Stream of Consciousness
Motivations
Who out there has trouble at times with motivation to do whatever? To be honest I have been feeling like this lately. I really like reading everyone's stories, but I feel overwhelmed at times when I see anywhere from 35 to 50 notifications from fellow writers. Maybe that is why I wish Vocal could bring back the bonus for reading a set number of stories like they did five years ago. Anyway, here is an acrostic for MOTIVATION.
By Mark Graham4 months ago in Writers
Writing Can Be Addictive
Addiction is a long-term health issue. It involves a strong urge to use a substance or act in a way that causes harm. This can lead to physical, mental, or social problems. It shows a weak ability to control impulses and a changed reward system in the brain.
By Calvin London4 months ago in Writers
Before Reading or Listening to Peter Thwing (AI Intro - ChatGPT). AI-Generated.
(This reader’s guide was drafted with AI assistance through ChatGPT and shaped from a broader conversation about how Peter Thwing’s essays, stories, podcast episodes, and series function as a connected body of work.)
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast4 months ago in Writers
Creativity Is Synthesis, Not Spontaneity
The False Image of the Sudden Idea Creativity is often imagined as something sudden, mysterious, and self-contained. The common picture is a flash of inspiration that arrives whole, clean, and complete, as if the creative person simply receives the idea and writes it down before it disappears. Under that view, real ideas are supposed to feel untouched by process. They are supposed to appear naturally, without visible effort, refinement, conversation, revision, or struggle. Anything that emerges through articulation, outside feedback, tools, or repeated attempts can then be treated as less authentic because it did not arrive in its final form.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast4 months ago in Writers
Before Reading or Listening to Peter Thwing (AI Intro - Grok). AI-Generated.
(This reader’s guide was drafted with AI assistance through Grok and shaped from a broader conversation about how Peter Thwing’s essays, stories, and series function as a connected body of work.)
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast4 months ago in Writers
The Hand That Reached Back
The path was already there, though I could not remember stepping onto it. It opened beneath my feet as if the world had been waiting for me to notice it. Grass leaned softly against my ankles, bright with the kind of green that looks impossible until it is right in front of you. The air was warm, but not heavy. Sunlight poured through the high leaves in broken streams, touching the ground in gold and then disappearing again beneath patches of shade. It was not a field, but it was open like one. It was not a forest, but it breathed like one. The place refused to be only one thing. It stretched wide enough to run and deep enough to get lost. It gave room to laugh, but kept secrets between the trees.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast4 months ago in Writers
Graduation
Well, here we are in the middle of the month of May and the fun that some may have while the Senior classes are studying for their final 'Final' exams and preparing for prom, maybe a senior trip and that one last dance that some schools call a Senior/Dinner dance where the senior class gather somewhere and maybe remember their younger days. I remember my senior year and some of the activities ranged from senior dress-up day to senior slop day to senior skip day and a few other special days like the annual and final Awards assembly when the Senior class passes down a special item of sorts to the incoming Senior class. In between all these days the seniors were sending and getting acceptance or refusal letters from various colleges after filling out college applications and even some still taking college aptitude exams.
By Mark Graham4 months ago in Writers
