J.W. Donley

Author: J.W.

  • Music for Writing Horror

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    Sometimes when I write I need a little music to help me set the tone of my story. Some people like to listen to white noise or ocean sounds, but I write stories that are a bit dark. Whale noises and static aren’t going to cut it for me. I like to listen to something…

  • Joe’s Writing Tips: Writer’s Block and How I Destroyed It

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    I’ve seen some authors claim that writer’s block does not exist. I don’t buy it though. Not one bit. Writer’s block is real and it sucks! There are times when I feel like I’m in a groove. Then there are times when a blank screen stares me in the face, taunting me and my lack…

  • Oh My Goodness, I’ve Resurrected My Patreon Page!

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    Well, I’ve gone and done it. I’ve resurrected my Patreon page from the dead! What is Patreon? Patreon is a way to join your favorite creator’s community and pay them for making the stuff you love. Instead of literally throwing money at your screen (trust us, that doesn’t work), you can now pay a few…

  • Vikings vs Vampires: Modern Culture in Medieval Saga

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    Recently I was reading through American Fantastic Tales, edited by Peter Straub and came across a story called ‘Grettir at Thorhall-stead’. At first I didn’t think much of it, it read sort of like a pulp version of a viking saga. But then, BOOM, vampire! This is a story about a flippin’ viking fighting a…

  • I Hate Not Finishing Books

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    As the title says: I hate not finishing books. Up until the last couple of years it was rare that I would put down any book before finishing it. It wasn’t that I felt obligated to finish the books, I genuinely wanted to know how they ended.Since I’ve started taking writing more seriously (and my…

  • Onward! Goals for 2019

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    First of all, Happy New Year to all of you out there on the wild internets. 2018 has ended and 2019 is only beginning. And so, without further distraction, I want to share a succinct list of my goals for the new year. Improve my writing. I will actively continue seeking out and practicing ways…

  • 2018: A Review

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    2018 has been an eventful year for my family and I. Subsequently, now that it’s coming to a close, I wanted to reflect on some of my family, hiking, and writing adventures. Family Adventures! My wife’s, favorite place to visit is the Pacific Coast. Whenever we can, we like to take little weekend trips to…

  • My Top 7 Books of 2018

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    I read a grand total of 75 books this year. Some were good, others were bad, and a few were amazing. Here is a list of my top 7 books that I read in 2018.  Swift to Chase – by Laird BarronLaird Barron is one of my favorite authors. Over the past ten years since…

  • The Update: November 2018

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    Happy NaNoWriMo! It has been a year since the last mad scramble to complete a full 50k word novel, and I’m giving it another go this year. I’m excited for the project I’m taking on, I’m going in with an outline in hopes of having something worth refining once crossing the finish line. This November…

  • The Update – October 2018

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     It has been yet another month. Time is slipping by faster and faster as I get older. It seems like, as the months pass, minutes and hours are robbed from my life leaving me with only the scraps to try and fill with the multitude of tasks I want to accomplish. This past month has…