talking-about-guns/) - Silence, even well-meaning, isn’t going to help. So today I’m speaking my mind. I’m going to be talking about guns and the conversation about gun control. - [If You Dream It . . . You Can Do It.](https://lynettemburrows.com/if-you-dream-it-you-can-do-it/) - Do you have something you've always wanted to do? If you dream it, you can do it. Don’t sell yourself short. Don’t shy away from hard work. You can do it. - [In the Air: livestreaming, podcasts, and YouTube](https://lynettemburrows.com/in-the-air-livestreaming-podcasts-and-youtube/) - In the Air is a blog post about recent podcasts, livestreaming videos, and YouTube videos Lynette M Burrows enjoyed recently. - [Don't Give Up](https://lynettemburrows.com/dont-give-up/) - Stephen Hawking died this week. I know little about him. I haven't read his books. Yet, he awed and inspired me. He lived what he preached: Don't give up. - [Born Storytellers](https://lynettemburrows.com/born-storytellers/) - Did you ever consider that we are born storytellers? We all are. We lie, we lament about a horrible-no-good day or boss, and we brag about our accomplishments. But storytelling can lead to trouble. - [Twenty-One Ways to Be Kind to Yourself](https://lynettemburrows.com/twenty-one-ways-to-be-kind-to-yourself/) - Kindness is friendly, warm, and generous. Is this how you treat yourself? Lynette M Burrows discusses twenty-one ways to be kind to yourself. - [Inspiration on Location](https://lynettemburrows.com/inspiration-on-location/) - Where did Lynette M Burrows get her ideas for her novel, My Soul to Keep? She had many sources of inspiration. This post discusses her inspiration on location. - [7 Determined Steps to Destiny](https://lynettemburrows.com/7-determined-steps-to-destiny/) - Are you waiting for your destiny to be fulfilled? Don't wait. March right up to your dream of success with these 7 determined steps to make your success happen. - [It's Reading Season!](https://lynettemburrows.com/3421-2/) - It's the reading season! Jan S. Gephardt, Holly Messinger & Lynette M. Burrows will read from their novels or works-in-progress. - [Arcane History: Better Baby Contests](https://lynettemburrows.com/arcane-history-better-baby-contests/) - During my research, I learned about a bit of arcane history: Better Baby contests. Part of the state fair, the babies' were judged for their health. - [Dream Fearlessly](https://lynettemburrows.com/dream-fearlessly/) - Would you give up one Saturday to Dream Fearlessly? I'm taking inspiration from a project of the American Family Insurance company. - [My Dear Old Dog](https://lynettemburrows.com/my-dear-old-dog/) - Astro is my first Yorkshire Terrier, my dear old dog, the oldest dog I’ve ever owned. Astro will turn 14 next month. Our time together is running out. - [Expect To Have Hope Rekindled](https://lynettemburrows.com/expect-to-have-hope-rekindled/) - Expect to have hope rekindled is a wonderful attitude to have. But it's not easy to wait for the dry season or life's difficulties to pass. - [The Special Effects of the Sky: Thunder and Lightning](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-special-effects-of-the-sky-thunder-and-lightning/) - It’s May in Kansas which means the special effects of the sky: thunder and lightning get a workout. Thunderstorms affect us in a powerful, emotional way. Our response to thunder and lightning shows up in everyday speech, in literature, and on the weather channel. Below is a collection of facts and fantasy all about thunder - [How to Cope With a Life-Crisis](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-cope-with-a-life-crisis/) - Life spins out of control from time-to-time. For some of us crises happen more often than for others. So when circumstances are beyond your control what do you do? Do you throw up your hands in defeat or do you look for ways how to cope with a life-crisis? Here are 7 tips on how to cope with a life-crisis. - [Fall in Love with Taking Care of Yourself](https://lynettemburrows.com/fall-in-love-with-taking-care-of-yourself/) - Do you put off taking care of yourself? Self-care isn't a bottom of the list item. It's time to fall in love with taking care of yourself. - [The Forgotten History of the Credit Card](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-forgotten-history-of-the-credit-card/) - A beta reader questioned: Did credit cards exist in the 60’s? I found the forgotten history of the credit card fascinating. I hope you do, too. - [The Power of Love](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-power-of-love/) - Inspiration came from the royal wedding this week. Rev. Curry, quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., reminding us that love is a redemptive power. - [How to be Awesome Reading Your Story Aloud](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-be-awesome-reading-your-story-aloud/) - You've agreed to read your story aloud to a group of people. Now you're panicking and biting your nails. This is your guide on how to be awesome reading your story aloud. - [10 Ways to Supercharge Your Self-Confidence](https://lynettemburrows.com/10-ways-to-supercharge-your-self-confidence/) - Has your confidence been ebbing lately? Feel like a failure? Is it possible to change no confidence to something better? Here are 10 ways to supercharge your self-confidence. - [Spycraft: Essentials--a Review](https://lynettemburrows.com/spycraft-essentials-for-writers-a-review/) - Spies, and spooks, and agents, oh, my! Spycraft: Essentials by Piper Bayard and Jay Holmes has the title right. This book is for anyone who writes about spies, loves the history of American intelligence agencies and spycraft, or anyone who enjoys a good and educational read. - [Don't Underestimate the Pain](https://lynettemburrows.com/dont-underestimate-the-pain/) - Don't underestimate the pain of depression. Suggestions on what not to do and what to do when someone shares suicidal thoughts or feelings. - [Writing Is Easy--Until It's Hard](https://lynettemburrows.com/writing-is-easy-until-its-hard/) - We all learned to write essays on what I did this summer. Writing is easy--until it's hard. This is the opening chapter of how I learned to write fiction. - [Touch the Stars](https://lynettemburrows.com/touch-the-stars/) - To Touch the Stars is a song written and produced by astronaut Scott Tingle's son. It was written to honor his family's journey to reach his dreams. Watch me touch the stars is one of the lines of the chorus. Fitting for the videos he used. Fitting for his father, the astronaut. But oh, so - [Inspiration Never Gets Old](https://lynettemburrows.com/inspiration-never-gets-old/) - The idea that Inspiration Never Gets Old is part of what I love about Debra Eve's website, Later Bloomer. Read on for some links to inspirational profiles. - [What If This Light Bulb Is The Cure?](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-if-this-light-bulb-is-the-cure/) - In the video below Prince Ea asks, "What if this light bulb is the cure to racism, sexism, and classism?" wouldn't it be wonderful if it is?? - [Deadlines and Deadly Angels](https://lynettemburrows.com/deadlines-and-deadly-angels/) - My Soul to Keep will be out in a little less than two months. I'm juggling deadlines and deadly angels so here are some sneak peeks. - [Are You Celebrating or Losing Your Liberty?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-celebrating-or-losing-your-liberty/) - The Fourth of July celebrates our country’s historic declaration of independence. But it seems this year you may be celebrating or losing your liberty. - [The Best Advice You Can Give](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-best-advice-you-can-give/) - Have you seen it too? People asking for advice and getting inadequate responses. Here's some of the best advice you can give. - [Underestimating the Value of Freedom](https://lynettemburrows.com/underestimating-the-value-of-freedom/) - Freedom is near extinction. Are you underestimating the value of freedom? Freedom isn’t in our DNA. Freedom must be fought for and protected. - [Energize Your Imagination: Be a Child](https://lynettemburrows.com/energize-your-imagination-be-a-child/) - This post contains a video to reminder you that being an adult doesn't mean you have to ONLY be adult. Energize your imagination: be a child. - [One Way to Learn to Write](https://lynettemburrows.com/one-way-to-learn-to-write/) - An author’s journey can be long and torturous. Writing and publishing Lynette M. Burrows’s debut novel, My Soul to Keep, was only one stop on the road. - [The Development of a Puppy and a Novelist Are the Same](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-development-of-a-puppy-and-a-novelist-are-the-same/) - A puppy grows through different developmental stages. Watching him grow, I have learned that the developmental stages of a puppy and a novelist are the same. - [Declarations of Truth, Honor, and Independence](https://lynettemburrows.com/declarations-truth-honor-independence/) - No discussion of Independence Day in the USA would be complete without talking about the document, about truth, honor, and independence. - [Celebrating and Remembering Freedom Isn't Free](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrating-freedom-and-remembering-freedom-isnt-free/) - This has been the month for celebrating freedom and remembering freedom isn't free. Watch a short video or read the transcript. - [A Book Is A Dream](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-book-is-a-dream/) - If 51% have lucid dreams, 49% of people do not. Or do they? According to Neil Gaiman, a book is a dream that you hold in your hand. Is it really? - [Let Your Dreams Be Bigger Than Your Fears](https://lynettemburrows.com/let-your-dreams-be-bigger-than-your-fears/) - Fear makes my heart stutter and my brain screams stop. What happens when you let your dreams be bigger than your fears? Dreams come true. - [Want A Little Magic In Your Life?](https://lynettemburrows.com/want-a-little-magic-in-your-life/) - From card tricks to disappearing acts magic fascinates everyone. Not stage magic or television magic. If you want a little magic in your life all you need - [How to Time Travel Without a Delorean](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-time-travel-without-a-delorean/) - What if I told you there was a way to time travel without the Delorean? What if I said you needed a Ford or a Studebaker? - [Confessions of a Last Minute Writer](https://lynettemburrows.com/confessions-last-minute-writer/) - Mea Culpa. I confess. I'm a last minute writer and I messed up. I’ve left writing blog posts until the last minute. A-a-nd it caught up with me tonight. - [How I Found the Right Editor](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-i-found-the-right-editor/) - It was more than luck. Creating a book takes a team. I spoke about how I chose my cover artist. How I found the right editor for My Soul to Keep was to search for the right one several months before I needed one. It took some work, some due diligence, and some patience. But - [Practice Makes Perfect is Full of Baloney](https://lynettemburrows.com/practice-makes-perfect-is-full-of-baloney/) - Practice makes perfect is full of baloney. Some people who practice may reach perfection, but not most. So how do we manage? - [When Mountainous Obstacles Look Like a Dead End](https://lynettemburrows.com/when-mountainous-obstacles-look-like-a-dead-end/) - When your life looks like a dead end, it seems as if every little thing you there are ways to get unstuck, to create yourself. - [Take Care of Yourself](https://lynettemburrows.com/take-care-of-yourself/) - Today is one of those days that I must care for myself and my loved ones. Dear readers, please, take care of yourself, too. - [How to Keep Your Writing Alive in a Family Crisis](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-keep-your-writing-alive-in-a-family-crisis/) - An accident, health issues, financial problems, or mental health issues can cause chaos in your life. How to keep your writing alive in a family crisis? - [Make Room for Fear And Your Dreams](https://lynettemburrows.com/make-room-for-fear-and-your-dreams/) - If you have been putting off a dream for a long while, take a minute. It’s time to reassess why you’ve put it off. Make room for your fears and your dreams. - [Be the Master of Your Time](https://lynettemburrows.com/be-the-master-of-your-time/) - In today’s society, time is counted as our most precious commodity. But time is a construct. Here are five tips on how you can be the master of your time. - [It’s Time We Honor Our Indigenous People](https://lynettemburrows.com/its-time-we-honor-our-indigenous-people/) - Today in furthering my discussion of time, I’m honoring Indigenous People’s Day. It’s time we honor our indigenous people. - [The Story Planted A Seed](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-story-planted-a-seed/) - Reading does something unique to each of us. It can create an imaginary world. And sometimes, if the Story Planted A Seed, it crosses over into real life. - [The Excitement--and the Mess--Build](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-excitement-and-the-mess-build/) - There’s a lot going on at my house and the excitement—and the mess—build. I will be at the Longview Literary Festival Friday, October 26th. - [In a World of Peril, Create](https://lynettemburrows.com/in-a-world-of-peril-create/) - There’s a way to beat back the overwhelming emotions. In a world of peril, create. Create love, create art, create a pie (pumpkin anyone?), create hope. - [7 Ways to Increase Your Creativity Through Workspace Design](https://lynettemburrows.com/7-ways-to-increase-your-creativity-through-workspace-design/) - Lynette M. Burrows shares 7 ways to increase your creativity through workspace design. Which ones do you use? Which one or two will you add? - [My Frustration vs. My Patience, Which Will Win?](https://lynettemburrows.com/my-frustration-vs-my-patience-which-will-win/) - 2018 has been a year of frustration rolled up into one humongous rubber ball of stress. It's been my frustration vs. my patience, which will win? - [Musical Mood Makers for You and Me](https://lynettemburrows.com/musical-mood-makers-for-you-and-me/) - Music is an almost universal language. It expresses moods and has the power to change moods. What are your musical favorites? - [Practicing Patience--Do You Make These Common Mistakes?](https://lynettemburrows.com/practicing-patience-do-you-make-these-common-mistakes/) - We learn that being patient is a virtue. We treat impatience as a weakness and procrastination is the big bad flaw. But we're making some common mistakes. - [Beware of Wet Footprints](https://lynettemburrows.com/beware-of-wet-footprints/) - Beware of wet footprints in the night. You'll never really know if it's your imagination, a dream, or the household spirit, Kikimora. - [Fun with Words](https://lynettemburrows.com/fun-with-words/) - Weekends are often devilishly devine. We have wickedly good fun, clean dirt from our homes, watch friendly competitors, and otherwise turn ourselves inside out trying to do more, be more, have more. Then comes Monday. Monday is the antithesis of the weekend. So today, let's have fun with words or rather, phrases that pair two - [To All Name Callers: Improve Your Insults (AKA Words Are Fun)](https://lynettemburrows.com/to-all-name-callers-improve-your-insults-aka-words-are-fun/) - I’m tired of all the school grounds name calling that is done in the name of “discussing” politics and speaking up to protect us. Name calling is an attempt to bully or diminish someone with demeaning language. It is the least effect means of "discussion." So I’ve decided to issue a challenge to all name - [Muster Up an Extra Serving of Patience](https://lynettemburrows.com/muster-up-an-extra-serving-of-patience/) - It’s Thanksgiving week here in the USA. The grocery lines are long, the airport lines are longer, the weather or your favorite football team isn’t holding up their part of the festivities, and your aunt/uncle/brother/father-in-law is at it again. Thanksgiving is a holiday to pause and count our blessing yet with all the rush and - [A Virtual Thanksgiving Meal Road Trip](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-virtual-thanksgiving-meal-road-trip/) - I started this post thinking I’d give you some statistics about Thanksgiving Day in America. Instead, enjoy a virtual Thanksgiving meal road trip. - [8 Inspirational Quotes About Patience](https://lynettemburrows.com/8-inspirational-quotes-about-patience/) - We aren't born patient. Patience doesn't come easily to most of us. 8 inspirational quotes about patience will remind you why the practice is worth it. - [Stand Up for Affordable Insulin](https://lynettemburrows.com/stand-up-for-affordable-insulin/) - I have a personal relationship with the devastation that diabetes can bring to a person and a family. There is no cure. But rising prices of insulin force some terrible choices. Stand up for affordable insulin. - [20 Weird Things I'm Grateful For](https://lynettemburrows.com/20-weird-things-im-grateful-for/) - Gratitude is the key to happiness. Today, weird things are the key to my gratitude. I’m sharing 20 weird things that I’m grateful for. - [The Best Gifts are Given from the Heart](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-best-gifts-are-given-from-the-heart/) - Consider volunteering or giving to a worthy charity instead of purchasing or receiving gifts this year. Learn more at lynettemburrows.com - [Does the End of the Year Stress You Out?](https://lynettemburrows.com/does-the-end-of-the-year-stress-you-out/) - It's the busiest time of year--the holidays. I can get overwhelmed. So much stress! Does the end of the year stress you out? Read more about stress. - [Make Music with Character Voices](https://lynettemburrows.com/make-music-with-character-voices/) - Lynette M. Burrows discusses how to hook your readers by making your story character voices like the instruments in an orchestra. - [Think You Know How to De-Stress?](https://lynettemburrows.com/think-you-know-how-to-de-stress/) - Think you know how to de-stress? Learn how to increase your resistance to stress and how to power destress when the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan. - [What Is Bad Will Be Better Tomorrow](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-is-bad-will-be-better-tomorrow/) - In my year-end review process look back at old journals. Something I wrote five years ago, caught my attention. What is bad will be better tomorrow. - [Quotes in the Spirit of Christmas](https://lynettemburrows.com/quotes-in-the-spirit-of-christmas/) - I invite those of you who celebrate other holidays to read these quotes in the spirit of Christmas. Share your quotations about any December holiday. - [Help Me Help Prevent Sexual Assault](https://lynettemburrows.com/help-me-help-prevent-sexual-assault/) - These organizations provide much-needed services to survivors of sexual assault. Will you help me help prevent sexual assault? - [Treat Your Holiday Stress with Laughter](https://lynettemburrows.com/treat-your-holiday-stress-with-laughter/) - Remember what I said about fun ways to treat stress? I hope one or two of these will make you chuckle and relieve your holiday stress. Christmas is a baby shower that went totally overboard. – Andy Borowitz ♦♦♦ The principal advantage of the non-parental lifestyle is that on Christmas Eve you need not be - [Christmas Carols For You](https://lynettemburrows.com/christmas-carols-for-you/) - I’m spending time with family. I hope you can spend time with your loved ones, too. Enjoy this small selection of some of my favorite Christmas carols. - [Your Gift Could Save a Life or Find a Cure](https://lynettemburrows.com/your-gift-could-save-a-life-or-find-a-cure/) - Finishing my Best Gifts posts, this charity is no surprise: The American Diabetes Association. Readers of this blog know that my niece and my husband are diabetics. Giving to the American Diabetes Association and their research partner, the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation are on my list. Your gift pays forward to the newly diagnosed, - [The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of 2018](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-2018/) - It’s the end of the year. Time for the annual review of the past twelve months and judge the good, the bad, and the ugly of 2018. Or is that just me? - [A Surprise Written in Mud](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-surprise-written-in-mud/) - "Written in Mud" by William F. Wu appears in the January/February 2019 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction. Here's my review. - [Stories Need Structure](https://lynettemburrows.com/stories-need-structure/) - Reading is fundamentally part of being a writer. But, reading stories doesn't teach you how to write. Stories need structure. - [Take Your First Intentional Step](https://lynettemburrows.com/take-your-first-intentional-step/) - Did you refuse to make imposible-to-keepp resolutions this year? Perhaps, you should take an intentional step toward your goal. - [Feelings-They Are All in Your Head and How to Make it Better](https://lynettemburrows.com/feelings-they-are-all-in-your-head-and-how-to-make-it-better/) - Winter-a season of sadness and loneliness and isolation. Feelings—they are all in your head and how to make it better are the focus of this blog series. - [Big Brain-Little Brain: The Mental Health Connection](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-mental-health-connection/) - Do you know about big brain-little brain: the mental health connection? Each of us has a big brain, in our skulls, and a little brain in the guts. - [Outtake: An Early Prelude](https://lynettemburrows.com/outtake-an-early-prelude/) - I thought readers might enjoy an outtake from My Soul to Keep that reveals background to the alternate history and world of the story. Read more... - [You Have the Right to Feel Good About Yourself](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-have-the-right-to-feel-good-about-yourself/) - You have the right to feel good about yourself. Learn why you don't. And try one of sixteen habits that can help improve your self-esteem. - [Sneak Peek at The Repairmen](https://lynettemburrows.com/sneak-peek-at-the-repairmen/) - Today I'm offering a sneak peek at The Repairmen, a novelette I wrote a few year back. Beware there is strong language (curse words) in this excerpt. - [Lies, Secrets, and Scars Create Better Characters](https://lynettemburrows.com/lies-secrets-and-scars-create-better-characters/) - The lies, secrets, and scars of your characters will give your stories power. What makes the story work is that emotion that ties it all together. - [A Sneak Peek at Paladina, a Novel-in-Progress](https://lynettemburrows.com/sneak-peek-paladina-a-novel-in-progress/) - A sneak peek at Paladina, a novel-in-progress which includes a protection specialist, Greek mythology, treasure-hunting alien knights, and a psychopath. - [Because There Are Lies, Secrets, and Scars](https://lynettemburrows.com/because-there-are-lies-secrets-and-scars/) - A story is about how a character reacts to what happens. Because there are lies, secrets, and scars and opposition, you can create a unique plot. - [In this Month of Love--Love Yourself](https://lynettemburrows.com/in-this-month-of-love-love-yourself/) - I was in a dark place. My marriage had failed. The separation and divorce tattered my son's self-esteem. My writing had stalled and I had horrible nightmares. I was the most worthless person I knew (second only to my ex). Self-love was selfish, or so I thought. I wish someone had told child me, “love - [The Sorrow and Joy of the Last Page](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-sorrow-and-joy-of-the-last-page/) - The writer and the reader experience the sorrow and joy of the last page. Not in exactly the same way, but pretty close. A good book drives you to that last page then, if you're like me you sit there, hugging the book and feeling lost. This feeling comes from what psychologist and other scientists - [In This Month of Love-Love Nature](https://lynettemburrows.com/in-this-month-of-love-love-nature/) - Chances are you have a nature-deficit and you're suffering for it. If you love yourself, love nature and connect with nature every day. - [The Yellow Rose of Valentine's Day](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-yellow-rose-of-valentines-day/) - Roses are red for Valentine's Day, aren't they? In this vignette, the yellow rose isn't a flower and it isn't romantic, but she wants you to be fabulous. - [Do You Know The Secrets of Successful Story-writing?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-know-the-secrets-of-successful-story-writing/) - Yes, there are secrets to successful story-writing but don’t worry, the recipes aren’t hard. The execution…well, that part’s up to you. - [In This Month of Love--Love One Another](https://lynettemburrows.com/in-this-month-of-love-love-one-another/) - "Love one another" is a concept that has been around since Confucian times (551–479 BC) or earlier. How do you live it in this day and age? - [A Growl in the Dead of the Night](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-growl-in-the-dead-of-the-night/) - My Inspiration: I was alone and awakened by a growl in the dead of the night. Our six-month-old Dalmatian had never growled or barked before. - [Create Strong Obstacles to Make A Super Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/create-strong-obstacles-to-make-a-super-story/) - Stories need Structure. As a writer, you know you need a strong obstacle to make a super story, but how does that work on paper? - [In this Month of Love-Love Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/in-this-month-of-love-love-life/) - Has life got you down? Have you lost that loving feeling? In this month of love put the love back into your life—no silly, not that love. - [Through the Haze, a Poem](https://lynettemburrows.com/through-the-haze-a-poem/) - Through the Haze is a poem I wrote a very long time ago when my life had been turned upside down and nothing was comfortable or clear or certain. - [Empowering Ourselves and Others](https://lynettemburrows.com/empowering-ourselves-and-others/) - Empowering ourselves and others is more than a catchy phrase. We can change the world. It’s our duty to ourselves. We have the power. - [Pirating is Stealing](https://lynettemburrows.com/pirating-is-stealing/) - The interwebs have been vibrating with arguments over a website that has pirated many books. Let me be clear. Pirating books is stealing. - [Empower Yourself](https://lynettemburrows.com/empower-yourself/) - You didn’t know you were needed one, but a mentor arrived. But sometimes you must empower yourself. Take control. Search out the mentors you need. - [The Magic You Make When You Read a Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-magic-you-make-when-you-read-a-story/) - The magic you make when you read a story creates a world with characters & problems & solutions. Get some magic for yourself. - [Hoofing it for the Love of Books](https://lynettemburrows.com/hoofing-it-for-the-love-of-books/) - For $28 a month, they carried books & magazines on horses or mules. This was the Packhorse Library project, hoofing it for the love of books. - [How to Feel Good About What You Do](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-feel-good-about-what-you-do/) - Overwhelmed? Do you want to give up before you start? There is a way to feel good about what you do when you can’t get it all done. - [30 Amazing Women You Never Heard Of](https://lynettemburrows.com/30-amazing-women-you-never-heard-of/) - It's fascinating to learn about women who've dared to be different or make a difference. Here are 30 amazing women you never heard of. - [A Time and Place for Procrastination](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-time-and-place-for-procrastination/) - Chances are, you are a procrastinator also. There are ways to reprogram yourself. And there's a time and place for procrastination. - [Women Empowering Women](https://lynettemburrows.com/women-empowering-women/) - Women empowering women is a strong and beautiful act. How does this happen? They lift one another through song, art, poetry, stories, mentorship, and more. - [The Beekeeper's Fear](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-beekeepers-fear/) - My first book takes place on an apple orchard. While writing this book, I learned an important lesson when a beekeeper’s fear stopped me in my tracks. - [It's Not a Simple Pinky-Swear](https://lynettemburrows.com/its-not-a-simple-pinky-swear/) - April 1st, April Fools Day, is my twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and I’m talking about commitment. A long term commitment is not a simple pinky-swear. - [Speak Out-April is SAAPM](https://lynettemburrows.com/speak-out-april-is-saapm/) - I speak out because I believe that every survivor deserves a safe place to find help. There are resources available for survivors, family, and friends. - [Prevent Sexual Assault with I Ask](https://lynettemburrows.com/prevent-sexual-assault-with-i-ask/) - Prevent sexual assault with I Ask, the theme of the eighteenth Sexual Assault and Awareness Month led by the NSVRC. Read more about I Ask and why it matters. - [Dream Big and Make It Happen](https://lynettemburrows.com/dream-big-and-make-it-happen/) - The assignment was to write a manifesto. I didn’t understand how it would help me. They insisted that it would help me dream big and make it happen. - [How to Hang onto Hope When It's Impossible](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-hang-onto-hope-when-its-impossible/) - In good times and bad, hope is both a salve and a propellant. When times are bad there are ways you can hang onto hope when it’s impossible. - [My Story Went to the Dogs](https://lynettemburrows.com/my-story-went-to-the-dogs/) - What do a bloodhound, a satellite, and a tracking device have in common? My story went to the dogs after I researched all three for, Fellowship. - [Do What You Love Now For Life Is Short](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-what-you-love-now-for-life-is-short/) - Life is too short. Do what you love now. What? You say you've heard all that. You plan to do what you love...later? Let me tell you a story. - [What Your Book Review Can Do](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-your-book-review-can-do/) - Books you love to readare precious. Do you know what your book review can do for the author, for other readers, and for the book publishing industry? - [When You Want to Surrender](https://lynettemburrows.com/when-you-want-to-surrender/) - Have recent events beat you up? Are you discouraged? Is it too much to bear and you’re ready to give up? When you want to surrender, don’t. - [Writer's Block Is Not The End](https://lynettemburrows.com/writers-block-is-not-the-end/) - Writer's block is feared and mocked and denied and suffered by writers, it happens. It can be debilitating. But writer's block is not the end. - [Do Things From Your Soul](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-things-from-your-soul/) - Some people call it the soul, some call it your passion. When you do things from your soul, you are happier, more content. It feels right. - [How Long Would You Survive?](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-long-would-you-survive/) - Did you ever want to run away from home? Did you pack a bag? If you had to go off-grid, how long would you survive on what you packed? Take the quiz. - [Story Time Reviews Ray Bradbury](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-ray-bradbury/) - As a grown-up, we need to reward ourselves with a story time. Reviewing stories read aloud, We start with Story Time Reviews Ray Bradbury. - [You Can Create the Life You Want](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-can-create-the-life-you-want/) - Every day we make millions of decisions. We make many of those decisions on autopilot. You can create the life you want, but not on auto pilot. - [Fellowship, a short novel](https://lynettemburrows.com/fellowship-a-short-novel/) - Fellowship, a short novel written in the same world as My Soul to Keep is finished. ARCs will be delivered to Beta Reders this week. Want to join them? - [41 Quotes About Reading](https://lynettemburrows.com/41-quotes-about-reading/) - Reading is more than fundamental. Reading is a pastime, a learning tool, and a thinking tool. I hope you enjoy these 41 quotes about reading. - [How to Find Your Inner Peace](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-find-your-inner-peace/) - Have recent political events raised your blood pressure? Work or family trigger one of your buttons? Don't fight it. Find or reclaim your inner peace. - [How to Save Your Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-save-your-life/) - How to save your life? The easy answer is to take care of yourself. Take care of yourself isn't as subjective as it seems. - [Did You Know these Bits and Pieces of History?](https://lynettemburrows.com/did-you-know-these-bits-and-pieces-of-history/) - Here are bits and pieces of history that you may not know about America’s worst economic downturn, the Great Depression (1929-1939) . - [A D-Day Musical and Literary Tribute](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-musical-and-literary-tribute-for-d-day/) - This musical and literary tribute for D-Day is offered in honor of those whose lives were forever changed because of World War II. - [How to Turn I Can't into I Can](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-turn-i-cant-into-i-can/) - Inspiration has failed me today. How the heck do I think I can interest anyone else? This doubt grew into an I can't. How do you turn I can't into I can? - [Do You See a Dystopia in America?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-see-a-dystopia-in-america/) - Do you see a dystopia in America? It's both in the present and the past. We’ll take a look at a few historical examples, but first… - [Cover Reveal for Fellowship](https://lynettemburrows.com/cover-reveal-for-fellowship/) - Cover Reveal: Fellowship, an action-adventure novel about a young man living in the same dystopian America and with characters from My Soul to Keep. - [5 Tips For Staying Motivated](https://lynettemburrows.com/5-tips-for-staying-motivated/) - It’s the “lazy hazy days of procrastination” in Kansas. Lost your focus? Here are five tips for staying motivated during the summer (or any time of year.) - [Listen & Learn: Science and History Podcasts](https://lynettemburrows.com/listen-learn-science-and-history-podcasts/) - Science and History podcasts are a fun, easy-to-digest way of learning. Often, I find a bit of inspiration for future stories. - [Outtake from Fellowship & A Lesson](https://lynettemburrows.com/outtake-from-fellowship-a-lesson/) - This week, I want to share an outtake from Fellowship and a lesson learned about writing before research. - [Celebrate and Win Every day](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrate-and-win-every-day/) - Do you know why you play electronic games? Because you get to celebrate and win every day. Hack your body and get motivated. - [Re-visioning Again](https://lynettemburrows.com/re-visioning-again/) - Revision is probably the single most difficult thing a writer must do. In this series of posts I share what I've learned about re-visioning. - [Do You Dream of the Jetson Life?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-dream-of-the-jetson-life/) - What futuristic program(s) have you watched and wondered what life will be like that someday? I don’t know about you, but I dream of the Jetson life. - [Do You Know These Facts About the Fourth?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-know-these-facts-about-the-fourth/) - Fourth of July is a holiday the independence of the United States of America. Before I share the six weird facts about the Fourth, let's remember. - [Dirty Little Secrets to Writing a Good Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/dirty-little-secrets-to-writing-a-good-story/) - In my post Two Secret Rules for Writers, I said the secret was that there isn’t a secret in writing. I may have to take that back - [3 Ways You Can Be More Creative](https://lynettemburrows.com/3-ways-you-can-be-more-creative/) - You still think you aren’t creative or you aren’t creative enough? You may be out of practice. Here are 3 ways you can be more creative. - [A Difficult Week That Isn't So Bad](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-difficult-week-that-isnt-so-bad/) - This has been a difficult week that isn't so bad. I've been busy. Too busy. But writing makes even this difficult week isn’t so bad. - [Do You Have the War Gene?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-have-the-war-gene/) - In the United States July is summer and Independence Day—a day born of a war. Do humans have a war gene? Do you have the war gene? - [Take Another Peek at Paladina](https://lynettemburrows.com/take-another-peek-at-paladina/) - It's Friday and time for a sneak peek at Paladina, a work-in-progress. Inspired by UFOs and Greek mythology, I hope you enjoy this bit. - [What You Should Know About Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-you-should-know-about-creativity/) - What should you know about creativity? This month's discussion has touched on the subject. There’s so much to learn. Here are a few inspirational quotes. - [The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/) - Conservation Genetics “aims to understand the genetics in populations principally to avoid extinction.” Read the good, the bad, and the ugly about it here. - [Are You a Bad-Ass Reader?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-a-bad-ass-reader/) - Are you a Bad-Ass Reader? You are if you can answer the thirty trivia questions below correctly. I had fun putting this list together, Enjoy! - [Nonviolent, She Made a Difference](https://lynettemburrows.com/nonviolent-she-made-a-difference/) - No one knew the woman Dorothy Cotton (nee Forman} would become. Nonviolent, she made a difference in the U.S. civil rights movement and the world. - [Not My Usual Friday Post](https://lynettemburrows.com/not-my-usual-friday-post/) - This isn’t my usual Friday post, but this has been an unusual past 24 hours. And, since I'm a last minute writer, there's a certain price to be paid. - [Create a Compelling Plot with What-But-Therefore](https://lynettemburrows.com/create-a-compelling-plot-with-what-but-therefore/) - If you're looking for a simple and effective tool for creating a cause-effect, can’t-stop-reading plot use the WHAT-BUT-THEREFORE method. - [Does the News Make You Disheartened and Afraid?](https://lynettemburrows.com/does-the-news-make-you-disheartened-and-afraid/) - Are you disheartened and afraid after the recent horrific shootings in California, Texas, and Ohio? Take a minute to look for the helpers. - [The First Female Nobel Peace Prize Winner](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-female-nobel-peace-prize-winner/) - In 1905 author & journalist, Baroness Bertha Sophie Felicita von Suttner became the second female Nobel laureate & the 1st female Nobel Peace Prize winner. - [Flash Fiction: For Better or Worse](https://lynettemburrows.com/flash-fiction-for-better-or-worse/) - Marriage is a lifelong commitment. But a lifetime has many challenges. That’s why the older marriage vows included the phrase “for better or for worse.” - [The Best Way You Can Not Feel Helpless](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-best-way-you-can-not-feel-helpless/) - Fred Rogers said, “Look for the helpers” (see last week's post). But the best way you can not feel helpless is to help others. - [With Words, She Made a Difference](https://lynettemburrows.com/with-words-she-made-a-difference/) - Lydia Maria Child a prolific author, a literary pioneer, and a tireless crusader for America’s excluded groups. With words, she made a difference. - [Story Time Reviews H. Beam Piper](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-h-beam-piper/) - Story Time Reviews H. Beam Piper. "The Answer," a post apocalyptic story, relentlessly builds tension and suspense to a twist ending. - [My One Year Anniversary and a Giveaway](https://lynettemburrows.com/my-one-year-anniversary-and-a-giveaway/) - It's my one year anniversary and a giveaway. One year ago today, my debut novel, My Soul to Keep, went live. It’s been a good year. Let's celebrate. - [Are You In Love With Words?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-in-love-with-words/) - Are you in love with words? Most writers I know are. Many readers are. So for this month’s fun quiz, let’s test our word knowledge. How many do you know? - [How to Care for Yourself during Difficult Times](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-care-for-yourself-during-difficult-times/) - Stressors are everywhere these days. So what to do? Develop a personal ritual to care for yourself during difficult times. - [A Month of Changes with More to Come](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-month-of-changes-with-more-to-come/) - It’s been a busy month of changes. That means that despite my best intentions, not much writing is getting done. But positive changes can be a good thing. - [The Rosa Parks of the Modern Trans Movement](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-rosa-parks-of-the-modern-trans-movement/) - Sylvia Rivera hated labels almost as much as she hated discrimination. Some call her the Rosa Parks of the Modern Trans movement. - [The Mad Mothers Refuse to be Silent](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-mad-mothers-refuse-to-be-silent/) - In 1977, fourteen mothers held a peaceful protest. They were called mad women, las locas. The mad mothers refuse to be silent to this day. - [Flash Fiction: All Systems Nominal](https://lynettemburrows.com/all-systems-nominal/) - The very best flash fiction has character, conflict, and plot. For me, flash fiction is all about mood. I hope you enjoy "All Systems Nominal." - [Science Fiction Authors About Science](https://lynettemburrows.com/science-fiction-authors-about-science/) - Science fiction intimidates some. Perhaps, these quotes by science fiction authors about science might help dispel some of that. - [Thank You for Celebrating With Me](https://lynettemburrows.com/thank-you-for-celebrating-with-me/) - Thank you for celebrating with me. Your tweets and retweets and shares of my One Year Anniversary and Giveaway were awesome. - [Quotes on Technology and Science Fiction](https://lynettemburrows.com/quotes-on-technology-and-science-fiction/) - Is science fiction predictive? Does it lead to advances in technology? Read these quotes on technology and science fiction and see what you think. - [Always Remember 9/11](https://lynettemburrows.com/always-remember-9-11/) - Today is the eighteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. Always remember 9/11, the day that changed the United States of America. - [14 Quotes that Will Feed You Courage](https://lynettemburrows.com/14-quotes-that-will-feed-you-courage/) - Fear triggers our survival response. But sometimes fear isn't real. Are you Frozen with Fear? Here are 14 quotes that will feed you courage. - [Look Hate in the Face and Love](https://lynettemburrows.com/look-hate-in-the-face-and-love/) - as a writer, I research people who hate so I can write their truth. And in doing that, I discover I must look hate in the face and love. - [Story Time Reviews "The Last Question"](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-the-last-question/) - If you like stories with a twist ending, you’ll like Isaac Asimov’s “The Last Question.” The story, narrated by Leonard Nimoy, is reviewed here. - [Why You Should Fail People Pleasing](https://lynettemburrows.com/why-you-should-fail-people-pleasing/) - Are you failing at what’s most important in your life? Chances are that you are a people pleaser. You should fail people pleasing. Here's how. - [Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark](https://lynettemburrows.com/censorship-leaves-us-in-the-dark/) - Banned Books Week, a celebration of the freedom to read, ends September 28th. The theme this year is “Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark.” - [When I Give Up is the Best Choice](https://lynettemburrows.com/when-i-give-up-is-the-best-choice/) - Don’t you wonder if sometimes it’s okay to quit? It is more than okay. Sometimes crying, screaming, or saying I give up is the best choice for you. - [Opportunities for the New Quarter](https://lynettemburrows.com/opportunities-for-the-new-quarter/) - It’s the beginning of the final quarter of 2019. There are opportunities to make the most of the new quarter. I want to do exactly that. Don't you? - [Who Does Your Greatest Success Look Like?](https://lynettemburrows.com/who-does-your-greatest-success-look-like/) - Who does your greatest success look like? Someone who has accomplished things, fame, made lots of money? Let's look at successful female authors. - [In the Year 2525, Will These Treatments Keep You Alive?](https://lynettemburrows.com/in-the-year-2525-will-these-treatments-keep-you-alive/) - In the year 2525, will these treatments keep you alive? Maybe. The genetic studies may take longer. Some, like 3-D printing, may save lives a lot sooner. - [Story Time Reviews "Operation Haystack"](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-operation-haystack/) - Story Time Reviews "Operation Haystack" by Frank Herbert. IA science fiction spy mystery that first appeared in Astounding in May 1959. - [Are You Aiming for Their Writing Success?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-aiming-for-their-writing-success/) - On your road to author success, you may wish to follow the writing lives of the top five best female novelists of all time. - [Real-life Villain or Scapegoat](https://lynettemburrows.com/real-life-villain-or-scapegoat/) - On October 15, 1917 they executed Mata Hari, a convicted double agent. But was she a real-life villain? Is hers a story of seduction and espionage? - [The Final Perfect Line](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-final-perfect-line/) - A blog post to inspire NANOWRIMO to plan, to write, and to finish their 50,000. Then to rewrite and craft the perfect final line. - [Your Success as a Female Author of SF & F](https://lynettemburrows.com/your-success-as-a-female-author-of-sf-f/) - Your road to success as a female author of SF & F is bumpy. Fnd inspirational mentors amongst successful female authors of science fiction & fantasy. - [Believe You Can and You Will](https://lynettemburrows.com/believe-you-can-and-you-will/) - Sometimes doubt creeps in and we call it reality. Stop doubt.. Believe you can and you will succeed. Here's some motivational quotes to help you. - [Honor Our Nation’s First Responders](https://lynettemburrows.com/honor-our-nations-first-responders/) - Today, October 28, 2019, under a resolution passed by the U.S. Senate, we honor our nation’s first responders. And I offer my gratitude in thanks. - [Remember and Be Grateful](https://lynettemburrows.com/remember-and-be-grateful/) - It’s November. In the United States, that means Thanksgiving Day is coming. It’s a month, and a day, known for overeating, for much-hyped sports, for writers meeting crazy deadlines, for parades, and for Black Friday shopping. Am I saying those are bad things? Heck no. But they are signs that November can be crazy busy. In - [Robotics Will Challenge Our Humanity](https://lynettemburrows.com/robotics-will-challenge-our-humanity/) - Ever since The Jetsons’ Rosie the Robot, robots and robotics have fascinated me. Over time, robots and robotics and A.I will challenge our humanity. - [A Veteran's Day Tribute](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-veterans-day-tribute/) - Today I give a Veteran’s Day Tribute to all those who have served. I salute all veterans—no matter where they served nor how long. - [Do You Recognize Diabetes, the Invisible Killer?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-recognize-diabetes-the-invisible-killer/) - Take charge of your health. Be vigilant, know your risk factors, and have regular checkups. Know how to recognize diabetes, the invisible killer. - [With a Little Help from My Friends](https://lynettemburrows.com/with-a-little-help-from-my-friends/) - If I Should Die is the working title of this sneak peek. Keep reading after the excerpt. I need a little help from my friends. - [Life is Like Plumbing](https://lynettemburrows.com/life-is-like-plumbing/) - No Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year, not without hot water in the kitchen. Unexpectedly, I realized that anything you try in life is like plumbing. - [Head Transplant: Science or Science Fiction?](https://lynettemburrows.com/head-transplant-science-or-science-fiction/) - Do you think a head transplant is science fiction or science fact? Italian neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero thinks it will be science fact. - [Are We Having Fun?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-we-having-fun/) - It’s been an exhausting month so far (and Thanksgiving is yet to come!) Stressful and exhausting. I have to ask myself, “Are we having fun?” - [My Four Lessons of the Last Decade](https://lynettemburrows.com/my-four-lessons-of-the-last-decade/) - There’s a meme flitting across Facebook. It’s the decade meme. When I looked back I realized my four lessons of the last decade might be of value to you. - [A.I. Surveillance, Are We Ready?](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-i-surveillance-are-we-ready/) - What if with A.I. Surveillance we could find every missing person? There are more than 600,000 persons reported missing in the United States each year. - [Thank You, Dear Readers](https://lynettemburrows.com/thank-you-dear-readers/) - In the United States, yesterday was Thanksgiving Day. A day of feasting and football and parades and giving thanks. And I want to say thank you. - [The Most Special Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-most-special-month/) - December, the last month of the calendar year. It's the end of the year. But not just an end. According to some, this is the most special month of the year. - [Your Out-of-This-World Vacation](https://lynettemburrows.com/your-out-of-this-world-vacation/) - It’s possible that in 2025 there will be a hotel orbiting the Earth. You can plan your out-of-this-world vacation today, but would you? Would you be willing to be one of the first to stay in the orbiting hotel? - [You Must Look for the Good News](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-must-look-for-the-good-news/) - Holidays are for joy and happiness. Are you finding it difficult to overcome the plethora of ugliness on the internet? Look for the good news. - [A Peek at Amazing Discoveries of the Past Decade](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-peak-at-amazing-discoveries-of-the-past-decade/) - I’ve posed many questions regarding the ethics of research being done. Today, let's take a tiny peak at the amazing discoveries of the past decade. - [I Feel Defeated... But I'm Not](https://lynettemburrows.com/i-feel-defeated-but-im-not/) - It’s been a rough year. A rough month. A rough past couple of days. I missed my blogging deadline. Missed my writing goals. I feel defeated. But I’m not. - [A Merry Christmas Wish and Music](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-merry-christmas-wish-and-music/) - Whether or not you celebrate a December holiday, I hope that you enjoy a few of my favorite versions of Christmas carols. Merry Christmas! - [A Decade of Growth and Change](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-decade-of-growth-and-change/) - Welcome back and Happy 2020! My last post was about the life lessons I learned. This post looks at the decade of growth and change. - [A New Year and New Intentions](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-new-year-and-new-intentions/) - the new year, time for...goals? Resolutions? I have missed many goals and broken many resolutions. For the new year, make new intentions. - [What Do You Remember and How?](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-do-you-remember-and-how/) - What do you remember and how do you remember one thing and your sibling something else? Human memory is complex. Let's explore how human memory works. - [Female Serial Killers Aren't a Type](https://lynettemburrows.com/female-serial-killers-arent-a-type/) - There is no template that produces serial killers of any specific gender, race, or nationality. And female serial killers aren’t a type. - [Story Time Reviews: A Japanese Fairy Tale](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-a-japanese-fairy-tale/) - Story Time Reviews a Japanese Fairy Tale told on the Myths and Legends podcast, episode 161 titled Japanese Folk Lore: Karma. - [Images from the My Soul to Keep Series](https://lynettemburrows.com/images-from-the-my-soul-to-keep-series/) - Images from My Soul to Keep, my alternate history dystopian novel, represent various bits of research. Enjoy the images or follow the links to learn more. - [What's Your Symbol of Freedom and Democracy?](https://lynettemburrows.com/whats-your-symbol-of-freedom-and-democracy/) - The Statue of Liberty used to be a “universal symbol of freedom and democracy.” In light of current events, perhaps its meaning isn't quite so universal. - [To Stress or To Sleep?](https://lynettemburrows.com/to-stress-or-to-sleep/) - You know you shouldn’t ignore your symptoms. But you're stressed. How do you manage? Especially when every night you're in a loop to stress or to sleep. - [Do You Have a Terrible Memory?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-have-a-terrible-memory/) - Forgetfulness gets a bad rap. There are jokes and curses and you say you have a terrible memory. But do you really? Is forgetfulness always a problem? - [Do You Support the Reality of Freedom?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-support-the-reality-of-freedom/) - But do you support the idea of freedom? Do you support the reality of freedom? Here are a few quotes that speak to the ideas of freedom that I support. - [Build Your Self-Compassion Toolbox](https://lynettemburrows.com/build-your-self-compassion-toolbox/) - Self-compassion is vital to your physical and mental health. Build your self-compassion toolbox and use it. Learn how in this post. - [Random Acts of Love Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/random-acts-of-love/) - February is the month of romantic love. But what about the other people around you? Make your life and theirs better. Try some Random Acts of Love. - [Does Stress Make You Reach For Chocolate?](https://lynettemburrows.com/does-stress-make-you-reach-for-chocolate/) - Does stress make you reach for Chocolate? It does me. Oops. That’s bad. Or is it? One way to decrease the effects of stress is to make a plan. - [Inspirational Random Acts of Love](https://lynettemburrows.com/inspirational-random-acts-of-love/) - Inspirational random acts of love are often an act of selflessness too. It’s a shame that we need this kind of inspiration to do good things. - [Ways Music is Good For You and Your Stress](https://lynettemburrows.com/ways-music-is-good-for-you-and-your-stress/) - In this post, I share some science behind the ways music is good for you. And I share links to stress-relief acoustics both music and natural sounds. - [Do You Celebrate Valentine's Day?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-celebrate-valentines-day/) - It’s a day to celebrate romantic love or it passes in sorrow or passes as any other day or celebrating it is prohibited. Do you celebrate Valentine's Day? - [Random Acts of Love May Save Your Country](https://lynettemburrows.com/random-acts-of-love-may-save-your-country/) - Our country's in trouble. Angry memes and click-bait stories scream inflammatory headlines. Our only hope may be random acts of love and kindness. - [Amnesia: Beyond the Tropes](https://lynettemburrows.com/amnesia-beyond-the-tropes/) - You’ve read it a million times. The heroine (or hero) has amnesia. You’ve read it so many times. However, reality might surprise you. - [Are You Furever in Love with Puppies?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-furever-in-love-with-puppies/) - Puppies. Puppy faces. Wiggly puppy bodies. Puppy breath. I can’t get enough. Are you furever in love with puppies like I am? - [Random Acts of Love from the Animal Kingdom](https://lynettemburrows.com/random-acts-of-love-from-the-animal-kingdom/) - It feels as if the world has become colder, harder, less kind. Perhaps we can learn from how the animal kingdom performs random acts of love and kindness. - [A Wrinkle in Time: the Movie that Wasn't](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-wrinkle-in-time-the-movie-that-wasnt/) - A Wrinkle In Time: the Movie that Wasn't reveals the books for which I am most grateful and why A Wrinkle in Time takes the number one spot. - [From Vultures to Family It's First Line Friday](https://lynettemburrows.com/from-vultures-to-family-its-first-line-friday/) - They say that the reader won't buy the book if the hook isn't great. From Vultures to Family It’s First Line Friday. Which line hooks you? - [Sixty-Three Years Leading Us to a Star Trek Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/sixty-three-years-leading-us-to-a-star-trek-life/) - Are space grown chili peppers, civilians, a movie shoot on ISS, and NASA's sixty-three years leading us to a Star Trek Life? - [You Need a Well-Stocked I Can Do It Toolbox](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-need-a-well-stocked-i-can-do-it-toolbox/) - You need to be prepared. You need a well-stocked I Can Do It toolbox. So prepare now for those low days that plague us all. - [Better Characters through Lies, Secrets, and Scars](https://lynettemburrows.com/better-characters-through-lies-secrets-and-scars/) - A post I wrote in 2019, Lies, Secrets, and Scars Create Better Characters, appears with new examples today on the Writers in the Storm Blog. - [Progress Report: Moving Forward in May](https://lynettemburrows.com/progress-report-moving-forward-in-may/) - After the mass murders at Rob Elementary School, moving forward is hard. Lynette M. Burrows gives her progress report. - [Bring in the New Year with Great First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/bring-in-the-new-year-with-great-first-lines/) - It’s the first Friday of the brand new year. Let’s bring in the New Year with great reads. This week's books are recently released. - [The Frame of a Story: The Forces of Antagonism](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-frame-of-a-story-the-forces-of-antagonism/) - Today I share Robert McKee's Forces of Antagonism and how I use those forces to plan the frame of a story that I'll pants. - [Celebrate Your Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrate-your-creativity/) - Lynette M. Burrows discusses how society doesn't value creativity and how we can value our own creativity by celebrating the small wins. - [Shifting Reality into Fiction](https://lynettemburrows.com/shifting-reality-into-fiction/) - When I started writing the Fellowship Dystopia series, it was fun shifting reality into fiction. Today the shift appears to be going the other way. - [First Lines by Nebula Nominees](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-by-nebula-nominees/) - This First Line Friday we're looking at first lines by Nebula nominees up for the 57th Annual Nebula Award®. Do these lines hook you? - [The Blessing and Curse of Research and Inspiration](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-blessing-and-curse-of-research-and-inspiration/) - The more you practice creativity, the more you realize the blessing and curse of research and inspiration. Which is the blessing and which the curse? Read more. - [The Man in the High Castle, a Review](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-man-in-the-high-castle-a-review/) - The Man in the High Castle is an American Dystopian alternate history thriller by Phillip K. Dick. Here I review the television series. - [How to Reduce Your Stress with a Sniff](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-reduce-your-stress-with-a-sniff/) - Did you know that stress affects your sense of smell? And did you know that certain scents can allow you to reduce your stress with a sniff? - [Do You Read Zombie Stories?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-read-zombie-stories/) - Zombies are everywhere you turn. Television, Movies, memes on Facebook, and in stories. I don’t normally read this genre. Do you read zombie stories? - [Think You Know What Dementia Is?](https://lynettemburrows.com/think-you-know-what-dementia-is/) - Many people think they know what dementia is. What Alzheimers is. Alzheimers is the most common one, but it is not the only dementia. - [Do You Discuss Dystopias In The Making](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-discuss-dystopias-in-the-making/) - Recently I discovered a podcast of inspiration for lovers of dystopian stories. The Good Code discusses dystopias in the making. - [Lost and Found Memories of Trauma](https://lynettemburrows.com/lost-and-found-memories-of-trauma/) - The complex issue of lost and found memories of trauma, better known as repressed or recovered memories, has been fraught with bitter controversy. - [An Inspiring Woman In Space And On The Ground](https://lynettemburrows.com/an-inspiring-woman-in-space-and-on-the-ground/) - We’re coming forward hundreds of years for this week's Women's History Month spotlight. Meet an inspiring woman in space and on the ground, Ellen Ochoa. - [6 Ways to Find Your Calm in the Middle of the Storm](https://lynettemburrows.com/6-ways-to-find-your-calm-in-the-middle-of-the-storm/) - It’s a topsy-turvy world we’re living in right now. Now more than ever, you must find your calm in the middle of the storm. But how? Here are 6 ways. - [A Blogfest You Can't Miss!](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-blogfest-you-cant-miss/) - Awesome. Inspiring. Funny. Touching. Real. Beauty of a Woman Blogfest 2012, created and hosted by August McLaughlin, is a blogfest you can't miss. - [You Have to Do You](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-have-to-do-you/) - Celebrating Women’s History month, this week we talk about Mona Haydar who not only says, you have to do you, she lives it. - [Do You Need a Distraction?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-need-a-distraction/) - I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to step back from 24 hour roller coaster of Corona Virus News. Do you need a distraction too? - [Hits, Misses, and Challenges](https://lynettemburrows.com/hits-misses-and-challenges/) - Time to review the hits, misses and challenges to my intentions for the last quarter. My whole first quarter challenged me in unexpected ways. - [Sneak Peek: If I Should Die Chapter Three](https://lynettemburrows.com/sneak-peek-if-i-should-die-chapter-three/) - This is a Sneak Peek of If I Should Die Chapter Three. This is part of a six-week project in which I share parts of this story. - [Are You Alarmed?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-alarmed/) - Are you alarmed? I recently needed to know what year the first closed circuit security system existed while writing If I Should Die. Guess what I learned? - [Holiday Stories Earn a Special Place on Your Bookshelves](https://lynettemburrows.com/holiday-stories-earn-a-special-place-on-your-bookshelves/) - No, it’s not a first Friday. If you love holidays and reading, you'll love these stories. Holiday stories earn a special place on your bookshelves. - [Strong Female Characters for First Line Friday](https://lynettemburrows.com/strong-female-characters-for-first-line-friday/) - Do you buy a book based on the first line? This first line Friday post features recent science fiction with strong female characters. - [Black Women You Should Know](https://lynettemburrows.com/black-women-you-should-know/) - History often ignored women, particularly black women. Black women are making and have made history. Here are 41 black women you should know. - [A Bump in the Road of Pandemic Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-bump-in-the-road-of-pandemic-life/) - I thought I had it figured out. Self-quarantine wasn’t much different from my everyday life. Oops. I hit a bump in the road of pandemic life. - [How to Create a Safe Place in Your Mind](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-create-a-safe-place-in-your-mind/) - If the hubby, the kids, the roommate, or the same four walls are getting you down, create a safe place in your mind. How? Read on. - [A History Lesson for Pandemic Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-history-lesson-for-pandemic-life/) - People wanted to celebrate the end of WWI. But peace wasn’t the only thing in the air. The Spanish Influenza is a history lesson for pandemic life. - [You Don't Have to Be Anne Frank](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-dont-have-to-be-anne-frank/) - Entering the second month of social distancing seems like we're all getting a little cranky. It's okay. You don’t have to be Anne Frank. - [City of the Future and Living Concrete](https://lynettemburrows.com/city-of-the-future-and-living-concrete/) - As a SF writer, I love to read articles and predictions of future technology. Today we'll look at reports of the city of the future and living concrete. - [Love & Hope in the Pandemic](https://lynettemburrows.com/love-hope-in-the-pandemic/) - It’s good to see so many posts and articles praising and thanking our frontline workers. But let’s look at other examples of love & hope in the pandemic. - [It Isn't Just Science Fiction Anymore](https://lynettemburrows.com/isnt-just-science-fiction-anymore/) - Tiny robots inside your body isn’t just science fiction anymore. A team of researchers at the University of Vermont have created a new life-form. - [The Eighth Day of the Week](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-eighth-day-of-the-week/) - It feels like there is an eight day of the week every week during this pandemic. But what if we find a different way to view that "extra day?" - [May the Fourth Be With You](https://lynettemburrows.com/may-the-fourth-be-with-you/) - May the Fourth be with you is word play of the Jedi slogan, May the Force be with You. During this pandemic, the phrase has more meaning than ever. - [You Wanna See a Great Big Driverless Convoy?](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-wanna-see-a-great-big-driverless-convoy/) - During road trips, long-haul truck drivers thrilled us with a blast of their horns. A different future awaits. You wanna see a great big driverless convoy? - [Which Great Line Would Make You Read the Book?](https://lynettemburrows.com/which-great-line-would-make-you-read-the-book/) - Here’s a collection of lines from various Science Fiction & Fantasy novels. Which great line would make you read the book? - [To Not-Mothers and Not-Standard Mothers](https://lynettemburrows.com/to-not-mothers-and-not-standard-mothers/) - Mother’s Day is woefully narrow-minded. There are many mothers that don’t fit the “mold.” To not-mothers and not-standard mothers, I offer some reminders. - [Pearls of Wisdom From Science Fiction](https://lynettemburrows.com/pearls-of-wisdom-from-science-fiction/) - Sometimes we need to lean on the wisdom of others. Enjoy these pearls of wisdom for pandemic life from science fiction books and authors. - [Sneak Peek at Paladina](https://lynettemburrows.com/sneak-peek-at-paladina/) - Time for another sneak peek at Paladina a WIP (work-in-progress). It's a back-burner story that I work on a little here and there.. - [A Cool Blend of Science and Technology](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-cool-blend-of-science-and-technology/) - It’s doubtful that any of the ancient peoples knew it. Yet, they birthed a cool blend of science and technology:Biotechnology. - [Your Grade at the End of the Day](https://lynettemburrows.com/your-grade-at-the-end-of-the-day/) - No matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to get anything done. If you had to grade your success what would be your grade at the end of the day? - [A New Skin. Will You Wear It?](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-new-skin-will-you-wear-it/) - A mom deployed thousands of miles from home rubs her three-year-old son's back and calms him. How did she do that? A new skin. Will you wear it? - [Do You Need to Get Away From It All?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-need-to-get-away-from-it-all/) - Current events have you tied up in knots? Feel like you need to get away from it all? You deserve a Calgon™ moment If you’re as old as I am, you may remember the old “Calgon™, take me away” commercials on television. Calgon™ is an American brand of water softener, and bath and beauty products. - [Too Many Are Hurting](https://lynettemburrows.com/too-many-are-hurting/) - Today’s post about my progress or lack thereof, or a book review seemed frivolous. Too many are hurting in the world—in my country. - [Speak Up Readers, What do you think?](https://lynettemburrows.com/speak-up-readers-what-do-you-think/) - Recently The Passive Voice posted part of Jennifer Belle's "I Paid Them to Read My Book." I'm including a bit here. Speak up readers, what do you think? - [15 Inspirational Quotes for Tough Times](https://lynettemburrows.com/15-inspirational-quotes-for-tough-times/) - Are you finding pandemic life is tough? Here are some inspirational quotes for tough times to remind you that you can do this. - [Would You Like to be a Space Tourist?](https://lynettemburrows.com/would-you-like-to-be-a-space-tourist/) - There is getting away from it all and soon there will be opportunities for getting 240 miles above it all. That’s right. Soon you can be a space tourist. - [Procrastination, a Writer's Tool](https://lynettemburrows.com/procrastination-a-writers-tool/) - Procrastination is my middle name. Okay, not really. Some would say I have writer’s block. I disagree. Procrastination is a writer’s tool. Or it can be. - [Powerful Quotes About Why War](https://lynettemburrows.com/powerful-quotes-about-why-war/) - From toys to poetry, from song to all types of entertainment humans seem obsessed with war. Here are some quotes about why war. - [Do You Know Why These First Lines Work?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-know-why-these-first-lines-work/) - The first words and paragraphs of a story are critical. Do you know why these first lines work? Whether you’re a reader or a writer, it’s helpful to know. - [Worldwide Crises Got You Down?](https://lynettemburrows.com/worldwide-crises-got-you-down/) - Worldwide crises got you down? The pandemic, protests, and political crap won't blow over soon. So here are a dozen quotes to help you hold on. - [How to Write a Great First Line](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-write-a-great-first-line/) - The first line of a story has a major job—to catch the attention of the reader. The right reader. So how do we write a great first line? - [Beyond the Imagination of the Earthbound](https://lynettemburrows.com/beyond-the-imagination-of-the-earthbound/) - Did you watch Launch America? What we will discover in space travel and exploration is beyond the imagination of the Earthbound. - [Will You Buy These Books Based on the First Lines?](https://lynettemburrows.com/will-you-buy-these-books-based-on-the-first-lines/) - Covers, descriptions, reviews, word of mouth are all used to make book buying decisions. But will you buy these books based on the first lines? - [What Flavor of Success Do You Want](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-flavor-of-success-do-you-want/) - Having trouble defining your idea of success? Think of success in simpler terms. What flavor of success do you want for this piece of writing? - [Would You Have Been the First?](https://lynettemburrows.com/would-you-have-been-the-first/) - Standing up for what you believe is scary. Have you thought about what it would be like to be the first? Would you have been the first to demand a vote? - [NASA Spinoff Tech You Have Used](https://lynettemburrows.com/nasa-spinoff-tech-you-have-used/) - Yes, we’re talking about more NASA spinoff technology. This is spinoff tech you have used in your home or in a medical facility. - [Hope for that Helpless Feeling](https://lynettemburrows.com/hope-for-that-helpless-feeling/) - Are you in a hard place right now? Feel like you're stuck? Helpless and Hopeless? There is hope for that helpless feeling that overwhelms you. - [Is There an Awesome NASA Spinoff in Your Home?](https://lynettemburrows.com/is-there-an-awesome-nasa-spinoff-in-your-home/) - When Congress established NASA in 1958, it also required NASA to share and help business develop technology. Is there an awesome NASA Spinoff in your home? - [Hope of a Cure for Sickle Cell](https://lynettemburrows.com/hope-of-a-cure-for-sickle-cell/) - Remember the gene-editing technique, CRISPR? A year long gene-editing, trial signals hope of a cure for Sickle Cell disease. - [It's Not Just the Oceans that Need a Cleanup](https://lynettemburrows.com/its-not-just-the-oceans-that-need-a-cleanup/) - Garbage. It’s a familiar, man-made problem. On land and in the oceans. But it’s not just the land and the oceans that need a cleanup. - [The Messy Second Quarter of 2020](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-messy-second-quarter-of-2020/) - Can you believe it? In a few more days we will be at the end of June. Worse. The Messy Second Quarter of 2020 outdid the chaos of First Quarter. - [Can You Match the Bestseller to its First Line?](https://lynettemburrows.com/can-you-match-the-bestseller-to-its-first-line/) - It’s First Lines Friday, but let’s have fun with this one. This time it’s a mix-and-match game. Match the bestseller to its first line. No cheating! - [Revolutionary War Hero Margaret Corbin](https://lynettemburrows.com/revolutionary-war-hero-margaret-corbin/) - It’s July and fitting that this month’s history posts be about Revolutionary War Hero Margaret Corbin. The first woman paid a soldier’s pension. - [Are You Failing the Altruism Test?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-failing-the-altruism-test/) - Our world is suffering. It is an apocalypse of sorts. Or more accurately, it’s a test. Sadly, we are failing the altruism test. - [Organ Farms In Space](https://lynettemburrows.com/organ-farms-in-space/) - Space. The Final Frontier. Star Trek had a miraculous medical lab. We don't have that medical lab yet, but someday we may have organ farms in space. - [Library Withdrawal](https://lynettemburrows.com/library-withdrawal/) - Are you having library withdrawal? I mean, are you missing going to the library? I haven’t been to the library since the beginning of March. - [Are You Suffering from Stress Fatigue?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-suffering-from-stress-fatigue/) - As the pandemic and political strife continue, many of you may feel that the situation is hopeless. If you do, you may be suffering from stress fatigue - [The First to Discover the Sex Chromosomes](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-to-discover-the-sex-chromosomes/) - When women rarely went to high school, Nettie Maria Stevens (1861-1912) wanted to be a scientist . She became the first to discover the sex chromosomes. - [How Long Do You Want to Live?](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-long-do-you-want-to-live/) - If you could choose, how long do you want to live? To 100, 200, 500 years of age? Perhaps your answer is, it depends—will I be healthy? - [Desperately Sleep Deprived and a Little Progress](https://lynettemburrows.com/desperately-sleep-deprived-and-a-little-progress/) - How can it be the end of July? Didn't accomplish what I'd intended. July was a month of being desperately sleep deprived and a little progress. - [First Lines for August](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-for-august/) - The First Lines for August post features novels set in or about World War II In memory of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. - [What They Learned about Radiation After the Bomb](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-they-learned-about-radiation-after-the-bomb/) - After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, US and Japanese researchers arrived. We use what they learned about radiation today. - [The Flowers of Hiroshima, A Book Review](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-flowers-of-hiroshima-a-book-review/) - This is a review of The Flowers of Hiroshima by Edita Morris. I first read this story at the age of 14. I re-read more than 50 years later. - [14 Quotes About Peace](https://lynettemburrows.com/14-quotes-about-peace/) - Did you know that school children in Japan take mandatory peace studies? Perhaps these quotes about peace will inspire you. - [Mama Josie and the Angels of Bataan](https://lynettemburrows.com/mama-josie-and-the-angels-of-bataan/) - WWII both brought and illuminated horrors. And yet there were also shining stars. This is the story of Mama Josie and the Angels of Bataan. - [The First Asian-American Woman in the Navy](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-asian-american-woman-in-the-navy/) - You’ve heard Pearl Harbor and WWII. But have you heard of the first Asian-American Woman in the Navy? Meet Lieutenant Susan Ahn Cuddy. - [Does Writing Dark Stories Affect the Writer’s Soul?](https://lynettemburrows.com/does-writing-dark-stories-affect-the-writers-soul/) - Does writing dark stories affect the writer's soul? It's a question that deserves an answer. I hope you find my answer interesting. - [Nourish Your Soul](https://lynettemburrows.com/nourish-your-soul/) - Have you grown weary of all that's wrong in the world? How do you hang on in trying times? You nourish your soul a little or a lot every day. - [Should You Worry About Saboteur Genetics?](https://lynettemburrows.com/should-you-worry-about-saboteur-genetics/) - More than 750 million GMO male mosquitoes will be released in 2021. It's a form of sabotage. Should you worry about saboteur genetics? - [My Horrible-No-Good-Very-Bad Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/my-horrible-no-good-very-bad-month/) - The title of this month's progress report, "my-horrible-no good-very-bad month" says a lot. While I’m an optimist at heart, it got a beating this month. - [The Key to Surviving Space Radiation?](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-key-to-surviving-space-radiation/) - Lynette M. Burrows discusses what The Andromeda Strain, Project Hail Mary, and extremophiles have in common. Survival is part of the answer. - [Labor Day Inspirations and Information](https://lynettemburrows.com/labor-day-inspirations-and-information/) - It's Labor Day a day to honor and recognize the American Labor Movement. Please watch this short video Labor Day Inspirations and Information. - [Holiday Quotes to Get You in the Spirit](https://lynettemburrows.com/holiday-quotes-to-get-you-in-the-spirit/) - December holidays are plentiful and different and yet… No matter which day you celebrate, here are some holiday quotes to get you in the spirit. - [Story Time Reviews “Lost Girls” by Jane Yolen](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-lost-girls-by-jane-yolen/) - Story Time Reviews is a blog series that offers reviews of short stories. Today Story Time Reviews “The Lost Girls” by Jane Yolen. - [The Ups and Down of Progress Continues in May](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-ups-and-down-of-progress-continues-in-may/) - How is it almost June? I feel as if we’re suspended between pandemic and post pandemic. And the ups and downs of progress continues. - [Will You Celebrate Pride Month with These First Lines?](https://lynettemburrows.com/will-you-celebrate-pride-month-with-these-first-lines/) - First Line Friday is a series of blog articles posted on the first Friday of every month. Will you celebrate Pride Month with these first lines? - [First Lines for September](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-for-september/) - The first line of a story, we’re told, must hook the reader. Do these first lines for September hook you? Do you want to read more? - [2021 Year-End Progress Report](https://lynettemburrows.com/2021-year-end-progress-report/) - Lynette M. Burrows gives her 2021 Year-End Progress report and what she learned from a challenging year - [A Speed up-Slow Down Kind of Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-speed-up-slow-down-kind-of-month/) - It’s the end of March and Kansas weather is switching between spring and winter daily. This is my progress report. March was a speed up-slow down kind of month. - [20 Reasons Why You Love Reading Dystopian Novels](https://lynettemburrows.com/20-reasons-why-you-love-reading-dystopian-novels/) - Do you love reading dystopian novels and stories? Why? For that matter, why do I write dystopian stories? I have found some answers. - [Inspiration is Fickle and Lazy](https://lynettemburrows.com/inspiration-is-fickle-and-lazy/) - Are you a creative waiting for inspiration to arrive? Most likely you’re out of luck. Inspiration is fickle and lazy. You must exercise it every day. - [One Plotting Tool for All](https://lynettemburrows.com/one-plotting-tool-for-all/) - Facing the blank page is daunting for a writer. But there are tools that can help. One plotting tool for all is the story sentence. - [Rebel Soldier, Spy, or Swindler](https://lynettemburrows.com/rebel-soldier-spy-or-swindler/) - Loreta Velázquez, aka Lieutenant Harry T. Buford, tells a story of deception and danger. Was she a rebel soldier, spy, or swindler? - [Real Life or Science Fiction](https://lynettemburrows.com/real-life-or-science-fiction/) - In my series, the Fellowship Dystopia, is an alternate history with speculative fiction. But science is catching up. Is it Real Life or Science Fiction? - [Reignite Your Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/reignite-your-creativity/) - Sometimes ideas seem to hit you like a tidal wave. Other times it’s cold and dry. Where do you start? In the dark to reignite your creativity. - [The ABCs of How to Write a Good Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-abcs-of-how-to-write-a-good-story/) - This series is about more than the ABCs of how to write a good story. I’ll deep dive into how the right beginning, middle, and end can make a good story. - [How to Construct a Solid Gold Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-construct-a-solid-gold-story/) - When you start writing a story it can be a lot like panning a river for gold. Whether you’re a pantser or a planner, you can construct a solid gold story. - [First Lines from Other Worlds](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-other-worlds/) - For these first lines from other worlds I include the first 45-55 words of each novel. Do you want to read more? - [Can Computers be Creative?](https://lynettemburrows.com/can-computers-be-creative/) - Ai-Da, an Artificial Intelligence machine, paints, writes, and gives presentations. Can a computer be creative? - [A Short Tale of Golden Consequences](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-short-tale-of-golden-consequences/) - In America, everyone claims to be a little bit Irish in March. This is a short-short about golden consequences. - [Things I Wish I Knew Before I Published: Part III](https://lynettemburrows.com/things-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-published-part-iii/) - You must choose your own publishing path. If you are weighing your options, this “Things I Wish I Knew Before I Published” series may help. - [If I Should Die, a Sneak Peek at a Revision-in-Progress](https://lynettemburrows.com/sneak-peek-revision-draft-if-i-should-die/) - If I Should Die is book two in the Fellowship Dystopia series. Is Miranda's argument valid or is she blind to danger? - [Celebrate Women of History](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrate-women-of-history/) - I love to write about fictional characters whose story challenges them to figure out what they are and who they can be. Real-life women of history inspire me. - [She Threw Off Her Veil and Changed the World](https://lynettemburrows.com/she-threw-off-her-veil-and-changed-the-world/) - She threw off her veil and changed the world. Huda Shaarawi grew up in a harem and became Egypt’s leading women’s rights activist. - [Bust your Stress with Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/bust-your-stress-with-creativity/) - Your creativity has hit the dumper. You tell yourself you must sacrifice creativity and focus on the stress. Bust your stress with creativity. - [What You Can Read in Troubling Times](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-you-can-read-in-troubling-times/) - No doubt about it, these are troubling times. Here are things you can read in troubling times. - [First Lines from Women's Fiction](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-womens-fiction/) - Let's celebrate women's history month with first lines from women's fiction. First Line Friday posts are published on the first Friday of every month. - [Discover the Tenth Muse](https://lynettemburrows.com/discover-the-tenth-muse/) - Celebrating Women’s History month, we’re exploring the earliest known female poet and songwriter. It is said that Plato called Sappho the tenth muse. - [A New Season is Coming](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-new-season-is-coming/) - It’s the end of February 2022 and a new season is coming. I’m referring to more than the annual change of seasons. Personally and world-wide, a new season comes. - [Strong Black Women Past and Present](https://lynettemburrows.com/strong-black-women-past-and-present/) - Today I feature these strong women because they are Black. They are more than Strong Black Women. They are inspirations. - [Are You Chasing Flow State?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-chasing-flow-state/) - You are an illustrator, a writer, a knitter, a sculptor, a skater, or a marathon runner. What do you all have in common? You are all chasing flow state. - [First Lines for Black History Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-for-black-history-month/) - This is a special edition of First Lines Friday for black history month. These titles are a sampling of important black science fiction works. - [Self-Validation Tools For Creatives](https://lynettemburrows.com/self-validation-tools-for-creatives/) - Often creatives don’t know how to self-validate. We need a set of self-validation tools for creatives. Lynette M. Burrows offers some tools and resources. - [Mary McLeod Bethune Lights the Way Even After Death](https://lynettemburrows.com/mary-mcleod-bethune-lights-the-way-even-after-death/) - She grew from poverty and ignorance into a woman who changed the world. Most of all, Mary McLeod Bethune lights the way even after death. - [The first African-American Professional Nurse](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-african-american-professional-nurse/) - She made history as the first African-American Professional Nurse. Do you know her name? She worked for equality of black and minority women. - [First Woman of Color Elected to Congress](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-woman-of-color-elected-to-congress/) - Women of History are strong women who have marched before us. A political pioneer, Patsy Takemoto Mink was the first woman of color elected to Congress. - [Make Your December Wish Come True](https://lynettemburrows.com/make-your-december-wish-come-true/) - December is full of holidays and goodwill and wishes for world peace. So why haven’t we achieved world peace? You can make your December wish come true... - [Things I Wish I Knew Before I Published: Part II](https://lynettemburrows.com/things-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-published-part-ii/) - If independent author-publisher, Lynette M. Burrows went back in time, these are more of her "things I wish I knew before I published." - [A Short Writing Lesson: Dogged by Guilt](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-short-writing-lesson-dogged-by-guilt/) - Lynette M. Burrows shares a short writing lesson. A character Dogged by Guilt can provide your story a protagonist, antagonist, and story question. - [Monday Mashup: From SOPA to Nuts](https://lynettemburrows.com/monday-mashup-from-sopa-to-nuts/) - I don't know about you, but there are so many great things posted on the web, I often miss them when they are first published online. So today, I'm sharing a mash-up of my recent, eclectic discoveries with you. The links cover everything from SOPA to Nuts. - [Will Your Child Fall in Love with a Cyborg?](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-if-your-child-falls-in-love-with-a-cyborg/) - Imagine it’s 2050, the pandemic is long over. Cyborgs walk the streets of your town. What if your child falls in love with a cyborg? - [Do You Want to Read More?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-want-to-read-more/) - Writers are told the first line of a book must hook the reader. Do these first lines hook you? Do you want to read more? - [The Mystical Adventure of Reading](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-mystical-adventure-of-reading-for-pleasure/) - Science has shown that the benefits of reading. But there is a mystical adventure of reading. And here are the quotes to prove it. - [A Sweet Milestone & a Giveaway](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-sweet-milestone-a-giveaway/) - Celebration time! This post marks the 500th blog post I’ve published on this site. It's a sweet milestone. - [Type 1 Diabetes Research-What You Need to Know](https://lynettemburrows.com/type-1-diabetes-research-what-you-need-to-know/) - We may be one step closer to knowing what causes diabetes. The hope is that understanding will lead to a cure. This is what you need to know. - [The Importance of Sacrifice in Your Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-importance-of-sacrifice-in-your-life/) - We don’t think about it much, but the importance of sacrifice in our daily lives is that we do it. Willing or not, sacrifice is part of life. - [Would You Fly Like Iron Man?](https://lynettemburrows.com/would-you-fly-like-iron-man/) - Humans have dreamed of flying since they first saw birds. Now there are working jetpacks. Would you like to fly like Iron Man? - [Stop Labeling Yourself an Imposter](https://lynettemburrows.com/stop-labeling-yourself-an-imposter/) - Do you say you have “imposter syndrome?” I once embraced that label. But the label is wrong. Stop labeling yourself an imposter. - [Reporting Actual Progress](https://lynettemburrows.com/reporting-actual-progress/) - Reporting my progress to you every month is an important part of my process. I’m happy that there is actual progress in this progress report. - [Ten Tips to Get Your Reading Mojo Back](https://lynettemburrows.com/ten-tips-to-get-your-reading-mojo-back/) - Even avid readers with stacks of TBR books can hit a low spot where reading seems like a chore. Use these ten tips to get your reading mojo back. - [She Was Convicted Because the Sex Side of Life Was Judged Obscene](https://lynettemburrows.com/she-was-convicted-because-the-sex-side-of-life-was-judged-obscene/) - Women's lack of basic civil rights deeply affect Mary Coffin Ware Dennett's life. She was convicted because the sex side of life was judged obscene. - [Motivation for Being A Creative](https://lynettemburrows.com/motivation-for-being-a-creative/) - Being a creative you need ways to motivate and inspire yourself. These quotes may help inspire you to find answers that motivate you. - [The Book that Changed Your Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-book-that-changed-your-life/) - Let’s face it. If you’re reading this blog post, you are most likely a lover of books. A lifelong reader. A bibliophile. That means you’ve read -a lot- of books. You may cherish some of those books and re-read them once or more than once. It’s a cliché to say some event or person or - [Put One Foot in Front of the Other](https://lynettemburrows.com/put-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other/) - This month's progress report. This year is a slow, difficult and messy journey. All many of us can do is… put one foot in front of the other. - [Challenge These Nine Myths and Reclaim Your Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/challenge-these-nine-myths-and-reclaim-your-creativity/) - Do you confuse creativity with being artistic? If you do, you have bought into a myth. Challenge these nine myths and reclaim your creativity. - [How Many Indigenous People Do You Think America Has?](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-many-indigenous-people-so-you-think-america-has/) - It will soon be Indigenous Peoples Day. Think you know about our Native Americans? How many indigenous people do you think America has? - [First Line Friday: Ghosts and Witches and Monsters](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-line-friday-ghosts-and-witches-and-monsters/) - It’s October and that means for First Line Friday we’re looking for ghosts and witches and monsters—in science fiction and fantasy books - [The Challenge of 2020 is to Find Your Joy](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-challenge-of-2020-is-to-find-your-joy/) - We've had more challenges and catastrophes in the world. ANd you've lost your joy. The challenge of 2020 is to find your joy. - [If You Were a Superhero](https://lynettemburrows.com/if-you-were-a-superhero/) - If you were a superhero how would you choose who to save? This and many more questions to consider if you were a superhearo. - [How to Spot Your Strength When You Feel Powerless](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-spot-your-strength-when-you-feel-powerless/) - Last week I talked about finding your joy in these crazy days of 2020. This week learnt how to spot your strength when you feel powerless. - [A Team of Awesome Women & the Nobel Prize](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-team-of-awesome-women-the-nobel-prize/) - A team of awesome women, Dr. Charpentier and Dr. Doudna, discovered genetic scissors and were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. - [What’s Your Reading Style](https://lynettemburrows.com/whats-your-reading-style/) - Whether you read fantasy or hard science fiction or horror or any other genre, you have a reading style. What's your reading style? - [Will You Make It Fun?](https://lynettemburrows.com/will-you-make-it-fun/) - By repeating how bad things are, you reinforce those sad & mad feelings. For your sanity, you have to get past that. Will you make it fun? - [Why we Believe in the Impossible](https://lynettemburrows.com/why-we-believe-in-the-impossible/) - Why do we believe in the impossible? Why do we hold on to false beliefs? The bottom line? We want to believe. (Every one of us.) - [Despite All That 2020 has Thrown at Us](https://lynettemburrows.com/despite-all-that-2020-has-thrown-at-us/) - What progress can I report? When I looked back at it, October was a productive month in despite all that 2020 has thrown at us and the world. - [When Your Motivation Needs a Boost](https://lynettemburrows.com/when-your-motivation-needs-a-boost/) - Are you struggle to stay motivated? Here are a few strategies you can use when your motivation needs a boost. - [First Lines Friday Salute](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-friday-salute/) - This month it’s a First Lines Friday Salute in science fiction and fantasy novels. In these stories, the heroines battle to save the day. - [Things I Wish I Knew Before I Published: Part I](https://lynettemburrows.com/things-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-published-part-i/) - I am an independent author-publisher. I love what I do. But there are things I wish I knew before I published. - [How to Use Goals & Obstacles to Fascinate Your Readers](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-use-goals-obstacles-to-fascinate-your-readers/) - Are you stuck in the middle of your novel? You can solve or prevent most stuck-in-the-middle events. Use goals & obstacles to fascinate your readers. - [Four Women First to Enlist](https://lynettemburrows.com/four-women-first-to-enlist/) - Before 1914, a woman fighting beside men was unimaginable. On Veteran’s Day, we salute four women first to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. - [How to Make Your Library a Subject of Bookshelf Envy](https://lynettemburrows.com/how-to-make-your-library-a-subject-of-bookshelf-envy/) - Do you dream of a home library? Here are 9 ways to organize your books and make your library a subject of bookshelf envy. - [A Strong Midpoint Powers Your Novel](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-strong-midpoint-powers-your-novel/) - Until now the antagonist has been making the moves, making the protagonist react. Things change and a strong midpoint powers your novel. - [You Can Be Resilient](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-can-be-resilient/) - We’ve all been under compressive stress that will not go away with a wave of a hand. You need to know how to be resilient. - [The Importance of the Last Act in Story Structure](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-importance-of-the-last-act-in-story-structure/) - In writing a story, the importance of the last act in story structure, the last act of your WIP, is as big as the first act. - [The Perfect Time to Visit Your Gratitude](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-perfect-time-to-visit-your-gratitude/) - It's Thanksgiving week in the U.S and time for gratitude. Frivolous? Perhaps. Yet, perhaps this is the perfect time to visit your gratitude. - [Do You Know Rudolph Like I Know Rudolph?](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-know-rudolph-like-i-know-rudolph/) - Welcome to the second installment of holiday fun and an interview with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Do You Know Rudolph Like I Know Rudolph? - [You Need to do A Reading Study](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-need-to-do-a-reading-study/) - A recent podcast interviewed a reader who had re-read Stephen King's entire catalog of books. Read why you need to do a reading study, too. - [Your Creative Mindset Two Years into the Pandemic](https://lynettemburrows.com/your-creative-mindset-two-years-into-the-pandemic/) - Your creative mindset two years into the pandemic may differ greatly from before. Make an assessment so your goals for the new year are realistic. - [I’m Done Eating Turkey](https://lynettemburrows.com/im-done-eating-turkey/) - Lynette M. Burrows is done eating turkey. She's not talking about the Thanksgiving kind of turkey. Being an introvert doesn't shield her from pandemic woes. - ["The Land of Dreams," a Story Time Review](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-land-of-dreams-a-story-time-review/) - Story Time Review, a blog series by Lynette M. Burrows, reviews audio versions of short stories. This week's story is "The Land of Dreams" by Kate O'Connor. - [Crazy Fun Reading Goals for 2022](https://lynettemburrows.com/crazy-fun-reading-goals-for-2022/) - Unable to read for pleasure due to pandemic or other stressors? Lynette M Burrows offers a list of crazy fun reading goals. - [Read Great Books, Watch Great Films](https://lynettemburrows.com/read-great-books-watch-great-films/) - Do you read a book first or watch the movie first? Read great books-watch great films. First or second, does it matter? This is my choice. - [Is the Truth in Asteroid Dust?](https://lynettemburrows.com/is-the-truth-in-asteroid-dust/) - Is the truth in asteroid dust? Perhaps we'll soon learn. Asteroid dust was collected and brought to Earth for the second time in history. - [Do You Know Frosty Like I Know Frosty](https://lynettemburrows.com/do-you-know-frosty-like-i-know-frosty/) - Frosty the Snowman takes the personality test this blogger uses for character in her fiction. Do you know Frosty like I know Frosty? - [Are You a Thinking Reader?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-a-thinking-reader/) - We have more reading opportunities today than ever before. How has that fact affected your reading habits? Are you a thinking reader? - [Through Gifts She Made a Difference](https://lynettemburrows.com/through-gifts-she-made-a-difference/) - Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage experienced extreme poverty and immense wealth. And through gifts, she made a difference. - [You are Creative](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-are-creative/) - Do you struggle with the idea that you are creative? Maybe you need to redefine what you think creativity is. These quotes will help. - [Joy and Peace to All](https://lynettemburrows.com/joy-and-peace-to-all/) - No matter what holidays you celebrate or don't, I'm wishing joy and peace to all of you. The challenge is to remember the good from 2020. - [Let it Go: an End of the Year Exercise](https://lynettemburrows.com/let-it-go-an-end-of-the-year-exercise/) - It’s the end of an excruciating year. When you look back, do you see only the negative? Try to let it go: an end of the year exercise. Embrace the positive. - [First Lines for the Holidays](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-for-the-holidays/) - This First Lines for the Holidays is a selection of first lines from science fiction and fantasy books that include or are about the holidays. - [Mixing Holiday Traditions With Science](https://lynettemburrows.com/mixing-holiday-traditions-with-science/) - The Christmas tree is one of my oldest holiday traditions. Now I question, should we be mixing holiday traditions with science? - [A Quiet Busy Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-quiet-busy-month/) - December is typically a hectic month. Birthdays, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve help make it so. This pandemic year it was a quiet busy month. - [Your Creativity is Born of Your Vulnerability](https://lynettemburrows.com/your-creativity-is-born-of-your-vulnerability/) - Most people never get around to being creative. They're afraid to be vulnerable. But your creativity is born of your vulnerability. - [One of the First Women on the National Ski Patrol](https://lynettemburrows.com/one-of-the-first-women-on-the-national-ski-patrol/) - Patty (Tasker) Morris was a strong woman. She was, if not the first, one of the first women on the National Ski Patrol. - [A Science Fiction First Lines Friday](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-science-fiction-first-lines-friday/) - It's first line Friday. Today's post features science fiction First lines. These are for your enjoyment. Are you hooked? - [New Year and A New Look](https://lynettemburrows.com/new-year-and-a-new-look/) - 2021 was difficult. But it's a New Year and a New Look. I'm starting out with a new attitude and new looks for my website and my books. - [Battle Your Self-Doubt with 15 Inspirational Quotes](https://lynettemburrows.com/battle-your-self-doubt-with-15-inspirational-quotes/) - Lynette M. Burrows recognizes that creatives suffer from self-doubt. Battle your self-doubt with these tips and 15 inspirational quotes. - [35 Tips to a Healthier Writer You in 2022](https://lynettemburrows.com/35-tips-to-a-healthier-writer-you-in-2022/) - Lynette M. Burrows 35 tips on how to become a healthier writer you in 2022 on the Writers in the Storm blog. This is a sample of those tips. - [What I Learned 2020](https://lynettemburrows.com/what-i-learned-2020/) - "What I learned in 2020" could be a joke. Sadly, last year's problems will continue for a while. But a review of my year is still necessary. - [The Fearless First Female Professional Balloonist](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-fearless-first-female-professional-balloonist/) - The fearless first female professional balloonist, Madame Sophie, took to the air in 1811 when balloonomania had seized the world. - [My Month Shock and Relief on Repeat](https://lynettemburrows.com/my-month-shock-and-relief-on-repeat/) - The insurgency at the Capitol was an enormous shock this month. There were shocks at home, too. My month of shock and relief on repeat. - [You Are Strong Enough](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-are-strong-enough/) - We’ve been through lot. We're tired, stress fatigued. And we have months to go before we'll overcome this. You are strong enough. - [First Line Friday Full of SF and F Love Stories](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-line-friday-full-of-sff-love/) - This First Line Friday Full of SF and F Love Stories is part of a series. Do these first lines hook you? Do you want to read more? - [13 Ways to Be Creative When You Feel Unimaginative](https://lynettemburrows.com/13-ways-to-be-creative-when-you-feel-unimaginative/) - You are a creative but what do you when you have bad days? Read on for 13 ways to be creative when you feel unimaginative. - [12 Ways to Increase Your Reading Pleasure](https://lynettemburrows.com/12-ways-to-increase-your-reading-pleasure/) - You are a reader. But I’ll bet you can improve your reading experience. Here are 12 ways to increase your reading pleasure - [A Grievous Loss and a New Life Journey](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-grievous-loss-and-a-new-life-journey/) - Why have I been absent from blogging? I've had a grievous loss and a new life journey to travel. My husband died on February 10th. - [Creativity and You Don’t Have to be Perfect](https://lynettemburrows.com/creativity-and-you-dont-have-to-be-perfect/) - Don't be paralyzed by your creativity? Creativity and you don’t have to be perfect. To paraphrase a Miley Cyrus song, it’s about the ride. - [A February That Broke My Heart Forever](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-february-that-broke-my-heart-forever/) - This was a February that broke my heart forever. My husband died. And his death deeply affected me and changed my all goals. - [The First Female Presidential Candidate Spent Election Day in Jail](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-female-presidential-candidate-spent-election-day-in-jail/) - Fifty years before women could vote, Victoria Claflin Woodhull (1838-1927) the first female Presidential candidate spent election day in jail. - [Dystopian SF First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/dystopian-sf-first-lines/) - The first line of a story, we’re told, must hook the reader. Do any of the lines in today’s Dystopian SF First Lines post hook you? - [Discover Hope in Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels](https://lynettemburrows.com/discover-hope-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy-novels/) - Discover hope in science fiction and fantasy novels. May these quotes give you respite from whatever darkness or pain troubles you. - [The Amazing First Native American Woman Doctor](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-amazing-first-native-american-woman-doctor/) - Society, the government, poverty, and some of her own people were against the amazing first Native American woman Doctor. But she persisted. - [Story Time Reviews “Kin”](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-kin/) - This blog series recognizes that as a grown-up, we need to reward ourselves with a story time now and then. Today Story Time Reviews "Kin." - [The Amazing Story of the First Lady of Physics](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-amazing-story-of-the-first-lady-of-physics/) - Five months after China became a republic, a girl named Chien-Shiung Wu was born. This is the amazing story of the First Lady of Physics. - [I'm Stronger than I Thought](https://lynettemburrows.com/im-stronger-than-i-thought/) - My first quarter plans went awry. And the biggest lesson learned over the past three months is that I’m stronger than I thought. - [Spring Clean Your Way to Increased Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/spring-clean-your-way-to-increased-creativity/) - In the United States it's time for the ritual of spring cleaning. Did you know, you can spring clean your way to increased creativity? - [First Lines from Legendary SF and F True Fans Read](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-legendary-sf-f-true-fans-read/) - First Line Friday is a blog series posted on the first Friday of every month. These are the First Line from Legendary SF and F. Are you hooked? - [Five Secrets to Your Most Creative Self](https://lynettemburrows.com/five-secrets-to-your-most-creative-self/) - Quotes on creativity found on the internet can teach you secrets. Below are quotes that reveal five secrets to your most creative self. - [Would You Take the Rugged Road Trip This Young Woman Did?](https://lynettemburrows.com/would-you-take-the-rugged-road-trip-this-young-woman-did/) - Would you take the rugged road trip this young woman did? Born into wealth, Susan Shelby Magoffin takes the Santa Fe Trail from 1846 to 1847. - [Feed Your Passion What it Needs And Watch It Grow](https://lynettemburrows.com/feed-your-passion-what-it-needs-and-watch-it-grow/) - You’ve worked your passion but something's not right. It needs a little TLC. Feed your passion what it needs and watch it grow. - [May the Fourth is More than a Movie Meme](https://lynettemburrows.com/may-the-fourth-is-more-than-a-movie-meme/) - On May fourth, Kent State University, became a part of history. Do you remember May the fourth is more than a movie meme? - [The Legacy of Dolly the Sheep May Be Your Future Health](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-legacy-of-dolly-the-sheep-may-be-your-future-health/) - It's been 25 years since the clone known as Dolly the sheep was born. Part of the legacy of Dolly the sheep may be your future health. - [The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Genetic Chimera](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-genetic-chimera/) - Today's chimera have little in common with the mythological Greek monster. Genetic chimera created in the lab raise ethical questions.. - [Breaking News: Do We Trust It?](https://lynettemburrows.com/breaking-news-do-we-trust-it/) - When I friend sent me a link to this youtube video, I watched and I laughed. I thought the satire about Breaking News: Do We Trust It was right-on. - [Can You Write When You Are Sick?](https://lynettemburrows.com/can-you-write-when-you-are-sick/) - Can you write when you are sick? I'm still fighting off my cold. It's getting better, but breathing well, sleeping well, and having enough energy and attention to do my best work are still challenging. - [I Hab a Code](https://lynettemburrows.com/i-hab-a-code/) - I hab a code in my nose and a cough that kept me up most of the night. So your Wednesday Writing post won't appear here until later. - [Progress Is Progress, No Matter How Small](https://lynettemburrows.com/progress-is-progress-no-matter-how-small/) - Measuring progress as a writer is tricky. You can count words or time or pages. When revising a novel those measurements get trickier. - [The Art of Saying Thank You](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-art-of-saying-thank-you/) - Your mother probably taught you to say please and thank you. She probably taught you to write a nice thank you note for birthday and Christmas gifts. Do you practice the art of saying thank you as a grown up? - [Add Power to Your Creativity with the Basics](https://lynettemburrows.com/add-power-to-your-creativity-with-the-basics/) - You can add power to your creativity with the basics. Revisit these eight basics of creativity and sharpen your skills - [The First Ninety Days of Being a Widow Sucks](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-ninety-days-of-being-a-widow-sucks/) - Usually, my posts are inspirational or motivational, so why today's post? Because it’s true. The first ninety days of being a widow sucks. - [You Are Not Your Creation](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-are-not-your-creation/) - You invest a great deal of thought and work on your project. Can you let it go? Value yourself and trust that you are not your creation. - [The Road to Success](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-road-to-success/) - Make resolutions, don't make resolutions, make goals, don't make goals. You could get whiplash just from planning. So which way is the road to success? - [2011, The Good News](https://lynettemburrows.com/2011-the-good-news/) - 2011 is coming to an end, and for some, not a moment too soon. You might question my sanity with the post title 2011, the good news. There were politicians, businessmen, and celebrities who behaved badly. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and tornadoes that killed and destroyed. Economies of many nations hover on the brink of collapse. There - [Give Yourself the Gift of Joy](https://lynettemburrows.com/give-yourself-the-gift-of-joy/) - IQ and emotional intelligence are unique for each person. You each also have joy potential. Don't overlook it. Give yourself the gift of joy. - [5 Steps to Your More Joyful Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/5-steps-to-your-more-joyful-life/) - When do you recharge? When was the last time you felt joy? Joy isn’t a luxury. Here are five ways you can create your more joyful life. - [Unconventional Women of History No One Taught You About](https://lynettemburrows.com/unconventional-women-of-history-no-one-taught-you-about/) - Only the tip of hidden history, here’s an introduction unconventional women of history no one taught you about. - [Create Your Joy Toolbox](https://lynettemburrows.com/create-your-joy-toolbox/) - Do you schedule time for joy? Then, you didn't know what to do? Take a few minutes this week and create your joy toolbox. - [Welcome Joy Into Your LIfe](https://lynettemburrows.com/welcome-joy-into-your-life/) - Have you practiced a few of the steps mentioned in previous posts? Continue to welcome joy into your life with some of these thoughts. - [First Lines Friday with Freedom Fighters](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-friday-with-freedom-fighters/) - First Line Friday is a blog series sharing hooky first lines of various novels. These honor the U.S's Fourth of July and freedom fighters. - [Women Whose Stripes are Red and White and Blue](https://lynettemburrows.com/women-whose-stripes-are-red-and-white-and-blue/) - On the Fourth of July patriotic quotes from white males are everywhere. Here are quotes from women whose stripes are red and white and blue. - [The Joy of Listening to a Book Read Aloud](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-joy-of-listening-to-a-book-read-aloud/) - The joy of listening to a book read aloud isn't the only benefit to listening to audio books and stories. Read about four additional benefits. - [Your Christmas Gift](https://lynettemburrows.com/your-christmas-gift/) - No matter your religion, no matter your belief system, we all can get caught up in the should-dos, the must-dos, the hurry-burry of the Christmas season, the noise, the lights, your Christmas gift shopping, and all the other activities. It can get overwhelming. - [Wife, Mother, Patriot, and Revolutionary War Spy](https://lynettemburrows.com/wife-mother-patriot-and-revolutionary-war-spy/) - A wife, mother, patriot, and Revolutionary War spy, Anna Smith Strong, sent messages to fellow spies in plain sight via her laundry. - [Happiness is an Awesome Reading Vacation](https://lynettemburrows.com/happiness-is-an-awesome-reading-vacation/) - I don’t know about you, but I never have enough time to read. And I’ve decided that happiness is an awesome reading vacation. - [Without Sequels Your Reader Won’t Care](https://lynettemburrows.com/without-sequels-your-reader-wont-care/) - You’ve got a great conflict that drives the story and action scene after action scene. But without sequels your reader won’t care. - [Story Time Reviews "Valedictorian" by N. K. Jemisin](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-valedictorian-by-n-k-jemisin/) - Story Time Reviews remembers the joy of listening to bedtime stories. Today. Today Story Time Reviews “Valedictorian” by N. K. Jemisin read by LeVar Burton. - [Build Your Motivation Toolbox](https://lynettemburrows.com/build-your-motivation-toolbox/) - Ugh. It's Monday. Where's your motivation toolbox? Don't have one? Start building it today. Fill it with tools and move forward. - [The First Female Olympic Champion to Strike Gold](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-first-female-olympic-champion-to-strike-gold/) - One of 22 women Olympians, Hélène de Pourtalès of Switzerland became the first female Olympic Champion to strike gold in 1900. - [Progress is Invisible Unless You Track It](https://lynettemburrows.com/progress-is-invisible-unless-you-track-it/) - Making progress is invisible unless you track it. When you are working on a long-term project, you need to track your progress. - [Comfort for Your Monday Moaning Blues](https://lynettemburrows.com/comfort-for-your-monday-moaning-blues/) - Is Monday a day of dread? There is comfort for your Monday moaning blues in these quotes from children’s books. They might even be a cure. - [Story Time Reviews “The Night Librarian”](https://lynettemburrows.com/story-time-reviews-the-night-librarian/) - Story Time Reviews reviews short stories. Today “The Night Librarian” by Jane Jago, read by Chris Herron on TallTaleTV is reviewed. - [One Deadly Virus that Won't Kill You](https://lynettemburrows.com/one-deadly-virus-that-wont-kill-you/) - In the twentieth century, about 300 million people across the world died from one disease in particular. Smallpox is one deadly virus that won’t kill you or your loved ones or neighbors today. - [First Lines From Histories You Don't Know](https://lynettemburrows.com/first-lines-from-histories-you-dont-know/) - The first line of a story, we’re told, must hook the reader. Are you hooked by these first lines from histories you don't know? - [Is The Self-Sabotage Strong in You?](https://lynettemburrows.com/is-the-self-sabotage-strong-in-you/) - Call it writer’s block or a funk, or whatever. It is keeping you from working. Ask yourself: Is the self-sabotage strong in you? - [You Give Me Hope](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-give-me-hope/) - The very first blog I posted, I wrote that I believe in everyday heroes. And I do. But I also believe in humanity. You give me hope. - [Score Your Reading Super Powers](https://lynettemburrows.com/score-your-reading-super-powers/) - Readers have special talents even super powers. Score your reading super powers with this fun quiz. - [Be True to Yourself](https://lynettemburrows.com/be-true-to-yourself/) - There are many messages, or themes, in the live-action movie Mulan. But what resonates is that the story says to be true to yourself. - [One Step Back and Two Forward](https://lynettemburrows.com/one-step-back-and-two-forward/) - This month has been a one step back and two forward kind of experience. But I’m happy to report some progress. - [Freedom is Under Attack](https://lynettemburrows.com/freedom-is-under-attack/) - Freedom is under attack. Not by enemies, but by our neighbors. The Texas law banning abortion is the worst kind of law. - [Let's Celebrate International Literacy Day](https://lynettemburrows.com/lets-celebrate-international-literacy-day/) - It is September 8th. Let’s celebrate International Literacy Day. Perhaps you wonder why we should have an international literacy day. - [Use Your Kind Voice When You Need One](https://lynettemburrows.com/use-your-kind-voice-when-you-need-one/) - Are you stressed out by all the bad news? Perhaps you have forgotten self-compassion. Do you use your kind voice when you need one? - [Quotes from Dystopian Fiction to Inspire You](https://lynettemburrows.com/quotes-from-dystopian-fiction-to-inspire-you/) - Some claim dystopian fiction arouses fears of dire “if this goes on” futures. Look closely, you can also find hope and words to inspire you. - [A Good Deed Brightens Your Day](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-good-deed-brightens-your-day/) - I was having one of those Very-Bad-No-Good-Days. Along came a total stranger and a good deed. A good deed brightens your day. Pass it along! - [Where Is Your Outrage?](https://lynettemburrows.com/where-is-your-outrage/) - The statistics are staggering. Where's your outrage for the missing and murdered Indigenous women and children? Do you even heard about them? - [Are You A Supreme Reading Wizard?](https://lynettemburrows.com/are-you-a-supreme-reading-wizard/) - They say reading is magical. Do you agree? If you do, do you know your reading wizard rank? No? Keep reading. Discover your wizard rank. - [5 Ways to Tend Your Creativity when the Season Changes](https://lynettemburrows.com/5-ways-to-tend-your-creativity-when-the-season-changes/) - It may not be autumn in your area of the world, but when the weather changes, it’s also time to tend your creativity when the season changes. - [Two Authors Share A's to Reader Q's](https://lynettemburrows.com/two-authors-share-as-to-reader-qs/) - My good friend Jan S. Gephardt had a great idea. Today we two authors share A’s to Reader Q’s. Learn about our books and our work. - [Myths, Magic, and Monsters YA First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/myths-magic-and-monsters-ya-first-lines/) - First Line Friday is posted on the first Friday each month. Do these first lines from myths, magic, and monsters YA hook you? - [A Wild and Woolly Third Quarter](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-wild-and-woolly-third-quarter/) - It has been a wild and woolly third quarter. But I'm bending like a reed in the wind. I will not be broken by grief. Life goes on and so do I. - [Christmas Is More Than The Sights](https://lynettemburrows.com/christmas-is-more-than-the-sights/) - In high school, I wanted to fit in. But weirdos surrounded me. Then one of the weirdos I met, taught me that Christmas is more than the sights. - [Reviewing 2011: Measuring Success](https://lynettemburrows.com/reviewing-2011-measuring-success/) - As I read year-end reviews, I realized that I have never written a year-end review. I have been afraid that instead of measuring success I'll see failure. - [Exposing the Humbugs at Christmastime](https://lynettemburrows.com/exposing-the-humbugs/) - Have you gotten the idea that I love Christmas? Yes? You’ve probably also picked up that I’m not terribly politically correct about it, too. So beware, if being politically correct is important to you, you may not wish to continue while I am exposing the humbugs. *smile* - [Spreading the Christmas and Chanuka Cheer](https://lynettemburrows.com/spreading-the-christmas-and-chanuka-cheer/) - We're all busy at this time of year... So today, I'm sharing a few blog posts to spread the Christmas and Chanuka cheer. Enjoy. - [Robots, Mermaids, & Dogs - Inspirations and Fascinations](https://lynettemburrows.com/robots-mermaids-dogs-inspirations-and-fascinations/) - Here's some news and blogs that captured this SF writer’s attention. I hope you are as fascinated with these robots, mermaids, & dogs as I am. - [Alone for the Holidays](https://lynettemburrows.com/alone-for-the-holidays/) - It’s Thanksgiving Day. There are many, many things for which I am grateful beyond words, but this isn’t a post about gratitude. Instead, it's about being alone for the holidays. - [A Christmas Crybaby](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-christmas-cry-baby/) - In December the season’s music and movies and TV commercials, all reduce me to a Christmas crybaby. But tears serve a function. - [Can A Bad Hair Day Be A Good Thing?](https://lynettemburrows.com/can-a-bad-hair-day-be-a-good-thing/) - A new haircut or hairstyle can make you feel great. It's invigorating. But a monstrously bad hairstyle?.Sometimes a bad hair day can teach you a thing or two. - [Her Story is Missing from Our History Books](https://lynettemburrows.com/her-story-is-missing-from-our-history-books/) - Her story is missing from our history books. Ruth Margaret Muskrat Bronson was a Cherokee poet, educator and Indian rights activist. - [Good News During My Most Difficult Year](https://lynettemburrows.com/good-news-during-my-most-difficult-year/) - This year has been beyond difficult. But once in a while something wonderful comes along. There is good news during my most difficult year. - [Sometimes I Feel Like a Martian](https://lynettemburrows.com/sometimes-i-feel-like-a-martian/) - Sometimes I feel like a Martian. Struggling to understand author's platform and blog and social media, I felt like I needed an interpreter. So I found one. - [Fascination Friday: A Virtual Memorial Tour](https://lynettemburrows.com/fascination-friday-a-virtual-memorial-tour/) - a virtual memorial tour. A small tribute to the Courage, Honor, Patriotism, and Sacrifice of our men and women of who have served our country. - [Confession Time](https://lynettemburrows.com/confession-time/) - It's confession time. My desk is piled high with paper, books, things that somehow found their way in here. But the worst pile of all is the paper. - [From Giant Lego Man to Tiny Ninjas](https://lynettemburrows.com/from-giant-lego-man-to-tiny-ninjas/) - It's Friday and time for a collection of the weird and wonderful from across the web from the Giant Lego Man to Tiny Ninjas. - [Two Secret Rules for Writers](https://lynettemburrows.com/two-secret-rules-for-writers/) - All sorts of people, from experienced professionals to the newest of neophytes, offer up rules on how to write. The new writer searches and sorts through all of this as if there are secret rules for writers. - [Believe](https://lynettemburrows.com/believe/) - The other day my husband called me his hero. It took me by surprise. And it got me to thinking about what I believe and who can be a hero. - [24 Inspirational Quotes to Spark Your Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/24-inspirational-quotes-to-spark-your-creativity/) - It is sad when someone believes they are not creative. For those who struggle, here are 24 inspirational quotes to spark your creativity. - [Celebrate Filipino American History Month](https://lynettemburrows.com/celebrate-filipino-american-history-month/) - Did you know the first recorded Filipinos landed on U.S soil on October 18, 1587? Learn and Celebrate Filipino American History Month. - [The Woman Men Wanted to Ignore](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-woman-men-wanted-to-ignore/) - Born to a poor immigrant family, Hertha Marks Ayrton was a suffragette, a physicist, a mathematician, an inventor, and the woman men wanted to ignore. - [Coming Out of the Storm](https://lynettemburrows.com/coming-out-of-the-storm/) - It's the end of October. Time for a progress report. Progress has been messy. Sometimes finishing a project felt like coming out of the storm - [Feed Your Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/feed-your-creativity/) - Whether you’re involved in a month long endeavor or a sporadic project, you need to feed your creativity to keep the ideas flowing. - [Will You Buy These Books Featuring Indigenous People?](https://lynettemburrows.com/will-you-buy-these-books-featuring-indigenous-people/) - The first line of a story, we’re told, must hook the reader. Do these first lines from books featuring indigenous people hook you? - [The Second Woman to Win the Nobel Prize in Physics](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-second-woman-to-win-the-nobel-prize-in-physics/) - Society believed women were unsuited for scientific work. Yet Maria Goeppert Mayer became the second woman to win the Nobel Prize in physics. - [10 Quotes to Inspire Your Climb](https://lynettemburrows.com/10-quotes-to-inspire-your-climb/) - A creative endeavor often feels like climbing a rugged, treacherous mountain. Here are ten quotes to inspire your climb. - [10 Ways to Say Thank You](https://lynettemburrows.com/10-ways-to-say-thank-you/) - Here are 10 ways to say thank you when it’s difficult. Chose one or all . Make them a mantra. Always find gratitude. It is the path to joy. - [Gambling on an Opportunity I Found Permission](https://lynettemburrows.com/gambling-on-an-opportunity-i-found-permission/) - I took a gamble and went to Las Vegas. I didn’t play the slots. I gambled on myself by gambling on an opportunity I found permission. - [Where Do You Get Your Ideas?](https://lynettemburrows.com/where-do-you-get-your-ideas/) - One of the most frequent questions asked of writers is: Where do you get your ideas? Often writers respond with sarcasm like ‘I pick them up at the store’ or ‘I steal them from other writers.’ I don’t think that is fair. - [Will You Raise Your Hand?](https://lynettemburrows.com/raise-your-hand/) - I am proud to be an American. (Raise your hand if you’re proud, too). Americans are some of the most caring, most passionate, and most inventive people on the planet. We’ve also become a people obsessed with ‘doing.’ - [Doing What I Love Takes the Sting Out](https://lynettemburrows.com/doing-what-i-love-takes-the-sting-out/) - The death of my husband overwhelmed me and impacted what I have accomplished so far this year. Doing what I love takes the sting out. - [A Touch of Vegas on First Line Friday](https://lynettemburrows.com/a-touch-of-vegas-on-first-line-friday/) - It's a touch of Vegas on first line friday. These books are by authors I met at the writers conference in Vegas. Are you hooked? - [Holiday Stress Stirs Your Perfect Storm](https://lynettemburrows.com/holiday-stress-stirs-your-perfect-storm/) - Your creative business is in high gear and you've got a holiday to-do list. Holiday stress stirs a perfect storm to derail your creativity. - [Nothing to Lose and Everything to Gain](https://lynettemburrows.com/nothing-to-lose-and-everything-to-gain/) - In December 1967 fifty-three-year-old Louis Washkansky, a South African businessman, was dying. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. - [The Perfect Gift for Your Bookworm](https://lynettemburrows.com/the-perfect-gift-for-your-bookworm/) - It’s almost time but you still haven’t found the non-book perfect gift for your bookworm. Light your book nerd's eyes with one of these.. ## Pages - [HOME](https://lynettemburrows.com/) - Author Lynette M. Burrows brings a distinctive voice to the speculative fiction market—authentic, inclusive, & focused on personal and societal transformation. - [Thank You for Clicking-Here's the Good Boy Who's Grateful](https://lynettemburrows.com/thank-you-for-clicking-heres-the-good-boy-whos-grateful/) - A thank you page with pictures of a yorkie to express appreciation for newsletter readers who click on buttons in the newsletter. - [If I Should Die, Book Two](https://lynettemburrows.com/books-by-lynette-m-burrows/the-fellowship-dystopia/if-i-should-die/) - It's 1963 in Fellowship America. Former rebel, Miranda faces betrayals and bloody battles. Will she seek peace or resurrect her dark side to save lives? - [And When I Wake, The Fellowship Dystopia, Book Three](https://lynettemburrows.com/books-by-lynette-m-burrows/the-fellowship-dystopia/and-when-i-wake-the-fellowship-dystopia-book-three/) - Finding her murderous sister should've been easy. In Fellowship Dystopia's finale, Miranda faces an impossible choice: justice or freedom? Pre-order today! - [My Soul to Keep, Book One of The Fellowship Dystopia Trilogy](https://lynettemburrows.com/books-by-lynette-m-burrows/the-fellowship-dystopia/my-soul-to-keep/) - Miranda has three days before an arranged marriage will erase her forever. Obedience in 1961 Fellowship America isn't optional. Angels of death enforce the law. - [The Fellowship Dystopia](https://lynettemburrows.com/books-by-lynette-m-burrows/the-fellowship-dystopia/) - This trilogy tells the story of Miranda who lives a privileged life until she breaks the rules. But in 1960s Fellowship America the rules aren't optional. - [Recommended Writing Resources](https://lynettemburrows.com/resources-for-writers/writing-resources/) - Writing resources for published authors or newbie writers. Organizations, Books, Websites, Videos, Podcasts and more. All available on LynetteMBurrows.com - [Books by Lynette M. Burrows](https://lynettemburrows.com/books-by-lynette-m-burrows/) - Books by Lynette M. Burrows including currently published Fellowship and My Soul to Keep and hints at what's coming soon. - [Fellowship](https://lynettemburrows.com/books-by-lynette-m-burrows/the-fellowship-dystopia/fellowship/) - Fellowship is a dystopian survival novel by Lynette M. Burrows. Explore the world of My Soul to Keep, the character Ian Hobart, and how he became a rebel. - [About Author Lynette M. Burrows](https://lynettemburrows.com/about-author-lynette-m-burrows/) - Author Lynette M. Burrows survived 17 different schools before she graduated from high school. This makes her uniquely qualified to write dystopian novels. - [Shop](https://lynettemburrows.com/shop/) - [Appearances by Lynette M. Burrows](https://lynettemburrows.com/about-author-lynette-m-burrows/appearances-by-lynette-m-burrows/) - From chatting at a convention to doing a podcast or guest blogging, I enjoy all my appearances. Read about my most recent and past ones. Invite me to visit you. - [Energize Your Woman Power with Feel-Strong Tunes](https://lynettemburrows.com/about-author-lynette-m-burrows/lynettes-current-playlist/energize-your-woman-power-with-feel-strong-tunes/) - These are songs that lift my spirits and energize me. Listening to them makes me feel like I can win this game called life. I hope you like them. - [Find Your Next Great Read in These Monthly First Lines Posts](https://lynettemburrows.com/for-readers/first-lines/) - Common wisdom says the first line of the story sells the book. In my monthly First Line posts, I ask what you think about selected first lines. Please share. - [Store Links](https://lynettemburrows.com/store-links/) - FREE! April 12, 13, 14 My Soul to Keep The Fellowship Dystopia Book One But in 1961 Fellowship America, the rules aren’t optional. Miranda yearns for a life of her own. Yet as an elite member of the Fellowship, she must marry the man her parents choose. Live in his shadow. Be his perfect wife. - [Eight Ways You Can Connect with Lynette](https://lynettemburrows.com/about-author-lynette-m-burrows/eight-ways-you-can-connect-with-lynette/) - Inbox too full? Don't want one more email? Join me on Social Media or follow me on other sites. Want more from me? Join or follow me on all of them. - [Flash Fiction: The Collector](https://lynettemburrows.com/flash-fiction-the-collector/) - He clings to the bar top and sips an alien drink that soothes him. Until a stranger asks about his worst day on the job. ©2023 Lynette M. Burrows - [Why You Should Read Many Genres](https://lynettemburrows.com/for-readers/why-you-should-read-many-genres/) - Some readers read in a single genre, some read more than one. One isn't better than the other. But there are reasons why you should read many genres. - [FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) & Policies](https://lynettemburrows.com/faqs/) - FAQs & Policies for my website can be found on this page. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please contact me via email. - [Sneak Peeks and Inside Writing the Books](https://lynettemburrows.com/for-readers/sneak-peeks-and-inside-writing-the-books/) - Lynette offers sneak peeks and inside the writing of her published books and stories as well as her current WIP (work-in-progress). - [Links for Readers and Fans](https://lynettemburrows.com/for-readers/) - These are special features for readers at lynettemburrows.com. Here you'll find story samples, research about works-in-progress (WIP), and other fun stuff. - [Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)](https://lynettemburrows.com/faqs/frequently-asked-questions-faq/) - Answers to frequently asked questions are covered in this document. Scroll down to find the topic. If you don't find the answer you need, please contact me. - [Contact Me](https://lynettemburrows.com/faqs/contact-me/) - I love to hear from my reader and writer friends. I am busy creating content for my blog or writing books and stories, so please understand if I don't respond immediately. Do not contact me about doing a guest post for me. Did I already answer your question on my FAQ page? Still want to - [Reading Rebels Newsletter Archives](https://lynettemburrows.com/reading-rebels-newsletter-archives/) - December 2022 Merry Christmas! October 2022 It's Spooky Time! August 2022 When You Start a Big Project. July 2022 Too Many Walls... June 2022 Water Up to My... May 2022 Breaking the Silence I am sorry older newsletters are not available. Time for working on my website and I have a distant relationship. Writing the - [How-To-Write Fiction Posts](https://lynettemburrows.com/resources-for-writers/how-to-write-fiction-posts/) - Beginning your journey as a writer is confusing. There is so much contradictory information on how to write fiction. Here I offer ways I've found helpful. - [Comments - Contest Policies](https://lynettemburrows.com/faqs/comments-contest-policies/) - Below, please find the comments & contest policies for LynetteMBurrows.com. We welcome welcomes and encourages comments and discussion. - [Re-Visioning Your Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/resources-for-writers/re-visioning-your-story/) - Need to revise your novel? This series of 8 posts detail how to make your work the best story you can write. A process Lynette M. Burrows calls re-visioning. - [Burrows Insiders, Advance Readers](https://lynettemburrows.com/for-readers/join-burrows-insiders/) - Burrows Insiders, the Advance Readers Group for Lynette M. Burrows, get a free copy of upcoming releases about 3 weeks prior to the release date. Sign up! - [You clicked!](https://lynettemburrows.com/you-clicked/) - You clicked. Thanks. It really helps me. It should keep the automation nag from bothering you. If you get one of the nagging emails, please let me know immediately and I will fix it. More than that, when you clicked you chose being a Reading Rebel for a second time. I deeply appreciate your support. - [My Four-Legged Muses](https://lynettemburrows.com/about-author-lynette-m-burrows/my-four-legged-muses/) - I call my dogs my muses because they entertain and inspire me. Even Forbes thinks Office Dogs can be Catalysts of Creativity. - [Reading Rebel Levels](https://lynettemburrows.com/reading-rebel-levels/) - Subscribers to the Reading Rebels receive a welcome email. In the email, they are asked to give themselves a point for various Reading Rebel behaviors they exhibit. The scores equate to different Reading Rebel Levels from Apprentice to Superhero to Astronaut. Apprentice Reading Rebel The Reading Rebel is strong in you, Apprentice. Keep your bookshelves - [The Best Writer's Tool](https://lynettemburrows.com/resources-for-writers/the-best-writers-tool/) - The best writer's tool I've ever found is the sentence. Every piece of advice on writing tells you to use the sentence. I thought I understood, but I.... - [Book Reviews by Lynette M. Burrows](https://lynettemburrows.com/for-readers/book-reviews-by-lynette-m-burrows/) - My book reviews and short story reviews are mostly of science fiction novels. My opinions are mine alone. Share your opinions in the comments. - [Resources For Writers](https://lynettemburrows.com/resources-for-writers/) - Published author or newbie writer, check out these resources for writers. You'll find books, techniques, story structure, and encouragement. - [Privacy Policy for LynetteMBurrows.com](https://lynettemburrows.com/faqs/privacy-policy/) - Privacy Policy for LynetteMBurrows.com describes what information we collect, how we use the information, and how a visitor may make changes to the information we collect. ## Products - [My Soul to Keep e-book](https://lynettemburrows.com/product/my-soul-to-keep-eb/) - In 1961 Fellowship America, women surrender all rights to their husbands—it’s the law. Miranda can’t avoid it any longer, so she makes a desperate choice. - [If I Should Die e-book](https://lynettemburrows.com/product/if-i-should-die-eb/) - In this alternate America, former rebel soldier, Miranda, rescues fugitives from the repressive government. But a life-changing choice awaits. - [Fellowship e-book](https://lynettemburrows.com/product/fellowship-companion-novel-to-the-fellowship-dystopia-series-the-fellowship-dystopia-trilogy/) - In 1960 Fellowship America, high school senior, Ian Hobart, dreams of becoming a star reporter. Until one symbol changes his life forever. - [And When I Wake, The Fellowship Dystopia, Book Three](https://lynettemburrows.com/product/and-when-i-wake-the-fellowship-dystopia-book-three/) - When your greatest enemy is your own sister, can you save the nation without losing your soul? Read the epic conclusion to The Fellowship Dystopia Series today! ## Categories - [Going to Mars Word-by-Word](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/reading/going-to-mars-word-by-word/) - Blog posts by author Lynette M. Burrows celebrating the latest NASA launch to Mars with reviews of how science fiction books portray the planet Mars. - [Heroes and Heroines](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/inspiration/heroes-and-heroines/) - Blog posts by author Lynette M. Burrows about men and women who inspire through acts of courage, generosity, and/or selflessness. - [Holidays](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/people-customs/holidays/) - Blog posts by author Lynette M. Burrows about holidays, traditions, and customs celebrated by people from all over the world. - [Inspiration and Motivation](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/inspiration/) - Inspiration is everywhere, if you look. This is a selection of people, places, events, art, and music that motivate and inspire me. I hope you’ll feel the same. - [Music](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/music/) - Posts by author Lynette M. Burrows that include favorite selections of music, inspirational music, and information about the process and creativity of making music. - [Pets](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/pets/) - Blog posts by Lynette M. Burrows about life with pets, her love for her pets–her dogs, pets of other people across the world, and the heartbreak of the death of a pet. - [Science Fact](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/science-fact/) - Blog posts by author Lynette M. Burrows with topics of the sciences, scientific method, and science research. - [Science Fiction](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/reading/science-fiction/) - Blog posts by author Lynette M. Burrows that discuss the genre and topics of science fiction from how to write to book reviews and everything in between. - [Writing](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/writing/) - [Re-Visioning Your Story](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/writing/revising-your-story/) - a series of posts on how-to revise your novel - [Health](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/health/) - Informational or personal experience posts on health and illness topics such as COPD, self-care, and others areas of interest to the author, Lynette M. Burrows or her readers. - [Self-care](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/health/self-care/) - Posts by author Lynette M. Burrows on things creatives can do to take care of themselves. - [Reader Interview](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/reading/reader-interview/) - Blog posts by author Lynette M. Burrows where readers complete a short reader-interview based on questions from The Actor’s Studio. - [Gratitude](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/health/gratitude/) - Posts by author Lynette M. Burrows expressing her gratitude, discussing how gratitude is good for our health, and other people’s expressions of gratitude. - [How To's](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/writing/how-tos/) - [Opinion](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-me/opinion/) - Blog posts by author Lynette M. Burrows expressing her opinion or exploring her opinion or the opinions of others. - [Reading](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/reading/) - [About My Books](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-my-books/) - Blog posts by author Lynette M. Burrows on all things related to writing her books from how she got an idea for a book, people, places, and history that inspired a book, and her process for writing a book. - [About Me](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-me/) - [People & Customs](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/people-customs/) - Blog posts by author Lynette M. Burrows about interesting people, customs, celebrations, and holidays from around the world. - [My Writing Journey](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-me/my-writing-journey/) - Blog posts by me, author Lynette M. Burrows, about lessons learned, joys of discovery and inspiration, and the emotional roller coaster that is my writing journey - [History](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/inspiration/history/) - [Word Play](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/writing/word-play/) - [Video](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/inspiration/video/) - [Dystopian](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/reading/dystopian/) - [Sneak Peek](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-my-books/sneak-peek/) - [Short-Shorts, Snippets and Samples](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-my-books/snippets-and-samples/) - Flash fiction, poems, and other snippets and samples of Lynette M. Burrows’s writing. - [Storytime Reviews](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/reading/storytime-reviews/) - [Inspired by People, Places & Things](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-my-books/inspired-by-people-places-things/) - [Empowerment](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/health/empowerment/) - [Cover Reveal](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-my-books/cover-reveal/) - [Future Science](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/science-fact/future-science/) - [Genetics](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/science-fact/genetics/) - [Character Reveal](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-my-books/character-reveal/) - [Strong Women](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/inspiration/strong-women/) - [Space Travel & Exploration](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/science-fact/space-travel-exploration/) - [Technology](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/science-fact/technology/) - [Deconstructing to See What Works](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/writing/deconstructing-to-see-what-works/) - [First Lines](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/reading/first-lines/) - [Answers to Reader Questions](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/answers-to-reader-questions/) - [Creativity](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/inspiration/creativity/) - [Games, Quizzes, and Words](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/reading/games-quizzes-and-words/) - [Writing Life](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/writing/writing-life/) - [My Soul to Keep](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-my-books/mstk/) - [If I Should Die](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-my-books/iisd/) - [Fantasy](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/reading/fantasy/) - [And When I Wake](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-my-books/and-when-i-wake/) - [The Fellowship Dystopia Trilogy](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/about-my-books/the-fellowship-dystopia-trilogy/) - [Exercises to improve your writing](https://lynettemburrows.com/category/writing/exercises-to-improve-your-writing/) ## Tags - [American Diabetes Association](https://lynettemburrows.com/tag/american-diabetes-association/) - 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