Steven Barnes Profile and Articles

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1). Fitness In Five Minutes A Day?
An essay on "Greasing the Groove" possibly the most efficient exercise protocol in the world.

2). Seven Ways To Connect Your Writing And Your Life
An introduction to a unique fiction writing program, designed by a bestselling writer, that connects the inner world of the artist with the outer world of the novel or screenplay. Suitable for both amateur and professional writers.

3). The Three "Questions" Of Science Fiction
S.F. is often thought of as spaceships and aliens. While true, this is merely the surface. Look a bit closer!

4). Zen And The Heart Of Writing
How shall we accept the challenges of life and stay centered creatively?

5). No Time For Exercise? Try This!
“Fitness” is an elusive term covering a vast array of attributes: flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, power, balance, coordination, body-fat percentage and more. While its generally accepted that multiple 30-60 minute sessions per week are optimal for producing results, the truth is that it’s possible to do a great amount in far less time.

6). Four Useful Lies About Writing
Story structures are both useful and limiting--unless you know more than one!

7). Writing Twenty Novels (In Ten Easy Steps!)
During a recent telephone conversation, I mentioned having sent off the last revisions for my twentieth novel, “Great Sky Woman.” There was a silence on the other side of the phone, followed by the question “How in the world do you do that? Twenty novels!”

The truth is that I know many writers who have written far more than twenty novels. It is not that unusual.

8). Woody Allen's "Match Point" (2005)
The very first line I ever heard Woody Allen speak was a joke on the Tonight show concerning theological issues, about how, during a divinity test, he cheated by “looking into the soul of the girl sitting next to me.” I believe that he used a clip from such a stand up routine in one of his films, perhaps Annie Hall. I honestly don’t remember. For decades, Woody has intertwined several basic themes: love and its yearnings.

9). Forget About "Talent"!
Whatever "talent" is, it is less important than the qualities of focus and honesty in creating and maintaining a career.

10). Refining The Golden Hour
In one of the classic personal finance books, “The Richest Man In Babylon,” we are told that the way to wealth is to “pay yourself first.” That a portion of all you earn is yours to keep. Great words, and just as applicable to your life itself. In other words, out of every sixteen-hours of wakefulness in a day, one hour should be yours, and yours alone.

11). Turn Writer's Blocks Into Stepping Stones!
Years ago at a presentation at the UCLA Extension Writer’s Program, I promised an audience to teach them to conquer this beast once and for all. Later, another instructor approached me and said “why did you say that to those people? It’s not possible.”

Poor woman. All she was saying is that SHE cannot break writer’s block, which told me all I need to know about her career.

12). Four Steps To Tripling Your Energy
Tired? Tired of being tired? You aren’t alone. There are few human qualities more highly sought than energy. It determines our ability to enjoy life, to attract mates, to finish projects, to protect our families, to shape our bodies effectively, and so much more.

While there are endless specific suggestions about herbs, exercises, meditations, supplements, rest patterns and so forth that I could mention, the most important and over-arching components are relatively simple, and available to anyone with the willingness to begin.

13). The Golden Hour
Give yourself five minutes a day, and one hour a week--and you can change your life!

14). The Lazy Man's Guide To Great Characterization
One subject arising whenever writers gather to discuss their craft is the mining of life itself for story material. While a vital and important technique, it is important to remember that real human beings are impossibly complex, far too complicated to serve as story characters without major modification. The most complex character in all of western fiction (arguably), Hamlet, is still only 1% as complex as a real human being.

15). Had A Good I.D.E.A. Lately?
Actual life mastery is within your reach! The primary requisite is an uncommon commitment to honesty.

16). Four Steps To Triple Your Energy
The simple truth about increasing the "juice" of life.

17). Calling All Writers--It's Party Time!
Using the hypnotic "Parts Party" technique to add depth and meaning to your writing.

18). Turning Writer's Blocks Into Stepping Stones
Learn to banish writer's block forever. Period.

19). It Was Good Enough For Shakespeare!
How does one balance the needs of art and commerce in building a career?

20). Who Is The "Hero" In The "Hero's Journey"?
During the past thirty years, much has been (rightfully) made of Joseph Campbell’s breakthrough research in cultural anthropology, most famously published in “The Hero With A Thousand Faces.” In this book, Campbell examines the many cultural expressions of the heroic role model, and in doing so helped to establish the universality of human hopes, dreams, and lives.

21). The "Casablanca" Secret
What we want and what we need are often two different things--and a key to success in both writing and life.

22). Top Secret! The One-Year Path To Publication
There is a way to virtually guarantee your publication within a single year. No, it has nothing to do with self-publication. This path is not for dilettantes, and will push you to the limit, but it has worked for dozens of my students, and it will work for you.

It is based on writing principles first proposed by two giants in the publishing field, science-fiction writers Ray Bradbury, and Robert Heinlein, over thirty years ago.

23). The Magic of Balance
The quest for genuine balance in life can greatly increase our personal power.

24). Five Things You Don't (And Should!) Know About Stress
Whether it’s called stress management, relaxation training, or its newest incarnation, “Resiliancy,” it seems that the question of healthy response to the stress of daily life is on everyone’s mind. But it’s important to remember a few things about stress that are rarely discussed—if known at all!

1) Stress won’t hurt you. Hans Selye, the “father of stress” was a polylinguist, whose first language was not English.

25). No Time To Exercise? Try This...
The abdominal muscles are the perfect target for a hyper-efficient exercise program

26). The Billionaire Writer's Secret
During a career spanning twenty-five years of novel, film, and television work, I've two major tools most valuable: the yogic “chakras” for characterization, and Joseph Campbell’s model of the Hero’s Journey for plot structure.

These are not random choices, nor were they selected because of the many intelligent and thoughtful essays on their relationship to successful film or world myth.

27). Using Your Body To Strengthen Your Mind
A simple explanation of the esoteric body-mind connection

28). Tuning OUT For Success
A wise man once gave me two simple rules for success. Here they are.

29). Writing Twenty Novels (in 10 easy steps!)
An overview of the behaviors and mind-sets of successful, prolific writers.

30). Seven Secrets Of Highly Creative Writers
Ways to effortlessly generate ideas--and why this is vital to your career

31). Tuning Out The "Radio Voice"
It would be impossible to list all of the things people have considered crucial to success in life. Honesty, energy, bonding, modeling, control of fear…all are important. For my whole life, I’ve searched for the answers in this arena, and treasured the gems that have been revealed.

In July of 2005, I went back to Longview, Washington, where I’d lived for nine years, raising my daughter.

32). Going With The Flow
How to access the deepest wells of creativity on demand.

33). Refinng the "Golden Hour"
One hour of every day is yours to keep. Learn how to invest it wisely!

34). How to Survive A Good Review
Reviews can be useful feedback...or devasting emotional bombs. Learn how to maintain a healthy balance regardless of public reaction to your work1