May 2015 – Ellis Morning's Blog

The Grand Experiment: 1 Year Since The Big Leap

May 25, 2015 Ellis Morning Comments 0 Comment

I can’t believe it’s been a year since turning away from the corporate world! I have zero regrets. Defining my own schedule from day to day feels like the new normal, and I’m committed to keeping this going. However, it’s fair to say that I brought a lot of unresolved baggage back with me from Corporate America, and the public school system before that. Aside from putting the finishing touches on my novel(s), I’ve been working to identify and address…

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Blood’s Force Update

May 18, 2015 Ellis Morning Comments 0 Comment

Since October, I’ve had my head buried in the manuscript and my editor’s recommendations, which mostly involved expanding the story. After much rewriting and reediting, I’ve passed my manuscript back to my editor for her final review. The original manuscript weighed in at 88,000 words. This one’s nearly 180,000! If you’re wondering, that’s big for a novel. “Novel-length” typically starts around 80K words. So, doing the math… there’s a possibility that I really have two books on my hands, not…

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2015 Comfort Zone Challenge Update: Oops

May 11, 2015 Ellis Morning Comments 0 Comment

Since we’re nearly at mid-year (wow!), I figured an update here would be in order. Along with a bit of an oops/apology. My original plan was to keep pursuing sword-fighting, and add some target practice. Well, for various reasons, both of these opportunities are no longer viable for me. Oh well! I’m moving on to others. The most challenging thing I’ve started recently is seeing a therapist for lifelong anxiety-related issues. Even with leaving my job, these issues weren’t going…

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Writing Realistic Fight Scenes: Advice From A Martial Artist

May 4, 2015 Ellis Morning Comments 0 Comment

If you’re looking to add realism to a fight sequence, talk to someone who’s been in a few fights. Hey- that’s me! Okay, quick disclaimer: I don’t like fighting. I’m not good at it. But it’s something I’ve had to practice in my martial arts career, for good reason. For one thing, I know I won’t get totally wailed on in a real fight (because I’ve been in a real fight, and I wasn’t wailed on). For another, it teaches…

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