September 30, 2021

Freewriting

Gatekeeping Through Editing By Sean R. Frazier (@TheCleftonTwain)

September 30, 2021

Freewriting

Gatekeeping Through Editing By Sean R. Frazier (@TheCleftonTwain)

I’ve seen a fair amount of gatekeeping and author shaming going on around the writing community lately and it’s made me a bit angry.

Gillian Barnes

September 29, 2021

Freewriting

The Joy of Eating By Alex Noonan (@lx_borden)

Gillian Barnes

September 29, 2021

Freewriting

The Joy of Eating By Alex Noonan (@lx_borden)

I was 28 when I discovered that I had an eating disorder. It happened inconsequentially and without much ado. I Googled something, there was a small “click” inside my brain, and then my life changed.

Gillian Barnes

September 28, 2021

Freewriting

Keeping Up Appearances By Tangela Williams-Spann (@Twillspann)

Gillian Barnes

September 28, 2021

Freewriting

Keeping Up Appearances By Tangela Williams-Spann (@Twillspann)

I knew when I woke up, the day was going to be an issue.

Gillian Barnes

September 27, 2021

Freewriting

THE DEAD WARS: Escaping Punishment in 17th Century FRANCE By M. Andrew Faraday (@DeuxLips)

Gillian Barnes

September 27, 2021

Freewriting

THE DEAD WARS: Escaping Punishment in 17th Century FRANCE By M. Andrew Faraday (@DeuxLips)

The Prologue

Charles II has just lost the battle of Worcester. He can’t flee to Scotland because Cromwell’s forces have cut him off. He flees to France instead.

Gillian Barnes

September 26, 2021

Freewriting

Joy By Chet Sandberg (@Chet_Novels)

Gillian Barnes

September 26, 2021

Freewriting

Joy came to me, has always come to me, upon seeing my reflection in the eyes of a woman. It’s always been this way for me, and I don’t imagine a world in which that changes.

Gillian Barnes

September 25, 2021

Freewriting

What Brings You Joy By M. Dalto (@MDalto421)

Gillian Barnes

September 25, 2021

Freewriting

What Brings You Joy By M. Dalto (@MDalto421)

As Sarah J. Maas once wrote in a little book called A Court of Thorns and Roses:

"Don't feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy."

Gillian Barnes

September 24, 2021

Freewriting

Carving Out Time By Jared A. Conti (@oracularbeard)

Gillian Barnes

September 24, 2021

Freewriting

Carving Out Time By Jared A. Conti (@oracularbeard)

I never expected to be writing a sequel of sorts to last year’s column.

Gillian Barnes

September 23, 2021

Freewriting

Writing is a Marathon, Not a Sprint. By Trey Stone (@TreyStoneAuthor)

Gillian Barnes

September 23, 2021

Freewriting

Writing is a Marathon, Not a Sprint. By Trey Stone (@TreyStoneAuthor)

I know this because I’m a writer – oh, and later today, I’m running my first official half marathon.

Gillian Barnes

September 22, 2021

Freewriting

The Joy Hoard By Beth Hudson (@TFiredrake)

Gillian Barnes

September 22, 2021

Freewriting

The Joy Hoard By Beth Hudson (@TFiredrake)

I’ve learned from battling chronic depression that I need to be very aware of what brings me joy. I hoard joy, because I never know when I may need to be reminded of its presence.

Gillian Barnes

September 21, 2021

Freewriting

Q: What Sparks Joy? A: The Roll of a D20. By Brenton Barnes (@brentonsquared)

Gillian Barnes

September 21, 2021

Freewriting

Q: What Sparks Joy? A: The Roll of a D20. By Brenton Barnes (@brentonsquared)

For most of my life, tabletop roleplaying games have been something I have wanted to participate in, but have seemed inaccessible at every stage.

Gillian Barnes

September 20, 2021

Freewriting

Poor Dixie Cup! By Ron Charach (@CharachRon)

Gillian Barnes

September 20, 2021

Freewriting

Poor Dixie Cup! By Ron Charach (@CharachRon)

We use these objects every day,

But do we ever stop and say

Gillian Barnes

September 19, 2021

Freewriting

A Picnic to Share By Diana Coombes (@WriterRavenclaw)

Gillian Barnes

September 19, 2021

Freewriting

A Picnic to Share By Diana Coombes (@WriterRavenclaw)

A horse and a toad,

Skipped down the road,

Gillian Barnes

September 18, 2021

Freewriting

What Brings Me Joy By Eugene Galt (eugene_galt)

Gillian Barnes

September 18, 2021

Freewriting

What Brings Me Joy By Eugene Galt (eugene_galt)

As I get older, I appreciate more the truth that the best things in life aren’t things. One thing that brings me joy is not a thing.

Gillian Barnes

September 17, 2021

Freewriting

Cooking Up a Great Story By B.K. Bass (@B_K_Bass)

Gillian Barnes

September 17, 2021

Freewriting

Cooking Up a Great Story By B.K. Bass (@B_K_Bass)

I have two great loves in my life: writing and cooking. I have spent decades honing both skills, constantly endeavoring to learn more about each craft and dedicate hours every day to practicing them.

Gillian Barnes

September 16, 2021

Freewriting

What Makes Me Happy? By Eaton Krone (@eatonkrone)

Gillian Barnes

September 16, 2021

Freewriting

What Makes Me Happy? By Eaton Krone (@eatonkrone)

What makes me happy?

It's strange, really, but I'm generally at my happiest when I can make the people around me... well, happy.

Gillian Barnes

September 15, 2021

Freewriting

What Brings Me Joy? By V. E. Patton (truedialogue)

Gillian Barnes

September 15, 2021

Freewriting

What Brings Me Joy? By V. E. Patton (truedialogue)

Now, I know it might seem odd to take my Joy from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows — John Koenig’s masterful collection of made up words — but bear with me.

Gillian Barnes

September 14, 2021

Freewriting

I Owe Myself Joy By Gillian F. Barnes (@geezfresh)

Gillian Barnes

September 14, 2021

Freewriting

I Owe Myself Joy By Gillian F. Barnes (@geezfresh)

A writer who says writing brings them joy? well, obviously, but for me, it really is that simple. Writing brings me joy in two ways; professional achievement and therapeutic.

Gillian Barnes

September 13, 2021

Freewriting

Small Things and The Void By Gillian F. Barnes (@geezfresh)

Gillian Barnes

September 13, 2021

Freewriting

Small Things and The Void By Gillian F. Barnes (@geezfresh)

It's somewhat strange to find myself struggling with an assignment that I concepted, but the truth is, I'm not feeling terribly joyful at present. In fact, I've been finding myself feeling downright melancholy and resentful as of late.

Gillian Barnes

September 12, 2021

Freewriting

The First Dystopia Sparta as a Study in Totalitarianism By Thomas Kane (@thomasmkane11)

Gillian Barnes

September 12, 2021

Freewriting

The First Dystopia Sparta as a Study in Totalitarianism By Thomas Kane (@thomasmkane11)

Dystopia is different from tyranny. It is cruel, but its cruelty does not define it. Still less is it defined by greed, stupidity, corruption or egotism.

Gillian Barnes

September 10, 2021

Freewriting

The Joy of Positive Feedback By KL Forslund (@KLForslund)

Gillian Barnes

September 10, 2021

Freewriting

The Joy of Positive Feedback By KL Forslund (@KLForslund)

As everybody with an electric guitar does, I taught myself to play the Star Spangled Banner. Then I lugged my amp out to the driveway, and at the height of the local fireworks show in the neighborhood, I played it cranked up to eleven.