It seems Fall has arrived as this morning it was a cool 37 degrees.

I attended my 55^th high school reunion a few weeks ago. It was nice to see everyone and especially my old friend that I grew up with and inspired me to get into ham radio. Even though it was years later before I did.

My friend Barry has been in radio broadcasting since the late 60s. He was inducted into the Country Hall of Fame a few years ago, honoring his dedication to Country Music.

It was a very enjoyable evening to spend with Barry and his wife. One I will never forget.

For my writing friends, how do you get past a block in the story you are working on?

I have dealt with a block for some time and am not sure where to go with it. It did not help that somehow a few chapters were lost.

One of my friends has been asking me over and over when book three would be done. He is going on a cruise again and wants to have it to read. I am afraid that he will have to find another book to read because mine will not be done in time,

Maybe with Winter coming on and my dislike for the cold that will keep me inside, I can get back to writing.

Enjoy the rest of the second “BER” month.

You can leave a message down below telling us how you get around your writing blocks.

Here is the link to Hawks’ Dilemma https://tinyurl.com/2mtal5xf

Book two, Marked to Kill: https://tinyurl.com/46bh932s

I have bookplates now that I can sign, and you can place it inside the front cover for those of you that wanted a signed copy and do not live near to me.

If you would like one, just send me an email with your name and address. I will mail one to you. Find my email address on my website at johnpoindexter.com.

Until next time,
 

John

Summer is trying to hang on these next few days, bringing us 90+ degree days. That is fine with me as I hate winter. I am still trying to heal from the three broken ribs. The latest CT scan shows them still broke. It has been since March.

Of course, there were other things that showed up on the scan that I am not happy about. But for now, life goes on.

Back in February 2023, the talk started about AI writing. I decided to check it out and went to Copy Creator and asked about: "How do you write a crime novel?" Below is  what it came up with. Needless to say, it is not all that good.

“The best thing about writing a crime novel is that there are no rules. You can make up your own crimes and your own characters, and there's no right or wrong way to do it. There are countless ways to write a crime novel, and that's what makes it so much fun.

If you're looking to write a crime novel, the best place to start is by coming up with a good story. What's the crime, who committed it, and why? What are the consequences of the crime? These are all important questions to answer before you write.

Once you have a good story, the next step is to create interesting and believable characters. Your readers need to relate to your characters, even if they're criminals. Give your characters flaws and weaknesses, and make them believable.

The last step is to write the story. This is where your creativity really comes into play. There are no limits to what you can do, so let your imagination run wild. Write the story that you want to write and don't worry about following any specific rules.

Writing a crime novel can be a lot of fun. It's a great way to let your imagination run wild, and there are no rules to follow. So, get started today and see where your story takes you.”

Example of an AI creation. CopyCreator

What are your feelings about AI writing stories? Do you think the market will be flooded with this type of writing?

Leave a message down below and tell us your opinion. No personal information is kept from what is asked of you to reply.

I will attend the Beyond the Books Festival again this year at the Starke County Library in Knox, IN. The date is September 7^th.

Here is the link to Hawks’ Dilemma https://tinyurl.com/2mtal5xf

Book two, Marked to Kill: https://tinyurl.com/46bh932s

I have bookplates now that I can sign, and you can place it inside the front cover for those of you that wanted a signed copy and do not live near to me.

If you would like one, just send me an email with your name and address. I will mail one to you. Find my email address on my website at johnpoindexter.com.

Until next time,

John

Sorry it has taken so long to update this blog. Another heart procedure and now suffering from a broken rib. Reaching out to type causes a lot of pain on my left side, where I have a broken rib and pulled muscles. They say it could take up to six weeks or more for it to heal. All I know is it is painful.

And I am missing out playing in the golf league with my son.

I need to get back to writing on the third novel in the Steve Hawks series. If the pain will improve.

But, if you need some quick reads for your lounging in the sun this summer, check out my short stories on Amazon. They are only 99 cents and have some excellent reviews.

She Rises at Dawn, Hollywood Dream, Dreamer’s Paradise. All in the Family Cruise is a comical story about murder.

I will attend the Beyond the Books Festival again this year at the Starke County Library in Knox, IN. The date is September 7^th.

If I can sit down to use a computer, I may have the third book finished by that time.

Not holding my breath on it.

Have a great summer. If you have a comment, please leave it below.

Here is the link to Hawks’ Dilemma https://tinyurl.com/2mtal5xf

Book two, Marked to Kill: https://tinyurl.com/46bh932s

I have bookplates now that I can sign, and you can place it inside the front cover for those of you that wanted a signed copy and do not live near to me.

If you would like one, just send me an email with your name and address. I will mail one to you. Find my email address on my website at johnpoindexter.com.

Until next time,

John

Hello,

Life has a way of disrupting the best plans you may have made. Mine sure did.

I hope to get back to working on the next novel of Steve Hawks’ adventures.

With that in mind, an editing program I use at times has developed a Critique Report to give you feedback on your writing.

I took the first chapter of my new work and ran it through their program.

Feel free to leave a comment down below. No personal information entered is used or stored.

Have a wonderful holiday season.

Here are the results from their feedback.

Critique Report

💪Strengths

1. The author effectively builds tension and suspense throughout the scene.
2. The dialogue between characters feels natural and reveals their personalities.
3. The pacing of the scene keeps the reader engaged and interested.

🌟Plot/Story

The storyline in this scene revolves around a group of federal agents who find themselves being pursued by security guards and police officers. The events are logically connected, with the tension escalating as the characters try to escape their pursuers. The pacing is effective, keeping the reader engaged and interested in the outcome.

🦸Characters

The characters in this scene are well-developed and believable. They have depth, motivations, and emotional complexity. Their actions and dialogue reveal their personalities and contribute to the overall tension of the scene.

🌪️Tension

The tension in this scene arises from the pursuit and the characters' attempts to escape. The threat of violence and the uncertainty of the situation create a sense of urgency and suspense. The author effectively maintains this tension throughout the scene, keeping the reader engaged and on edge.

👁️Point of View

The point of view in this scene appears to be third-person limited, primarily following the perspective of the protagonist, Steve. This allows the reader to experience the events and emotions through his eyes, creating a more immersive reading experience.

🏞️Setting

The setting is established primarily through the characters' interactions with their surroundings, such as the tree line, ridge, and cornfield. While the specific location is not explicitly stated, the description provides enough detail to ground the reader in the scene. The setting is utilized effectively to heighten the tension and create a sense of urgency.

🗣️Style/Voice

The author's writing style is engaging and suitable for the story. The use of descriptive language and dialogue helps bring the narrative to life. The voice of the writing effectively conveys the characters' emotions and the intensity of the situation.

🧩Clarity/Cohesion

The writing is clear and ideas are logically connected. The events flow smoothly from one to another, and the reader can easily follow the progression of the scene.

🔄Potential Improvements

1. Provide more background information on why the characters are being pursued.
2. Develop the secondary characters further to enhance their roles in the story.
3. Consider adding more descriptive details to fully immerse the reader in the setting.

🏁Conclusion

Overall, this piece of creative writing effectively builds tension, develops compelling characters, and maintains a strong narrative arc. With some additional development and attention to detail, it has the potential to be a captivating and engaging story.

Here is the link to Hawks’ Dilemma https://tinyurl.com/2mtal5xf

Book two, Marked to Kill: https://tinyurl.com/46bh932s

I have bookplates now that I can sign, and you can place it inside the front cover for those of you that wanted a signed copy and do not live near to me.

If you would like one, just send me an email with your name and address. I will mail one to you. Find my email address on my website at johnpoindexter.com

Until next time,

John

What a month August has been. The air conditioner went out and was just fixed this past Friday (18^th).

Our son had surgery and is still trying to recuperate. Bad part is he cannot play the last three golf league matches. 

My sister just left after spending a week with us. While here, she and I painted the back porch walls and fixed a couple of little things. Last time she was here, we stained the privacy fence. That was a hard job since the sprayer I bought was for staining, did not spray in a fan spray. Took forever as we had to spray the stain on in a stream and then she would take a brush and spread it out.

They built our house back in the early 1900s, so there is always something that needs repaired.

For example, the humidifier they installed when we bought the furnace/air units caused the air conditioning problem. The city’s hard water caused the calcium to build up on the evaporator and eat a hole in it. Now, the next thing I will have to have repaired is that humidifier after they have installed the new water softener next week.

We both do not like soft water.

I finished reading the Jack Reacher book, PAST TENSE, in two days. Just could not leave it alone for too long of a time. Very exciting story.

I have several more of his to read yet and a couple of other authors' work. Maybe I will assign a number to each book and then randomly pick one to read by drawing a number.

Even though this next week it is to be near 100 degrees, in two weeks we start the “BER” months. I hate the “BER” months. They are calling for severe cold and more snow for this winter. Two things I hate the most.

What are you doing as summer draws to a close? Leave a comment below and let us all know about your exciting plans.

Here is the link to Hawks’ Dilemma https://tinyurl.com/2mtal5xf

Book two, Marked to Kill: https://tinyurl.com/46bh932s

I have bookplates now that I can sign, and you can place it inside the front cover for those of you that wanted a signed copy and do not live near to me.

If you would like one, just send me an email with your name and address. I will mail one to you. Find my email address on my website at johnpoindexter.com

Until next time,

John