Stephen Lawrence Brayton's Blog (200)

“You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.”

I have to credit Todd Stone for inspiration on this discussion. Stone is the author of The Novelist Boot Camp, a how-to book geared to help writers not only develop ideas but in laying out a schedule and a process for writing and editing…

I need Mallory Petersen!

Actually, I need a Mallory Petersen. This is your time to step up and be noticed. I'm looking for a person to be my representative Mallory Petersen.

Who is Mallory? Well, if you've been reading my two books, Beta and Alpha (and if you haven't, get to it already) you'll know I'm talking about my heroine who is a Fourth Degree Black Belt in taekwondo…

Last week I finished listening to an audio book about dogs and the author's relating how they act to life issues. One of the things he discussed was not letting little things become big worries.

The next day I drove up to the shower house and taking my shampoo bottle from duffel bag I realized that soon I would have to buy a new bottle. This caused me to think about little things. Not how…

This evening I had a problem that relates a bit to the previous four weeks' discussion of business etiquette. I don't want to call it Part 5 but it could be viewed as a sixth point to be discussed.

I also debated on how to approach this topic because I don't want this blog to turn political in nature and I'm concerned that parts of this discussion might stray near the line or…

I didn't realize when I started this that it would take a month to complete. But, as I typed these one right after the other, I realized I didn't have to worry about blogging ideas for four weeks. Thus the benefit of multiple part blogs. I could have been mean and written one long blog, but I'd lose readers. Plus, I draw out the fun when you have to come back for more.

Anyway, last…

Business Etiquette, Part III

Week three of how companies are showing their apathy for the customer.

4. Human Resources

Okay, think back to the good ol' days and how you used to apply for a job. You probably did something like this: walked into the company, picked up or filled out an application, returned it with your resume, then a week later, called back to…

Last week, I started discussing the problems I've had with businesses and the way they have come to treat people. Before anybody starts saying to me “Stop complaining”, let me point out that I'm not the only one who has run into these problems. I have, however, started tolerating fools and foolish notions less and less as I get older, so more things tend to bother me. And the ever increasing…

In the last month since my move, I've been dealing with various companies in a number of capacities – job searches, account accessibility, billing, etc. The topic I wish to discuss has been hashed over time and again, but this last month, it's really started bothering me.

I'm talking about business etiquette. How businesses relate to their customers. I'd like to discuss five areas…

"What? You're posting on a Saturday? What's up with that?"

Yeah, I know, but some of these authors are so high maintenance (just kidding!) that I had to acquiesce. Sigh!  Anyway, now that summer is here I thought this week's featured guest would love someplace cool to visit while doing our interview. Guess what? She takes control of the transporter and soon…

As many of my followers and fans have realized, I recently went through a change of both jobs and places of residence. I'm still in the limbo stage of the latter and am working to improve the situation in the former.

Anyway, I was thinking about this topic of dress and looking for another place of employment due to an incident at work which has been discussed before with friends,…

“Bad decisions make good stories.”

I'll wager you are thinking of several bad decisions in your life and how those could be turned into a short story or a scene in a novel. You may have to change the names/locations/dates to protect the guilty (and save yourself a lawsuit) or you may have to embellish the facts a bit to make the anecdote play out a little better in written…

Today, I’m celebrating (as it were) my one week anniversary of my new home…in a camper trailer while I look for more permanent lodging. Here in Iowa, it’s been rainy and cool.…

So another week has passed. The upheaval from last continues with new frustrations this week.

Over a rainy weekend I secured a temporary place to live and this week, have started packing. Today I filled an entire dumpster with stuff I've accumulated over twenty years but haven't seen in years or haven't used. Some stuff I thought were important had lost their…

This was not going to be the topic of this week's post. I was going to discuss last weekend's writers' retreat I attended where I met some great people, made some new friends, and had a lot of fun, especially Sunday morning trying to avoid the rain.

However, what I learned Sunday afternoon on the drive home turned my world upside down. From Sunday through Thursday (yesterday) my…

In my almost forty-seven years I've matured in the ways of language. Somewhat. To hear me speak, maybe your thoughts would differ. Let's agree I've tried to think about language and the words, or rather, their correct usage, before I speak. Do I still say 'gonna' and 'sorta'? Sure, and I also tend to speak faster than some people, namely my students, can comprehend. But I'm working on it and I think…

This is the first in a series of life skill blogs. These will tie in the aspects I teach in my taekwondo classes. Sometimes there will be a connection to writing, sometimes not. I think it will be up to the individual to relate these to his/her  specific situation, whether writing or other activity. I hope you will enjoy these and, as always, I invite comments.

What can be said about…

Finally, a warm day. Spring has been a long time coming. So, on this fine Friday morning, as I’m preparing to head to the tournament, I have to make a stop and pick up this week’s featured author. Where are we going? Where else but the gym for him show me some pointers while I conduct my…

On this early Friday morning, the blustery wind blowing flurries of snow (yes, I know spring is supposed to be here), I'm contemplating this week's blog. Looking for ideas, I surf the Internet, read a chapter or two of the book in front of me, and finally check email.

One of the messages interests me, then intrigues me, then...well gets a little bit weird.

POST…

Last week I started discussing a tournament I attended in Columbia, Missouri over Easter weekend. I mentioned that while I may compete in the various tournaments, the fun part for me is judging.

Let me explain for those who have never seen a martial arts tournament a little of how ours operates. Multiple competitions occur in the same ring. Forms, weapons, sparring, and combat sparring (with…

Last weekend, Easter weekend, I attended a tournament in Columbia, Missouri. In this week's blog, I'd like to share some of my thoughts about the experience.

This is the first of many blogs to come that go down a different path. I want to explore another area of my life, my martial arts background, a little more. I would like to explore the many aspects of martial arts, some of the life…