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It's the Write Time

It's the Write Time has been online in various form since 2005. Maintaining an online presence for this long has not been an easy task, but it has been very worthwhile. The rewards offset the challenges and in the process I have met some wonderful people....

Author Archives: Patrick

Save on your prescriptions at Walgreens

Walgreens has long been a part of the community effort to provide quality prescription medicines at an affordable price. In order to continue the great level of service, they have introduced the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club.

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Writing for Men – Leadership

This conversation has started a little bit slower than I had anticipated, but I do think we have a good start.  I would like to clarify that in this discussion, when I say “man,” I mean no dilineation between “real” or otherwise. I consider all men to be real, therefore the object of this discussion truly is aimed those characteristics of men. To further clarify, this discussion is coming from the perspective of God’s model of man and how we …

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Two more short stories released!

I have released two more titles from my first Civil War Short Stories collection! Slough of Despondence A man’s identity is sometimes all he has. When he loses the one thing he understands most, the world around him can descend rapidly into chaos and confusion. Caught between the stalled battle lines of warring armies, the loss of one’s can halt you in  your tracks. Which way do you go and who are your friends? Broad River Dash Under the cover …

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Men Writing for Men – Regaining Manhood

The purpose of Men Writing for Men is not to disparage the great many women author who pen tremendous stories. Rather, this conversation is to encourage men to rekindle the masculine spirit that has become hidden amongst a culture of exaggerated sensitivity and feminine censorship. Women can indeed write great tales of adventure, mystery and suspense, but men need to read the brazen words that can only be fully communicated by other men. It has been asked more times than …

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The battle of grace vs religion

On Jan 10, 2012, a man named Jeffrey Bethke posted a video on YouTube titled, Why I Hate Religion.” In the short, four minute video, Jeffrey Bethke premised his view of Christianity and described an active faith in Jesus Christ that detests religion. Eight days later, on January 18, 2012, a Catholic priest, named Father Claude Burns posted a video response titled, “Why I Love Religion.” In his video, Father Burns defends religion and appears to refute the arguments laid …

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Blogging Basics – What’s your story?

Now you know what a blog is and have done enough research to be able to choose the blogging software you will use to get started. The next step, before jumping in feet first, is to decide what you are going to blog about. There industry term for this is a “niche.” The “niche” is your unique viewpoint on any given subject. Let’s say you want to write about cars. Well, there certainly is a big audience for automobiles, but …

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Slough of Despondence now online!

The second installment of my Civil War Short Stories, Volume 1, is titled “Slough of Despondence,” and is now online as an eBook. This short story is about a man searching for a lost identity in a strange land and under extreme duress. The original story was half as long in order to qualify for the FaithWriters weekly challenge. This version is extended in order to give the reader a bit more information, but not too much. I believe the …

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Men Writing for Men

Men do still read, don’t they? Of course they do!  Men, it is time to face the fact that much of our writing is not reaching our male audience. The women have figured out their audience and they even manage to pull in a great number of male readers. It is time that male authors, particularly Christian male authors, kicked it up a notch and encourage other men to read and to write. It isn’t that men do not like …

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The reason I write

I am a subscriber to Terry Whalin’s blog, The Writing Life, and Terry’s post on Sunday, January 15, 2011, gave me great pause. The question that he posed in the title of that particular post was, “Why do you write?” As someone who can never remember a time when I did not enjoy writing, this question stopped me in my mental tracks. I am not usually a person without an answer, even if it takes me some time to fully …

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Why write historical fiction

When you ask people what they least favorite subjects were in school, chances are that history is going rank high on that list. Perhaps this is the reason that one of my most often asked questions is, “Why do you write historical fiction?” Follow up comments usually include comments about all the dates and names and how in the world could anyone make all that “stuff” interesting. It is upon that last point that drives my passion for writing historical …

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Walgreen’s War on Drugs

The latest development between Walgreens and Express Script is a matter of great concern for many, many patients. The two parties were unable to resolve contract issues and as a result, Express Scripts no longer includes Walgreens in its pharmacy provider network.

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Blogging Basics – Ten Popular Platforms

When making the decision to begin the creation process of a blog, the first thing you need to decide is which platform you are going to utilize. There are several to choose from, even beyond those listed here. Before listing the different platforms, what you need to understand is that a platform is similar to choosing a software solution for any other situation. Most platforms display information in very similar ways, but behind the scenes they often function much differently. …

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The writing life does not have to be a sentence to solitary confinement

There are typically two prevailing mental images that come to a person’s mind when they hear that you are a writer. The first is of disheveled figure, locked away in a dimly lit room, trudging away at a keyboard. The second is of someone dressed in some form of relaxed attire, sipping upon a cup of coffee with their feet propped up on the balcony of some exotic resort, a keyboard upon their lap and a contented smile upon their …

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Blogging Basics – Introduction

Blogging is a vastly popular and powerful medium for writers of all skills levels and interests. If you haven’t yet joined the millions of others enjoying the benefits and adventure of publishing a blog, there is still time to join in the fun. We’ll start of with some very basic information that you will need before jumping into the fray. What is a Blog? In its most simple form, a blog is simply  website that contains content including such things …

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Scrolls of Nordaan – The New Dawn

“The gray-green of dawn broke quietly over the land of Nordaan, a thin layer of evening dew still covered Castle Paradran. A flock of white-winged Tanjers fluttered across the gray-green horizon as dawn broke quietly over the land of Nordaan. Thin lines of white smoke trailed upward from the many chimneys of Castle Paradran. A layer of evening dew draped the cool, gray stones.” Life in the land of Nordaan is as normal from day-to-day as in any other land …

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2012 Goals for Writers

I am sure it comes as no surprise that my last post for 2011 involves the setting of goals for 2012. I believe that setting goals is of paramount importance for most writers, especially those whose writing is not the sole source of income for their family. Although there are some writers who are able to achieve a satisfactory amount of writing without goals, most of us need them and for various reasons. Perhaps the most important role that goals …

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Favorite Writing Quotes

Writers are always looking for sources of encouragement and inspiration. Quotes from other writers often fulfill such a calling, so here are some of my favorites. The list will grow over time as I encounter more words of wisdom and inspiration. Quotes About the Writing Craft If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster. – Isaac Asimov We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever …

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FAST Writing Ideas Template

There it is again, that blasted blinking cursor. The writer’s worst nightmare! There truly is nothing more damaging to a writer’s ego than a silent, blinking cursor. Incomplete thoughts are troubling and bad ideas are frustrating, but to have no ideas is a point of lament. I, like most writers, have struggled through the silence many more times that we care to contemplate. Whenever we meet with other writers, the topic inevitably turns up. “Where do you get all those …

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Have a messy coworker? Pimp their cube!

We all have them, or perhaps we are them. You know, those messy coworkers whose desk hasn’t seen the light of day since their second day of work. Piles of obsolete paperwork and books, perhaps never read, are the adornments of their not-so-attractive style.

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