7-40 Challenge | Round 4, Day 22 The Light Bearer went up on KDP today. That's two novels published in 2026. The first one took five months from manuscript to launch. This one took longer than I wanted — I missed my own deadline, pushed through more revisions than I planned for, and learned that … Continue reading Away
Category: Books & Writing
Start Writing Something Different
7-40 Challenge | Round 4, Day 21 Years ago, I wrote a blog post about the difference between facts and story. I used an example of two people answering the same question — "how was your day?" One gave a list: did some spreadsheets, took some calls, met a new coworker, came home. The other … Continue reading Start Writing Something Different
Dare Mighty Things (Fifteen Years Later)
7-40 Challenge | Round 4, Day 16 In 2011, I wrote a short passage about a prisoner escaping a cell. He finds a footprint on the floor — proof that someone walked this path before him. He picks up a sword and feels something pulse through his arm. He remembers: I am a warrior. I … Continue reading Dare Mighty Things (Fifteen Years Later)
The Surgery
7-40 Challenge | Round 4, Day 14 I used to think that when I finished writing something, I was done. The story was out. The work was complete. Move on to the next thing. That was shortsighted and a little arrogant. I'm sitting in a coffee shop tonight working on the editorial pass for my … Continue reading The Surgery
The Volume Group
7-40 Challenge | Round 4, Day 12 There's a story about an arts professor who split his pottery class into two groups. The first group only had to produce one piece for the entire year. One shot at perfection. The second group was graded on volume — they had to produce as many pieces as … Continue reading The Volume Group
David Willis 