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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
16 hours ago
16 hours ago
As we age, we think the three most common bedtime prayers for children are only for the little people. They seem too plain for our complex lives.
Our mistake is when we try to make our prayers more when simple is better.
In looking at the simple, we often see things we have forgotten because our so-called complex lives are actually only filled with distractions.
In the Creativity for Writers segment, we look at overcoming the burdens of the daily grind by awakening our child.
TIMINGS
- 00:40 Introduction
- 00:50 Bright Friday
- 08:40 Creativity Refresh 13
- 12:02 Closing
Total Run Time = 13:03
LINKS
Versions of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_I_Lay_Me_Down_to_Sleep
The Shema https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KQLOuIKaRA
Christ with four arch-angels Painting https://media.craiyon.com/2025-04-10/cNA-qexEQ2SwteWDcqbNKg.webp
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/02/more-easter-bright-friday-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.
2 days ago
2 days ago
While the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed and even little Glory Be offer the basic tenets of Christian faith, we can still add more to intensify our daily walk with Christ.
More can mean a greater understanding of the church year, such as knowing Holy Week and Bright Week. More can also mean additional readings to add to our daily devotions.
Reading through the Bible can be a challenging daily devotion, especially when we are deep into Leviticus or the minor prophets or weeping Jeremiah. Supplementing with additional small readings can make the uphill struggle of the laws or the Lamentations bearable.
The Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi is one such addition.
In the Creativity for Writers segment, we consider the hardest method of all to refresh our creativity.
TIMINGS
- 00:40 Introduction
- 00:50 Bright Thursday
- 04:40 Creativity Refresh 12
- 09:05 Closing
Total Run Time = 10:30
LINKS
The Prayer As a Song https://youtu.be/ZABZroCGXTU?si=J0OYhJ763_KXJnZf
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/02/more-easter-bright-thursday-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.
3 days ago
3 days ago
He is Risen! That’s the word the women gave, based on the evidence of the tomb and the word of the bright angel who reassured them.
Yet the disciples could not bring themselves to believe. They wanted to, desperately, but their earthly realism prevented complete belief.
Our focus today is on the event three days after the Crucifixion, on the day of the Resurrection, when two of the Jesus’ followers are walking on the road to Emmaus.
In the Creativity Refresh segment, we discuss the management of two guiding principles of writing that constantly affect creativity.
TIMINGS
- 00:41 Introduction
- 00:50 Bright Wednesday
- 06:00 Creativity Refresh 11
- 10:50 Closing
Total Run Time = 11:51
LINK
Website https://thewritefocus.blogspot.com/2026/02/more-easter-bright-wednesday-emmaus-and.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
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.
5 days ago
5 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.
6 days ago
6 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.
7 days ago
7 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.
Friday Apr 03, 2026
Friday Apr 03, 2026
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.
Thursday Apr 02, 2026
Thursday Apr 02, 2026
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
Wednesday Apr 01, 2026
Wednesday Apr 01, 2026
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.