Writer's desk, where the closing begins How can writers use the "closer mentality" to finish their first drafts? There’s a belief that finishing things comes naturally to certain people, and that those people are the ones who are successful. They are successful because they naturally sit down and see projects through to the end. Others—the rest of us—struggle to close the gap between idea and finished project consistently. The ability to finish is a personality trait, somethi

Writer at work If you’re a returning visitor to my blog, you’ll know that there is one post with a good amount of views, one that I’m genuinely proud of having written. Anytime I get a notification that I have a new site visitor, it’s a good bet they’re reading that piece. It was a post about the typewriter revival , a quiet yet passionate movement of writers returning to the analog, rejecting the noise and constant surveillance of the modern world in favor of a more delibera

Writer with coffee How I Turned a Morning Ritual Into a Key to My Writing Process They say old habits die hard. I’d have to agree. Some habits find you early in life. Thanks to the many mornings spent in my grandparents’ kitchen and countless breakfasts with my great-aunt, I discovered coffee. I’d already discovered a love of writing early in life, so the rest, I guess you could say, is history. I couldn’t have been over ten or eleven years old. I was spending the day with my

My writing setup. Chromebook and Coffee. Photo by the author Why I Chose the Chromebook and How It Works for Me I’m writing this review on a Sunday morning on the machine I’m reviewing, my Acer Chromebook 315. There’s a cup of coffee to my right. This is how most of my blog posts start. My Chromebook has been my main writing machine since I purchased it in January 2025. After countless pages and innumerable words drafted across blog posts, short stories, and novel ideas that

Typewriter: Part of the Process The Story Behind the Man Behind the Blog It occurred to me while drafting another post that I really haven’t discussed what makes me tick, my writing process, if you will. For the longest time, I didn’t know what my process was, or if I had one for that matter. The answer to that question was simple. I was overthinking it. Of course I have a process. It just came so naturally that it didn’t seem like a “process.” It just seemed like everyday ro

The Writer Quote That Won’t Leave Me Alone A while back, even before I started my blogging venture, I remember hearing a quote from Lee Child, the author of the Jack Reacher series. He said something in an interview I watched on YouTube, and that quote has been rattling around in my brain ever since. He was talking about the mindset needed to not only be a writer but to make money at it. He described it as holding two beliefs that, on the surface, seem contradictory. On one h

Understanding Writer's Block and Its Impact There's a particular paralysis that every writer knows intimately—that moment when you sit down to write and the blank page stares back at you like an accusation. Your cursor blinks mockingly. Your pen hovers uncertainly above the paper. The words that felt so clear in your head just moments ago have vanished completely, leaving behind nothing but a crushing sense of inadequacy and the growing certainty that you'll write nothing wor

Writing in the Digital Age The 21st Century Typewriter: How I Turned My Laptop Into a Distraction-Free Writing Machine I'll never forget the first time I watched Joe Van Cleave's YouTube channel, which I’ve linked for you to check out. I highly recommend it.. It was late at night and I'd just finished the California Typewriter documentary. Something about the deliberate click-clack of those mechanical keys, the focused intention of writers who couldn't delete or distract them

Writing by the lake, great for mental health When the Pen Becomes Your Lifeline There's a moment every writer knows intimately—that first breath of relief when words start flowing onto the page after a hard day. It's not quite the same as other forms of stress relief. It's deeper, more intentional. It's the moment when writing stops being about producing content and starts being about healing. I've come to understand that writing isn't just what I do. It's how I maintain my m

Journal Transforming Your Private Thoughts Into Compelling Narratives There's a particular entry in one of my journals from about two years ago that I keep coming back to. It's nothing dramatic—just a rambling midnight reflection about feeling invisible in a crowded restaurant, watching other people's conversations and wondering about their stories. At the time, I was just processing a lonely evening, working through some social anxiety and past trauma that crept into my mind

Working on the first draft A deep dive into the mental state required for getting words on the page without judging them The cursor blinks. It's been blinking for twenty minutes now, mocking me with each pulse. I've written three opening sentences and deleted them all. Too pretentious. Too casual. Too... something. This is the dance I do with first drafts—this strange waltz between wanting desperately to write and being terrified of what might come out if I actually let myse

Writer contemplating pressure The Cost of Constant Pressure: A Writer’s Honest Reflection The Unspoken Pressure When I sit down to write, there’s an invisible weight on my chest. For writers and creatives of any kind, you likely know this feeling, too. For me, much of it is perfectionism—paired, these days, with the ever-present need to earn a living with my words. If you’re reading this, my guess is you have felt it: the tug-of-war between the purity of creation and the conc

Writing has always been a curious companion of mine. Sometimes it feels like a friend who listens without judgment, other times like a mirror reflecting parts of myself I didn’t know existed. When I first stumbled upon undefinedwriter.com , I didn’t realize I was stepping into a world that would challenge and inspire me in ways I hadn’t expected. This blog is not just about writing; it’s about life, resilience, and the messy, beautiful process of self-expression. So, let me t

For as long as I can remember, baseball has held a special place in the hearts of many Americans. It transcends age, background, and allegiance. Whether you’re cheering for your local team or supporting a lifelong favorite from afar, there’s something magical about how baseball brings people together. It serves as a great common ground for gathering. Friendships are born, rivalries are formed or rekindled, and the emotions of the crowd ebb and flow with the action on the fiel

Why I Write and Where I Hope My Words Will Take Me Writer at his desk The Vision Behind My Writing Journey No matter who you are or...