John W. Mefford on How Writing Has Changed Him @JWMefford #Suspense #Thriller #Giveaway
How are you wired? Or, better yet, how would those around you believe you are wired? It’s a question, that up to a few years ago, I would have answered in a quick, specific way: ferocious intensity, logical problem solver, gold-medal multi-tasker, strategic thinker, someone who never relaxes his mind. Never.
Everything changed when I started writing. Old components of me are still there, but it’s a much more palatable combination, for me, and everyone around me. Strangely, I wasn’t trying to change my personality, or how I thought. It just happened, somewhat like your body molding the cushions of an over-stuffed chair. My mind took the shape of my new surroundings, and it has fit quite nicely.
I can name hundreds if not thousands of people with whom I’ve interacted over the years, and a majority would be surprised that I’ve morphed into a writer. But they didn’t know the real me. I didn’t either, until I started writing.
When I began to write, my inability to focus on a single task for an extended period of time was magically cured. Why? To live and breathe with my characters, to feel their anxiety, their euphoria, to create humor, to mold the plot, my mind and everything attached to it goes to a place in a mental galaxy far, far away. The trip is time-consuming, but not arduous.
In fact, when I compare a ten-hour work effort in the day gig with the same time and level of effort writing, the result is light years different. My focus comes in handy, but the stress meter hover near zero when I’m writing. I can be tired, especially after a marathon writing session, but it doesn’t take years off my life.
So, was I really born to be a writer, but it took a winding, forty-five year journey to get there? Possibly. But I also believe that had I been younger when I made up my mind to truly dive into my writing, I’m not sure I would have had the patience or openness to change.
Recently, I’ve had to squeeze in physical therapy sessions for a torn rotator cuff. At the end of each session, my PT “manipulates” and stretches my shoulder. As it turns out, my arm is attached to that shoulder, and it doesn’t really care for being treated like Silly Putty. One of my physical therapist’s main goals is to stretch the joint beyond what any person could do on their own. In fact, on my first visit, he said, “I’m made many pro football players cry.” His teethy grin stretched ear to ear. That was comforting.
I realize that the stretching and manipulation sessions are vital to my improvement, and will hopefully help avoid surgery. Yet, I know that before I leave the facility, I’ll endure more pain than I’ve ever endured…which includes broken bones, severe sprains, you name it. When he starts the stretching routine, though, I have to force myself to be calm, to not tense up. It’s counter-productive otherwise. It’s like having your hand held over a flame. You know it’s coming. You just have to tell yourself it must be done and you have to relax to get the benefit from it.
Writing, thankfully, isn’t nearly as painful, although parts of it can sting your psyche. But knowing how I’m put together, where it puts me, tells me that I’ve finally found the right path for me.
And it feels damn good.
Behind the façade of every corporate takeover executives pull levers this way and that, squeezing the last profitable nickel out of the deal. But no one knows the true intent of every so-called merger.
No one knows the secret bonds that exist.
An Indian technology giant swallows up another private company that has deep roots in North Texas. For one unassuming man the thought of layoffs, of losing his own job to a bunch of arrogant assholes feels like a kick to the jewels.
Until the day Michael’s life changes forever.
Perverse alliances. An affair of the heart. A grisly murder. A spiraling string of events thrusts Michael into a life-or-death fight to save a tortured soul and hunt down a brutal killer…one who lurks closer than he ever imagined.
Greed knows no boundaries.
No one knows the secret bonds that exist.
An Indian technology giant swallows up another private company that has deep roots in North Texas. For one unassuming man the thought of layoffs, of losing his own job to a bunch of arrogant assholes feels like a kick to the jewels.
Until the day Michael’s life changes forever.
Perverse alliances. An affair of the heart. A grisly murder. A spiraling string of events thrusts Michael into a life-or-death fight to save a tortured soul and hunt down a brutal killer…one who lurks closer than he ever imagined.
Greed knows no boundaries.
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Genre – Suspense, Thriller
Rating – R
More details about the author
Website http://www.johnwmefford.com
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