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Successful writing requires The Write Focus. Hosted by M.A. Lee with occasional forays from Remi Black and Edie Roones, we focus on productivity / tools / craft / process for fiction and nonfiction, entertainment and academic writing.
Episodes
19 minutes ago
19 minutes ago
In this day of contemporary music and blended worship services, with guitars and drums accompanying the pianos and organs, the bland traditional services of my childhood now seem strange.
God calls upon us to make a joyful noise in praise to Him. Music creates a harmonious celebration. Psalm 150 even lists the instruments for accompaniment.
Our question today is how do we use music in our daily life?
In the Creativity Refresh segment, we focus on managing the flatness of our ideas and words and encountering roadblocks.
TIMINGS
- 00:40 Introduction
- 00:50 Bright Tuesday
- 03:35 Creativity Refresh 10
- 11:05 Closing
Total Run Time = 12:05
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/02/more-easter-bright-tuesday-and.html
Audio
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.
2 days ago
2 days ago
Easter began with Sunrise—the tomb open and empty, the faithful women first to see, first to receive the good news, first to spread the good news.
This week should be the most celebrated time in the church, yet it is often more neglected than any other time of the church.
Fasting and grief are over; feast and joy return. Christ is Risen! Christ is Lord of All!
Today is Easter Monday, Bright Monday. On this day, let’s examine one of the foundational creeds of Christianity, a creed that helped fight heresies of the past and that can fight heresies of today.
In our Creativity for Writers segment, our focus continues to be ways to fuel the creative spark.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:40 Introduction
- 00:50 Bright Monday / Apostles’ Creed
- 10:10 Fuel for the Creative Spark / Refresh 9
- 17:17 Closing
Total Run Time = 18:16
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/more-easter-bright-monday-with.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.
3 days ago
3 days ago
On Easter, we greet each other with “He is risen.”
The traditional response is “He is risen indeed.”
Easter is our great hope and assurance, the fulfillment of the promise of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
My efforts for an Easter reflection to share with you were poor indeed, and it is a wise writer who recognizes her inadequacies. Thus, I have three reflections by others to share on this most holy day.
In the Creativity for Writers segment, the topic is finding a new perspective.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:40 Introduction
- 00:50 Easter Day
- 05:15 Refresh 8
- 10:30 Closing
Total Run Time = 11:30
LINKS
Johann Habermann https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Habermann
Book of Common Prayer, 1552 :: 1928 edition https://www.amazon.com/1928-Book-Common-Prayer/dp/0195285255/ OR 1979 edition https://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Deluxe-Personal/dp/0898691117/
Charles Spurgeon, sermon delivered April 21, 1889, in London. Available in its entirety in The Complete Spurgeon Sermons Collection. https://www.amazon.com/Spurgeons-Sermons-Volumes-C-Spurgeon/dp/1598568329/ OR https://www.spurgeongems.org/spurgeon-sermons/
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/more-easter-easter-day-with-creativity.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.
4 days ago
4 days ago
What is the key to Holy Saturday? The church is bare, the altar blackened, all hope entombed with Christ.
Black Saturday is the vigil before Easter’s Resurrection. After the Crucifixion, the black veil is removed from the altar cross, for Christ is brought down from the 300-pound cross that the Sanhedrin and the Romans intended to be His failure.
They didn't know the key, though.
After our focus on Black Saturday, the creativity segment considers our physical workspace for writing.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:40 Introduction
- 00:50 Black Saturday
- 05:05 Refresh 7
- 09:36 Closing
Total Run Time = 10:37
LINKS
Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/3-michelangelos-sistine-chapel-michele-falzone.jpg
Matt Papa “The Story of God” https://youtu.be/E4cL-Zcxa9M
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/01/more-easter-black-saturday-with.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.
5 days ago
5 days ago
Why is Good Friday “Good”?
That is the official title of this meditation, but the focus is something else.
First, the answer to the question is basically because we received the best gift in the world, the gift of redeeming salvation from Christ Jesus.
Our focus is an aspect of that question / answer, wrapped up in a behavior of self-denial. On this Good Friday, let us consider the reason we say no to opportunities.
In the Refresh that Creativity segment, we focus on a strong method to awaken new ideas.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:40 Introduction
- 00:50 Good Friday
- 10:00 Refresh 6
- 14:52 Closing
Total Run Time = 15:53
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/more-easter-good-friday-and-creativity.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.
6 days ago
6 days ago
The “Maundy” of Maundy Thursday is such an odd word.
It comes down to us from the Middle Ages, entering English in the old French form of mandé, which leads back to Latin and mandatum, meaning command, order.
The mandatum comes from Jesus’ words to his disciples. In this episode, we explore Christ’s new commandment to his disciples at the Last Supper.
- We also have a bit on the Tenebrae service that often concludes a Maundy Thursday service.
In the Writing segment, we look at several types of journals in order to Refresh that Creativity that writers depend upon.
TIMINGS
- 00:00 Welcome
- 00:40 Introduction
- 00:50 Maundy Thursday
- 06:30 The Tenebrae
- 08:20 Creativity Refresh # 5
- 13:46 Closing
Total Run Time = 14:35
LINKS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y9qCsIPzNo taken from The Passion of Christ
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/04/more-easter-maundy-thursday-tenebrae.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.
#Easter #Maundythursday #holyweek #creativity #journal #morningpages #tenebrae #writing
7 days ago
7 days ago
Holy Wednesday is often called Spy Wednesday.
Spy Wednesday sounds like a cool name with more going on than simply Holy Wednesday.
Holy Wednesday is given the name Spy to remind us of the horrible conspiracy that began on this day: Judas Iscariot and the high priests negotiated a deal in which Judas would betray Christ Jesus, who would then be brought before the Sanhedrin Court, an assembly of rabbis.
That means SPY Wednesday is not cool.
In our writing segment, our focus is seeking the other arts to Refresh our Creativity.
TIMINGS
00:00 Welcome
00:40 Introduction
00:50 Spy Wednesday
08:06 Refresh # 4
13:00 Closing
Total Run Time = 13:59
LINKS
Who Can Be Called Rabbi? - Torah Musings https://www.torahmusings.com/2012/05/who-can-be-called-rabbi/
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/01/more-easter-spy-wednesday-704.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
Tuesday Mar 31, 2026
Tuesday Mar 31, 2026
In this episode for Holy Tuesday, The Write Focus looks at the More we need to do for God.
I think most of us live a minimalist lifestyle with God. He’s in a neat little corner, tucked away, with a bit of brightness, brought out only when we need him. There He is, over there. See Him? He’s for Sunday.
No. No, no, no. He’s for every day.
For writers, Refresh 3 offers a way to sink into Flow while drowning out unnatural noises.
TIMINGS
00:00 Welcome
00:44 Holy Tuesday
04:48 Refresh 3
09:42 Closing
Total Run Time = 10:41
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/01/more-easter-holy-tuesday-703.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.
Monday Mar 30, 2026
Monday Mar 30, 2026
On Holy Monday, many churches observe the anointing of Christ with oil at Bethany. The scourging of the money-lenders from the churches may also have occurred on this date.
Most modern paintings and captions on old artwork say “cleansing” rather than “scourging”, which requires anger. Christ became angry at the people who turned the church into a money-making scheme. People could not reach God unless they passed the money-lenders.
Here’s the question for this episode: What often stands between us and Christ?
For writers, Refresh 2 offers a whole-body experience to spark the mind.
TIMINGS
00:00 Welcome
00:42 Holy Monday
05:50 Refresh 2
10:14 Closing
Total Run Time = 11:13
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/01/more-easter-holy-monday.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music for the opening and closing segments are in the narration.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.
Sunday Mar 29, 2026
Sunday Mar 29, 2026
Changing churches will change your life, especially if you are Wanting More.
I grew up in one of those stripped-down Protestant churches that barely, barely noticed the church year. We had Easter—which was usually a competition to see who brought the most family members. (Yes, I know. I thought that promotion inappropriate, too.) I wanted More.
Join The Write Focus throughout the 15 days of the Easter season, called Holy and Bright Weeks, when I share my journey and findings as a Christian.
Each episode concludes with an appropriate writing focus for Spring, Refresh that Creativity. Our first writing focus offers 3 solutions to that tricky problem of starting a new project from total blankness.
TIMINGS
00:00 Welcome
00:42 Intro and Palm Sunday
07:50 Refresh 1
14:32 Closing
Total Run Time = 15:32
LINKS
Hosanna (Praise is Rising) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMBDWG9tseU
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/01/more-easter-palm-sunday.html
Licensed Music with the Easter segment is entitled “Soft Beautiful Hope Piano” from the creator Nehliudoff on Audio Jungle while that with the Writing segment, with the same title, is from the creator Little Victory, also on Audio Jungle. Music with opening and closing is provided in the audio.
All short videos with the video are from Pexels.com, a site that offers free short videos, some with sound.