Motivation – Page 2 – Sonja Danielson

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One of the mistakes I see-

One of the things I notice when reading unpublished and newly-published authors is what is affectionately called TSTL (too stupid to live).

It’s when a character does something so crushingly bad that it’s suprising that they can navigate around trees. Like leading the bad guys to their home, or doing something that will attract attention while they are supposed to be quiet and hidden.

Usually, these incidents are purely to move the plot forward and indicate the author’s poor planning, laziness, or lack of creativity. I know. That’s harsh. I mean for it to be. I am particularly passionate about writing. We are responsible for the reader’s enjoyment as they journey through the fictional world we have crafted. They put their faith in our skills to transport them into our story, and to care about our characters. We cannot fail them.

I hope you will let me know if my stories are successful for you. Sonja

Happy Independence Day!

Today is a day in the United States for reflection and gratitude. To reflect on our nation’s history and be thankful for the sacrifices made by those men and women all those years ago.

I have a patriot who fought in the Revolutionary War for independence from Great Britain– as well as the subsequent membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

I have an ancestor who came from England to Plymouth Colony on the Mayflower.

And, I have a Scottish ancestor who was captured by the British in 1650, endured the horror that was Durham Cathedral, and started over again in the New World after a sea voyage aboard the ship Unity. He returned to his homeland, but his children emigrated to the eastern seaboard of the colonies.

Today, I thank these brave men, the courageous women who accompanied them, and the children who came before me. I have a rich past that is similar to, or lesser than, many others. It doesn’t matter if you come from someone ‘notable’, or descend from humbler stock. Your ancestors made you the person you are today.

Perhaps you wish that private was actually a Major-General… But you would be a completely different person, or maybe not even here. Be thankful for your ancestors and for whatever role they played in your personal history, as well as the world’s history.

To celebrate the birth of the United States and my ancestor’s roles in its formation, I arranged for the ebook of The Voyage to be offered for FREE on amazon.com. You can search for the book using my name in the Amazon search bar, or use the quick links on the left side of this website. The book is an easy-reader and illustrated by the same artist who does the Guinness the Therapy Dog series. The ebook will be available for FREE TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY!

Grab your copy! Sonja

Have you–

Have you taken the path less traveled?

It’s important to do things that are outside your comfort zone. Think about it. At one time, everything you did was new. Then you decided to do it again. And got good at it. And maybe it became your favorite thing.

But first, you had to try it for the first time.

I encourage you to try something new every month–every week if you’re really brave. It doesn’t need to be something big. Take your walk going a different way. Part your hair on the other side. Tie your shoes using bunny ears or a half-hitch-or Google a new way to lace your sneakers.

Blaze a new trail! Sonja

I like both London and Paris. The history and the architecture really win me over.

If we’re talking about non-city places, I love the mountains. It’s where I grew up and where I’m the happiest. My favorite scent is pine sap and my favorite sound is the wind blowing through evergreen branches.

My neighbors have a big pine tree in their front yard. When the wind blows I go outside to hear the wind going through the branches. That hiss is amazing. Plus, owls live there and at night I can hear them hoot.

Love that! Sonja