Tag Archives: writing

Success Is What You Leave Behind

Posted on November 6, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

At 60, I’m looking back at what I’ve accomplished and ahead at dreams still unfinished. Maybe success isn’t about achieving everything we want, but about living a life that matters and still having reasons to want another tomorrow. Continue reading →

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First Personal Goal: Stop Asking Yes-No Questions

Posted on October 25, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

WordPress wants to know whether I set personal goals. As an English teacher, I have a problem with the question itself. But I’ll answer it anyway. Continue reading →

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How Do I Manage Stress? Faith, Humor, and Mayberry

Posted on October 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Some days I manage stress. Other days, stress manages me. Between writing, music, laughter, and faith, I’m learning to handle life’s challenges. And when all else fails, there’s always Mayberry. Continue reading →

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Writing for Humans, Pleasing the Robots

Posted on October 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I’ve spent a lifetime writing for people, not algorithms. These days, I let artificial intelligence help me convince search engines that my work deserves attention. It’s a strange arrangement, but it works for me. And if something goes viral and pays better than teaching? Well, I’m not opposed to early retirement. Continue reading →

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If I Started a Business Today—Books, Bourbon and Stories

Posted on September 28, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Last year, I imagined a business built around books, bourbon and belonging. A year later, the idea has changed. Maybe the dream isn’t the building first. Maybe it starts with the stories, the conversations and the people who gather around them. Continue reading →

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How Do You Write What People Actually Want to Read?

Posted on September 24, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

If I knew exactly how to write what people actually want to read, a lot more people would probably be reading this. So what does make writing worth someone’s time? Continue reading →

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How I Make Time for Self-Care

Posted on September 22, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I don’t really have a self-care routine. What I have are a handful of things that help me slow down, reset, and reclaim a little time for myself. Continue reading →

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What I Wish I Had Started Doing Earlier in Life

Posted on September 20, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I’ve been doing this in one form or another for most of my life. What I wish I’d understood sooner was the value of doing it for myself. Continue reading →

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The Most Annoying Movie Tropes (and Why They Drive Us Crazy)

Posted on September 6, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Some movie tropes are harmless shortcuts. Others are so lazy they make you stop watching the story and start noticing the writer pulling the strings. Continue reading →

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Stories Demand Sacrifice | A Short Story

Posted on September 5, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Steve Michaels is a struggling writer surrounded by failed ideas and discarded characters. But when those characters decide they have had enough of literary limbo, the price of finishing a story becomes frighteningly literal. Continue reading →

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