A writing update keeps readers informed about an author’s plans and progress. In “More On The Site - Writing Update,” Greg Luti discusses expanding his blog with more poetry, flash fiction, and short stories, moving all his Patreon content to his own site for full ownership, and establishing a consistent publishing schedule while finishing current projects. More Content Coming to the Site I have been working on getting more content on this site in the form of poems, flash fiction, and short stories. I like to write up the poems and flash fiction, as they are always a pretty quick assignment for me. I have an idea that I feel fits as flash fiction or a poem, and then I run with it. I relate those two forms of writing more like a sprint than anything else. I am writing a lot in a little. As for short stories, they take a little extra time, but I am always excited to write them, since they take on a life of their own once they get going. A poem or a flash fiction is not long enough to really deviate from the original purpose I had for it, but a short story has multiple parts, so by the time I am writing it, the version I had may be a bit different than the outline I envisioned. I find that aspect of short stories exciting since even I am a bit taken aback by what I wrote in it when I am finished. For example, for the recent short story I wrote, I Hate Duke, I wanted the basketball game to really be the focus, but found the narrator’s handling of his job took over the story as much as how he reacted to the game. The part of the story that had a lot to say was not what I expected, but as always, I adjusted to that and went with the flow of the story so that the part that became the more prominent part was still readable. (At least I tried for this to be the case) Moving Everything from Patreon I am trying to get more structured with my writing on the site, and I have finally transferred all of the stuff from my Patreon page to my site. Yeah, I had a Patreon page, but then I realized that I was just better off having everything on my site, since that is something I can own, as compared to Patreon. Theoretically, if I had stuff on Patreon and then the site went down, then so would my content. More Editing Content on the Way I am working on adding more editing stuff to the blog, perhaps a post about tips for editing, or even more about how I feel about editing. As you know, I am a book editor, as well as an author, so I like to promote that side of my career. I have not gotten the details down to what the editing post will look like, but I will keep you posted. Best Way to Follow Along Right now, the best place to follow me is to subscribe to my newsletter, which I send out every Sunday. I suggest that because it has all my blog content, all wrapped into one newsletter, for whoever is interested. My social media accounts have been basically me sharing my blog content as much as anything else at the moment. For some reason, I always feel I need to write up something new for social media, but I am trying to get better at understanding that is not the case. Two Major Things I’m Focusing On I have been working on two major things with my writing. The first is to have a more focused schedule for the blog. I have one where the content has a distinct schedule I follow, so that makes it a little easier for me to create stuff there. The second thing I have been trying to do is to grasp the moments when inspiration hits me as a writer. There are times where I will be walking around the office, or not really doing all that much, but then I get hit with an idea, or a thought that can become something more, and when that happens, rather than just let that idea sit, I am actively trying to write about it then and there (if life allows me to, of course) This is a process since I find myself then taking time to write up something that I was not really expected on writing. Another major thing I am trying to get better at as a writer is to finish whatever it is I am working on, whether that is a blog post or whatever. If I start something, I am trying to finish it, rather than let it sit and die in my folder on my laptop. I did that with the recent short story I wrote. I just sat down at my laptop and said, “I am finishing this short story. I know I have a deadline and I am meeting it.” I am happy to say that I did meet my deadline with the story. Have a Lot to Say I have been trying to write a lot recently, and the line that I always come back to is, “Have a lot to say.” The reason I feel this is that if I don’t have much to even say on things in my stories, then the stories themselves will be pretty bland. I don’t even have to agree with what is being said in the stories, as long as I have enough for the characters in them to give the reader more than just words. The characters I write up will have a tough time talking if I don’t have anything for them to even talk about. Every day for me is just about getting a little bit better as a writer, and I am happy to say that I am still achieving that goal.

A tribute poem can honor a national tragedy with reverence and hope. In “9/11 Tribute Poem,” Greg Luti offers a heartfelt prayer remembering the heroes and victims of that day — those who ran into darkness so others could see light, and the enduring power of faith and love over hate. Dear Lord, Jesus Christ, that which conquered Death and forced open the door that was jammed for all time, look upon those souls who we lost on that fateful day 23 years ago. Those who ran into the den of hell and, without any second or hesitation on their end, gave their lives so that the world could be saved. You saved the world for us all once, Lord, and I am sure that you can save all these departed souls, the true heroes of that day, who burrowed the darkness and the ashes to give the world some light. Pray for them, angels and saints in heaven. Give them and their families the love that only the Lord knows and has. Please, Lord, let them not die in vain but die so that they can be lifted to heights that only match your own greatness. For this, I pray for those who we lost on 9/11 so many years ago. On a day that many will remember, and none will forget, the day that terror struck the heart of the nation and that day, that time, the nation called out and said that we choose light over darkness, we choose love over hate, we chose heroes over villains. When we were at our worst, with our backs against the walls, nothing in us but our souls, we carried on, for the love of the Lord and for light is greater than anything that darkness can give us. We picked up the bodies, one at a time. We removed the debris, piece by piece. We healed the wounds, one scar at a time, and on that day, we claimed that no darkness, no hate, and no villain is too great for the love that we have for one another. We are still healing, Lord, and those who are gone will never return. May we not forget what they did there so that we, too, can take a page from their books and see that those who are the brightest are needed when it is the darkest. Help those who carry that tradition and who live as those who died on that day did. Help us all, Lord, for the darkness is always lurking, always planning, always scheming against us, trying to take us away from you, but with you, we can showcase to ourselves, each other, and the world that no darkness is too great for those who live with the Lord. Amen.

A flash fiction story can turn an ordinary conversation into something memorable and surprising. In “The Happy Man,” Greg Luti follows an office worker who has a strange encounter with a stranger mourning the death of the happiest man he ever knew — a man who found genuine joy in something as ordinary as paying his taxes on time. As I was busy running around the office, filling papers and typing up reports, I realized I had not gotten to the bathroom all morning. For some reason, when you are active, even in a job you don’t desire, you forget about that part of your body. I stood up at my desk and thought about the urge to suddenly pee. To my luck, the office bathroom has been broken for the past few months, and I don’t think that anyone will be fixing it anytime soon. There is a bathroom in the hallway that all of us have been using in the meantime, and surprisingly, there has not been a line outside of it yet. I walked into the hallway down the corridor and by the staircase, where you can see outside of the building into the clear windows. Now, there is nothing in this view but the parking lot, but it is the first time I get to see the outside, as my office has a very limited view, being that it doesn’t have any windows. I made a note to look outside the window after I went to the bathroom. I knocked on the bathroom door and heard a voice holler, “Occupied!” Hearing that, I went back inside my office to wait a little bit to use the bathroom. I must have gotten busy with another task, one I can’t even recall at the moment, if I am honest. The point is, the next moment I was free, I went back outside to the bathroom to see if it was still occupied. The door was slightly open, and nobody was inside. I approached the toilet and saw toilet paper on the ground, as though someone had ripped it and thrown it down. I saw what looked like a foggy mirror with the two numbers 6 and 7 in barely visible writing. To what I could surmise, whoever was in the bathroom last was not well and appeared to barely be able to function. They ripped the toilet paper and wrote down those two annoying numbers that the young kids are saying for no apparent reason. I took no more interest in the psyche of the last individual in the room and went ahead and relieved myself. Once I was done, I washed up the best I could, skipping the part where I looked into the mirror, obviously. Before heading back into the office, I walked by the staircase to get a good view of the parking lot, for spring has just arrived, so the scene should be pleasant to the eyes. There was an older gentleman I had never seen around the office, standing by the staircase, looking out at the window when I got there. I commented, “We have great weather today. Spring is finally here.” I expected no more of the conversation, but the stranger had other plans in mind, “Eh, I suppose so. It is a sad day for me.” Now, when someone tells you they are having a sad day, you are not really obligated to comply with their emotional state, but I felt awkward leaving that remark alone, and responded back to the stranger, “Oh, why is it?” I didn’t want him to answer. I wanted to look out at the parking lot, see the nice weather, and then go back into the office. Nothing more. “I had just lost a friend. He was a good man, you know that?” I said nothing, even though I wanted to apologize for the loss. The old stranger continued, “He just understood life. He got what this was all about. Nobody today does anymore. We lost sight of who we were and what we were about. He got it. He was the happiest man I ever met.” I stood there unsure of what to say, since I knew the conversation was not over, so ending it would be rude, but continuing it was not a route I wished to take either. I decided with a straightforward question. “What made him so happy?” “Oh, man. He just understood things. Not like people today, who seem not to get anything. Not Walt, though. He got it.” The stranger turned to me as though to clarify, “His name was Walt.” He then went back to reminiscing about his friend. “I knew him my entire life, and there was no one who was happier than him. He just… he was so happy to always pay his taxes. Nothing made him happier.” “He did what?” The last comment threw me off guard. “He always paid his taxes. It gave him so much joy when he did it.” I stumbled with my words. “I…. I mean, as long as he was happy, I guess.” The stranger nodded his head. “He understood life so well, Walt. I miss him.” Just then, a co-worker walked over to me, as though she was looking for me. She made a gesture to me as though I was needed back inside. I left the old stranger standing by the staircase and went back to the reports of the day. I went back into the grind of the day, helping clients, writing reports, and running around. Later in the evening, when no one was around, I thought about the conversation I had by the staircase, and what made Walt so happy. I am still unsure about the entire exchange.

A man’s true worth is often judged by society’s standards of success. In “Judgement of a Man,” Greg Luti reveals that real value lies not in wealth, strength, or achievements, but in the simple, profound way a man respects and honors his mother. Judge a man not on his accomplishments in his field of study nor by the fleeting greatness that the world bestows upon his mortal head. Don’t judge a man by his wealth, for the stocks he buys, or the gold he accumulates. Not by his strength on the field of the sport he chooses, his speedy legs, or his enormous arms. Ignore his oratory skills that can lead a nation in and out of war. The charm that lights up a room and makes believers of us all. Don’t look at his grades or his so-called knowledge. Whether in history, math, or science. Don’t judge a man by the acts that he commits as a man. Judge a man by how he respects his mother. That is the true measure of a man. Men disrespect women all the time. They call them bad words, which will not be mentioned here. They scheme to use them only for pleasure. And some low-lives flat-out abuse women, treating them as nothing more than second-class citizens. But not the mother. A real man never disrespects his own mother. For all men know that his mother is special in his eyes. She is the caretaker of his madness. She is his cushion from the harsh, cruel world. She is the one who loved him first. All other women are sought after by a man. The man tries to win them over. He uses his obscure accomplishments, questionable wealth, and alluring charm to impress women that he is of their worthy company. But not his mother. She gave him a love that no other woman could. A love he neither earned nor deserved. The mother is not the true love of the son. She has a husband for that. A mother loves his son for no other reason than that is what she knows. She gives of herself for her son, even though he can’t give anything back in return. Will this man have great feats that change the world? Will he earn great wealth for future generations? Will his strength fill stadiums for fans across towns? No… He won’t. The son of a mother is an average man, ignored in history books and disregarded by society. They are our world's office clerks and menial workers, producing nothing of insight or quality. Yet, the mother still loves him. She does not reject him for his futility. She does not say he is not enough. She loves him for the losing, broke, weak, stupid man that he is. No other woman does that. “I knew him before he was a man. Before the world got to him. Before he grew up. Before all of this, I knew him.” That is what a mother says of her son. Any man recognizes this in his own mother. When the world thought nothing of you, who was the one woman who still loved you? Your mother. Respect a man for how much he respects his mother. Real men know that his mother deserves his respect more than anyone else.

A writing update lets readers follow an author’s creative journey in real time. In “Coming Together - Writing Update,” Greg Luti shares how several parts of his writing life are finally aligning — a consistent schedule for poetry and flash fiction, the new preview of Hit of Henry now live, $3/month subscriptions, site redesign, and upcoming editing services. Current Writing Schedule I am glad to report that the writing schedule I have is getting a little bit more consistent, and you should see content on my site, whether that is poetry, flash fiction, or books, on a consistent basis. I am honestly still working on a more consistent social media schedule, one I am happy with and one that can help me grow, too. I will let you all know when I come up with that. Site Redesign Coming Soon The site is going to get a makeover, which I am excited about, since I have been trying to get it one for quite some time. I told the guy to keep the literary style aesthetic I am aiming for in my brand. Hit of Henry – Preview Now Live I have been working on my latest novel, Hit of Henry, and even released a preview of it for you guys to read. The question I will answer here is why someone would pay three dollars per month for my site. Well, first of all, I understand if you subscribe and only want to read some of the free stuff. There is plenty of that here, and if you do subscribe to the weekly newsletter, you can get something to read for no cost at all. You can pick whatever short piece you like from me that week that I put out for free, and read it. If you are interested in reading all that I write here, including previews for my books and short stories, then you can pay a little per month for them. The cost is only 3 dollars per month, so I don’t think it is all that much either. I got the inspiration for that option for readers when I went to other sites and saw they gave a similar deal. You can read a few lines of everything, but if you want to be able to read everything, then you have to pay a little bit. Editing Services Now Available I am working on getting some editing pieces together, so you guys can see what type of work I can do for a writer who needs editing. I must say that I am an ideas guy, so if you are interested in working with someone who will come back at you and give you a list of thoughts on what you are writing, then I am certainly the right person for you. What’s funny is that I normally write notes to myself when writing a story anyway, so this process, of sharing my editing thoughts, is actually natural for me. One Step at a Time The basic idea for me was to get the proper foundation for my writing. That means to have the website presentable, have a newsletter, have a writing schedule (one I hold to), and so far, so good with that. The next step, I suppose, is consistency and growth through the proper channels. I think there is a little more I can do on my site for my editing, in that I can add some more examples of what I can give an editing client, and that is something I can definitely address. There is a short story I am working on right now, and it involves a certain pop star, but I was pretty tired when I was in the office, so I decided to give you an update on what I am doing with my career instead. Everyone I tell about this venture of building a proper website with my own writing and then expanding my editing ability into a stable career is giving me positive feedback. They all say I am doing it the right way, for what that is worth. I like to hear that because if I am honest with you, there are times when my eagerness gets ahead of itself, and I become frustrated. I am the type of guy who thinks what was done today should have been done yesterday, and that I will do everything if I have to (hence why I am grateful for getting help on my site) You put things in place with the proper rules and standards, and then you uphold those until the attention and progress you seek are shown, and when that happens, you should not be surprised by it, but rather have a plan for the next course of action to further yourself and better your life. That is how I try to look at it. Rome was not built in a day, so I don’t know why I am eager to get this entire thing going so quickly. I have a lot of major plans for my writing, but the most important step I can take is the one ahead of me. You can’t run a marathon effectively if you trip when the race begins. So I take this one day at a time, working on what I can, doing the best I can, knowing this is a marathon, one that with the proper diligence and sacrifice can help me reap the proper rewards. I also want to give a shout-out to my mentor and assistant, since they are really helping me stay focused on my goals. People are in your corner to support you if you allow them to. And if you find that no one is in your corner, then find another corner.

An ordinary errand can become a moment of unexpected philosophy. In “Math Equation,” Greg Luti turns a simple trip to CVS into a deep conversation with a stranger who explains how life itself is one giant, ever-changing math equation. After my shift, I went to my local CVS to get something to drink and a snack or two. I was not in the mood for any actual food, just something to tie me over as I drove home, so I thought I would quickly go into the CVS and get something, a habit I have done a few times before. The parking lot in the place is never easy to navigate, in that when you turn into the lot, you have to make a quick second turn to get a decent spot. Instead of dealing with all of that, I normally park as far away from the store as I can, and then walk. I parked my car on the side of the building where no other car would dare park, since my car is really out of the way, and backing up out of the place will be a pain in the ass. I jumped out of the car and saw a man pushing a shopping cart, but not towards the store, but away from it. The shopping cart was not a cart from the store either, and was filled with garbage bags of random stuff found around town. "Hey, you!" The stranger called over to me. "I don't have any money." I quickly responded. I sensed that he was only interested in me for such a thing. "No. No. I don't want any money. Let me tell you something…" He paused for a second, as though he zoned out. I stood there, confused, not sure if the man was still thinking about what to say or was about to have a heart attack. "Are you ready for this?" "Uh, sure…" I entertained the stranger, sensing he only wanted to reveal some nonsense to me, more than be any threat to my safety or wallet. He spoke with a struggle, as though the words were hard for him to say. Each word, each phrase, was a struggle for this man to utter, so much so that I almost missed where he started. He knew his words, but his mouth was giving him difficulty, so he took his time to make sure each word was correct. "Life, you know all that we are and do… life is a math equation, my man. That is all it is. Look around you, and that is all you are, and all that we are. It's math." He took a deep breath as though he had just run a lap around the track. "But it ain't like some math you see in school." He started to use his hands as though he were counting. "All with the stagnant numbers – 1+1=2, E=MC^2, a^2+b^2=c^2. No, it ain't like that at all. Life is math with movement." He almost fell over as he moved his hands across his face. "You okay?" I asked. He didn't answer and only continued his previous thought. "Math that moves. The numbers and equations you learned in school, changing and moving all the time… That is life. That is what we see and feel. So when you do something, no matter what it is, it fits into life." He used the cart to hold himself up. His hand was shaking as he tried to keep himself from falling. "And why? Because life is nothing more than a math equation that keeps changing. And we are all in this equation, my brother. We're all in for life." Slowly, he moved towards me and patted me on the back, shook his head, and pushed his cart full of garbage away from me. I didn't respond or say anything as he went away from me. I turned towards the store and walked towards it. I almost got hit by a car pulling out. After avoiding the collision, I went to get a store cart to go buy what I originally wanted. I pushed the cart into the store, and before I even got to the first aisle, I stopped. I had forgotten what I even went in to buy.

An ironic poem often highlights the gap between what we say and what we actually feel. In “Why I Didn’t Open Your Email,” Greg Luti captures a chaotic morning spiral of overthinking, existential questions, and everyday procrastination that leads to a hilariously relatable decision not to open an email. I didn’t open your email right away because I was busy. No, I was not working late hours in the office. I try to leave as early as I can every day. Nor was I spending time with family. I only ever attend important family get-togethers, like weddings and funerals. I was busy, though. I was in bed, thinking about my own existence, questioning whether I am even real, or if any of this even matters, and I may have gotten carried away. See, I sat in bed wondering just what I know and what I don’t know. I know that there is stuff that I don’t know, but then if I never know what I don’t know, how can there be any reasonable conclusion? And without a reasonable conclusion, I am left to use faith as justification for my own existence. Which gets me to prove that there is a Creator, which then gets me back to there being a part I know and a part I don’t know. I then switched up my thoughts to speculate a little differently. What if all I am is not what it seems? What if, at the end of this, my life is fake? Can I really be nothing more than a player in a game? Is this nothing more than a simulation? Religion admits that there is some truth to this being a simulation, but they can’t agree on all of it. I am then left to decipher my own life, and wonder if any of this is even real. I am told they lie. And they do. But it feels like the lie the media tells me about a certain story is a bit different than being told my entire freaking reality is not real. Sure, they are both lies. But pizza and burgers are both foods, too, but I would never confuse the two. The moment of deep thought overcame me as I lay in bed, not really ready for the day. Mornings are good for wood, deep thoughts, and remembering that you have to get some coffee in you if you are going to function. When I get this way, allowing the deep thoughts to run things, I don’t really want to talk to anyone. Let me be, you fool! Can you not see I am thinking? I am not only thinking of you and me, but of life itself. I am thinking so much that I am doing more than thinking. What do we call that? Don’t we have a word for the action I am doing right now? Perhaps I am on to something here then… So please let me be and do not bother me right now. Let the thoughts go where they wish, as I am only trying to keep up with myself here. I am on a ride right now, and I am going where the thoughts take me! I may go off the road. I may jump off a cliff. I may not ever move at all. Regardless, the thoughts are the driver, and I am going wherever they go, hoping to find some clarity in this life. I know not where my thoughts take me, and I don’t care either. I will follow these thoughts. So please do not speak to me now, I can only grasp these thoughts if you are not communicating with me. The real joke to that last part is that I hate roller coasters. You would never catch me on a roller coaster. I went on a roller coaster when I was a kid, and all I can say is that I started on the line, and when the time came to get on the ride, my skin turned as pale as a ghost, and I did not go on the roller coaster. I am happy with rollercoasters of the mind, but rollercoasters of real life scare me. There are so many times in this world where the truth seeps through, is shown only briefly, But then…. Like that, it is closed short. Harder than a pissed person slamming the door. I am then left to wonder what the hell I just saw, and I have to rely on my memory to even recall my own reality. Oh, wait, I forgot, my memory may change sometimes, and I can’t even rely on that. What can I really know? What can I be certain of? Is there anything, or is this all an illusion? Has the world fooled me, and I have bought into the act? I go back to thinking of the lies in the media. How can I prove that the man is lying to me? Is there even a way to do that? If I say he is lying, he can defend himself, for he is the one with the audience, not me. The best I can do is accuse him of that claim, never once getting any more proof, and needing to rely on a certain amount of faith in my own detective skills. What about reality itself? How would I be able to prove that reality is wrong? Isn’t reality smart enough to go against bums like me? Oh, no, we got a guy lying in his bed, thinking about us! He thinks he is clever since he has not moved all morning. What are we going to do? This could ruin us. - Reality When I saw your email, I just couldn’t deal with reading about whatever you wanted to tell me. I am over here wondering if the very hands I use every day are mine. I don’t want to read your morning email. I am sorry, but I can only do one thing at a time.. I also may have not opened your email, because I knew what you were going to ask me. About the money you are owed. Yeah, yeah, I know. I owe you about 500 for that thing I bought. Look, I had some tough times with money recently, but I will get you the money. Back off, will ya? Anyway, not that you even care, but that is why I didn’t open your email. Oh, and in case you are wondering, I still don’t have the money.

An ironic poem reveals a contradiction in human behavior. In “The Lonely Man,” Greg Luti shows a man who openly admits his loneliness to two women offering help, yet twice rejects them with the same smirk: “I’m lonely… but I’m not that lonely.” This self-aware refusal to change is the heart of the poem’s irony. A man walked down a street one night when a woman whom he had never met approached him. All the men in town knew of this woman, but would never dare say such a thing in the workplace. Technically, no one around town knew this woman. “Hey, Daddy.” She called out. “You lonely?” He spoke a phrase as though it explained itself. “I’m lonely,” He smirked. “But I'm not that lonely.” What does he mean, he is not that lonely? Can you truly be such a way? How can he be so self-aware of his loneliness, yet reject the one thing that can make no man lonely? If you see a problem, do you not fix it? Yet, this man knows his loneliness is a problem, yet he accepts it. I had so many questions for the man. Some of which included if his head was hollow, or if he was altogether there. The man headed back to his apartment. Before he could get into the front door, a woman similar to the one he had seen before approached him. “Hey, Daddy.” She called out. “You lonely?” Surely this was the man’s shot at redemption. A chance to make up for a lost opportunity. To right a wrong and learn from his mistakes. There is no way this man says the same thing twice, right? Right? Alas, he repeated himself as though that was all that he needed to say. “I’m lonely.” He smirked. “But I’m not that lonely.”

A writing update gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at an author’s creative decisions and process. In “New Site Design - Writing Update,” Greg Luti explains his decision to simplify the entire website, launch a free editing workbook, adopt a consistent four-day publishing schedule, and stay true to his authentic voice while growing his audience. New Site Design I am happy to say I got some help from my assistant to redesign the site. We made the entire thing much simpler for people to consume, rather than the original design, which was all over the place. I also want to keep the literary brand feel that I had before. I mean, when you are on the site, I want you to know you are reading stuff by an author/editor, and I think that the aesthetics only enhance that now. I think we found a nice theme for the site and my overall author brand that I am going to use going forward. New Workbook I have added a workbook to the site that is downloadable for anyone who wants to learn some editing tricks I tell my clients. I say tricks as though I am a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat… (I never owned a rabbit before. And I don’t do magic. I did like Bugs Bunny growing up, though) The deal here is that you have to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get the workbook. The term I heard people say is lead magnet, which is basically a way for people to sign up for stuff. I won’t even lie that when I first heard the words “lead magnet,” I didn’t know what they were talking about. I thought, “Why are they talking about the things I put on my refrigerator? How does that help me?” More Workbooks Coming I hope to add more workbooks to the site in the future, possibly for more editing advice or even other things that I write. I am still thinking through this idea, but I like the idea of readers having access to workbooks that give a few samples of what I write and then some advice on how they can improve as writers. Not only do you get insight into what I write, but also how I write, which I feel can help writers, potential editing clients, and curious readers. New Four-Day Publishing Schedule I am now going to write up pieces for this blog four days a week. Tuesdays are for poetry, and Saturdays are for flash fiction. I had Thursdays divided into too many options, between short stories, book previews, and writing updates, so I decided to make a fourth day for the writing updates and the editing advice articles. Thursdays will be for short stories and book previews. Mondays will be for writing updates and editing advice articles. I think this will give readers a good variety, and it makes it easier for me to follow. If you are keeping track, that means this will be the last Thursday I write up an update. Getting More Active On Facebook I am looking to get more involved in Facebook groups and be actively engaged in them. I don’t normally do that, but I think that would be beneficial to me and my career, so don’t be surprised if you see me on a Facebook group talking about my poetry or my newsletter. It turns out it is probably a good idea to reach out to other people in the field when you, yourself, are trying to get into that field, who knew? Turning These Updates Into A Resource I don’t normally look at these writing updates as anything more than me updating the readers on what I am doing, but I have thought that these updates can be used at a later time as a way to track my progress for others to see. I have to think more about this and how it would be used for me, but I have been writing so many of these updates that I guess, over time, other writers can learn from them, which I think would be great. Fuel While Writing I have found that having snacks as I write helps me stay energized during my writing sessions. I don’t know about other writers, but there are times when I write up stuff late at night, or I am tired from a long day, and I just hit the wall. I found that some trail mix with dried fruit really helps me focus through the tough stretch. Why Marathon Winners Win That gets me to something I have been thinking a lot about lately, and that is the reason why marathon winners win the race. Is it because they want it more than others? Is it because they work harder? No, I don’t think that is it at all. The reason marathon winners win is that they have a plan that is conducive to their goal. They plan for the event. They focus on other areas of their life that can help with running. They don’t just put on some shoes and run. No, they look at the shoes they wear, the proper running technique, their diet, and the number of miles they need per day. There is much thought to improving as a runner, and I think that is a lesson we can all learn in our own lives. Sure, we all want to say that heart and work ethic were the key, but that is something you let the bards write about later on when they are talking about your success. The real reason for success is that you were prepared and made the smart moves to help with your journey. The runner who wins the race didn’t win because they wanted it more than the other person. That is a bunch of nonsense. Keeping My Authentic Voice I have been doing a lot of research into other newsletters and what makes them great and what makes people read them, and I have noticed that the voice of the person is key. I read a few where I couldn’t tell who wrote the newsletter, a person or an AI. There was nothing really there that made me say, “Oh, this is why this guy wrote it!” I don’t want you to feel that way when you read something in my newsletter, whatever it may be. I take a lot of pride in writing each and every one of these words (and it is also why I cringe at other writers using AI to write up stuff). I just want you to know that as a reader, you should be assured my voice will always be a part of what I write. You may not like what I write, in terms of the content or even the very way I wrote it. And I get that. There are times when I look back on what I wrote and feel a bit confused, almost turned off by it, but I never once allowed the voice to be lost to something else. It’s me writing this, for better and for worse. Haha. Crafting A Proper Ending I think that I will come up with a proper ending to these writing updates, something a little more formulaic, so you guys can expect a certain pattern when reading them. Right now, I like the idea of me presenting some short perspective I have on writing or some life advice. (Like what I did with the marathon runner) One Last Joke I have to end with telling you something I find pretty funny. I have never run a marathon in my life. You wouldn’t know that by how much I praised it. I spoke about a marathon like people speak about boxing today. I always hear people bringing up how things are like a boxing match, and everyone agrees, as though we are all watching boxing in our spare time, which we are not. If we are going to use an analogy, can we at least use one we all can agree on and then actually do?

A flash fiction story can explore the difference between celebrity and true greatness. In “Being Like,” Greg Luti follows a high school student who chooses Michael Jackson as his role model for fame and talent — until his teacher introduces him to the ancient Roman hero Cincinnatus, who chose a very different path. A high school student stood at the door of the classroom waiting to see where his teacher was in the room. The teacher was helping two other students in extra help, who had not understood the lesson from earlier in the day. The newly arrived student was to write about a person he wished to be like. The teacher asked this of every student who took his class, and because this student missed the assignment, the teacher asked the student to go to extra help in order for the work to be done. The teacher felt this was just as effective as giving the student the work to do on his own at home, since the teacher was already in the classroom giving extra help to two other students. The teacher stopped his review with his extra students to address the student who was to write up the paper. “You are here to write up a little something for me. Go sit down, and I will get you some paper.” He went to get a paper and a pencil for the student. He walked over to the desk where the student sat and handed him the paper and pencil. “Okay, here is the deal: you are to write up a response to the question as to who you want to be like. Write as many words as you, okay? We can take a second to talk about this, or you can jump right into it.” “I want to be like Michael Jackson.” The student quickly responded. “Man, that guy had it all. He was popular. He made all those songs. He could dance. He could sing. How cool would it be to be him?” The teacher chuckled at the student wanting to be like the musician who had been dead as long as he had been alive. He motioned for the other two students who were there for extra help to continue with their work. “Don’t wish to be like that man, but strive for something better.” He instructed the student who was to write the paper. “Who is better than Michael Jackson?” “Have you ever heard of Cincinnatus?” “You mean Cincinnati?” “No, Cincinnatus.” He shook his head, knowing the student didn’t know of the myth. “The story is that he was a well-respected Roman general. One day, when the city needed him, he took up the role of general of the army and led them into battle. He won and helped the city from being invaded. He saved the city. Do you know what he did when the battle was won?” “Probably become king for real.” The student shrugged his shoulders. “He went back to his farm. He gave up his crown and let the people decide what was best for the nation. For no man, no matter how big, is too great to walk away from it all. Be so great that when the time calls, the world asks you for help. But also be humble enough that when they wish to make you king, you walk away and go back into obscurity. There is nothing wrong with not wanting fame or seeking fortune.” He spoke the last line to himself as much as to the student, “Sometimes the best way to win the game is by not playing at all.” The student sat there, only half listening. “I am going to write about Michael Jackson.” “Fair enough.”

A key piece of writing and editing advice is to focus on what works strongest in your story. In “Know What Works,” Greg Luti explains why you should identify and strengthen your best scenes, characters, and lines instead of trying to make every single part of your manuscript equally good. Not Every Part of a Story is Equally Great When I am editing someone’s novel or writing my own, there are parts of the novel that are a little bit better than others. I mean, let’s be real here, not all the parts are equally great. They can all be well-written or structured, but you should never expect every part of your story to be received the same way. Some are just better than others. That is why a writer has a responsibility to understand the parts of the story that work. Know the lines that are written really well, and place them in parts of the story that matter. Know the characters that have a lot to say, and for the love of god, don’t kill them right away. As you develop your story, know what is working and not working, so you can then mold your story around the best parts. Don’t Kill Off Your Best Characters I had a client who spoke to me about killing off one of the best characters in the book, a character that I personally loved, and he didn’t seem to have any problem with doing it. I had to explain to him that the character he is killing is important to the story world he is building, and seems to be someone who can certainly add to any conversation he is in. The character gives us something that no other character does in the story. We should not just kill the character as a way to shock the reader. Now, I have nothing against the elimination of characters in stories, but as a writer, you'd better understand what you are doing when you do that. Don’t just kill a character because you can. If you know that the character can be used for multiple stories or perhaps is good enough to have their own story entirely, then don’t just go about getting rid of them. Know what works. Also, you should not give yourself that much credit when writing characters. If you naturally write a certain character very easily and the dialogue just flows when that character is speaking, then perhaps the wise thing to do is to keep that character around, not get rid of them. You would never see a pitcher in baseball get rid of their best pitch, so you should not just get rid of the character you write with the best. How Do You Know What Works? You may be asking yourself, “But how do I know what works?” The first thing you can do is to make sure that the important parts of the story, like the introduction, the ending, and the climax, have something great to offer the reader. If you are reading through them and you think, “Eh, that is okay,” then that is a problem. So if you are reading those parts to your story and are not impressed, then go to the other parts (the good parts), and look at them… What do they say? Why do they stand out to you? Are they the most cohesive parts you have written in the story, making them the best? Is there a great dialogue that you wrote? Perhaps there is something else that makes you say, “Now, that is great!” Place Your Best Scenes Where They Matter Most You should then look at that great scene and see where it fits in your overall story. If you are writing a story and the best scenes are not the introduction, the ending, the climax, or even the rising action, then you may be writing the wrong story. That is not something you want to hear, but it is true. The best scenes should align with the overall message and point of the story, and if they do not, you must wonder if the scenes are wrong or possibly the message. You can either keep the well-written scenes in your original story and try to improve the other scenes you wrote, which should be the best-written parts of the story, or you can create a new story with those scenes as the focus of it all. Focus on What Works — Even If It Changes Your Plan Know what works, and focus on that as your story. That may mean you are not going to write the story you originally had in mind, but if the new story is better, then you should not be worried about the switch.

Greg Luti shares a new chapter preview from Hit of Henry in which Tom takes his intern Nate to Walden Park — the site of a pivotal past event — as Nate questions why such an ordinary, rundown place could possibly matter so much. Tom took the intern Nate to the park where the hit happened, that is Walden Park, the park where nothing really ever happens. No games of any purpose are ever played there, and no people of any significance are ever seen there. The most that anyone ever goes to Walden Park is when they walk by it on their way to a nicer, more modern, cleaner park. Although Tom did not know what they would find at the park, for what can you find in a place such as that, he decided to go back to the scene of the event. The two spoke as Tom drove. “Where are we going?” Nate asked, as he was only told that there was a destination they had to visit, and nothing more. “Walden Park. That is where this all happened.” Tom confirmed. “Walden Park? Now, I know you are not serious with this story. When I first heard about this, I thought that maybe there was something to this, but Walden Park…” He paused. “Nobody plays at Walden Park. The place is an absolute dump.”