Writing | J.R. Johnson

Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category

Grow a New World

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, inspiration, Thoughts, writing on November 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“Young people will have the seeds you bury in their minds, and when they grow up they will change the world.”

— Jack Ma

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A Mysterious Case

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, climate fiction, free fiction, Writers, writing on November 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Today, a free fiction short from Colby Devitt and the Grist Climate collection:

The Case of the Missing Lake

On the morning of April 8, 2200, Lake Ballona went missing. A pair of hikers ventured down from the Hollywood Hills on a day excursion into the Tongva Wetlands. Where the area’s largest body of freshwater met seawater to create a brackish habitat, they discovered an empty crater. Lake Ballona was gone. Vanished overnight. Only muddy puddles remained where the lake had swelled the day before. There were no signs of violence.

Excellent opener. I hope you enjoy the rest!

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Herding Cats Today

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, take the win, work, Writers, writing on November 26, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Today is officially a crazy day. By that I mean a mad scramble to get day job work done, including the projects I expected and the three others I did not expect. Lots to juggle, and while I may have bobbled one tiny little thing, it all worked out fine in the end.

I also managed to get up early and write a very (very) short story before all the craziness began, so I’m calling it a win!

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When Simple Is Good

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, #365Ways2025, creativity, Thoughts, Writers, writing on November 25, 2025| 1 Comment »

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, and more complex. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.”

― E.F. Schumacher

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Staying Sharp

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, reading, Thoughts, writing on November 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”

— George R.R. Martin

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How to Think

Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, Thoughts, Writers on November 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“It’s the questions we can’t answer that teach us the most. They teach us how to think. If you give a man an answer, all he gains is a little fact. But give him a question and he’ll look for his own answers.”

― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man’s Fear

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Still Progress

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, drabble, Fiction, Writers, writing on November 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I wrote a drabble yesterday but decided not to share it. Why not? Because it’s dark and it’s sad. I like to keep things largely upbeat here, for my readers and for myself.

That doesn’t mean I’m all unicorns and rainbows, obviously, but I want you to come away from this site feeling at least a little hopeful. I try to focus on the future, and I hope that it’s a good one.

Sometimes that means facing down darkness, and I’ve done that before even in a 100-word format. Not this time, though, so I’ll keep it in my files for now.

Still, progress is progress, and I’m happy to be writing!

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Reminder for a Monday

Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, think positive, Thoughts on November 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“There are enough negative forces in this world—don’t let the pessimistic voice that lives inside you get away with that stuff, too. That voice is NOT a good roommate.”

― Felicia Day

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