New Writers With Something to Say

The 3 x 3

I am missing the opportunity to be around others. As an extrovert, working at home alone is killing me. Fortunately, I found a new outlet recently when I started hosting a men’s group for foreign men with Japanese partners on Zoom. The group focuses on providing a sense of community for men that feel isolated living in a strange land with a complicated language. This volunteer activity really resonates with my life purpose.

So many signs that life is moving in the right direction, but that the speed at which we travel is completely out of our control. This week I received amazing feedback both here on Medium and from the participants in my courses. They all mentioned how they were inspired by my work. What great affirmation to keep going. My battle cry is “never give up & never give in, but also take the time to check and correct too. What signs are you seeing that show you’re moving in the right direction?

This edition of 3 x 3 focuses on writers who are looking for a sign or a breakthrough as well. Their initial efforts got me clicking and scrolling to their next stories. I hope you will find them as enjoyable to read as I did.

Tamila McDonald’s stories are fun fiction to read when you need a break in your day. Her posts are often under four minutes, so when you’ve worked for an hour and want to give your mind a break, choose one of her stories as a reset. Here are three to get you started.

We all want to look our best for important occasions, but in Caught Red Handed, Delores should have had a better plan to dress for success.

Red Rain Boots tells of a serendipitous encounter where identities and context get confused, and in the end we are left to ponder if this was a lost opportunity.

Is congratulations the right thing to say to someone whose new job brings them face to face with their biggest phobia?

Yeeve Rayne is a Korean American artist whose stories are autobiographical and give clear insight into what it is like to grow up as a non-white in America. Many of her stories also include her photos, painting and collages.

This one is about her school days.

Here she tells of her relationship with her twin, who never saw the light of day.

The story that first brought Yeeve to my attention was Pearl Harbor: You are Not Behind. This story contemplates what is important in life. A question each of us must answer for ourselves.

Joel Selby is a children’s book illustrator that has embraced the entrepreneur lifestyle, maybe not all by choice, but definitely by design.

Here is one I can 100% relate to as a fellow entrepreneur.

In this story, he explains some purchases that are better made considering factors beyond price.

And finally, just for fun, Mary Poppins was a Slytherin. May get you considering what Hogwarts house your favorite fictional characters or even friends and colleagues would be assigned to.

Some advice I like to leave writers with is to write a brief autobiography. Your followers, and even potential followers, are interested in knowing more about you than just your stories. Mine is still one of my most read stories. Make sure your “about” page is completed and if you can create some lists of your stories and the ones that have inspired you will help readers to discover more of your stories as well.

I hope you have a fabulous week.

Happy reading.

John