The big picture of writing and art

February 10, 2026

I’ve had perhaps what could be called an “eureka” moment relating to the big picture of writing and art.

A good fictional story has a clear beginning, middle, and end, a clear conflict and resolution, and a character the audience can really relate to and care about.

A good painting or drawing has a clear foreground, middle ground, and background, a full range of value and form, and a bit of mystery.

These seem like such simple concepts, right? Well, these are the big picture and when you break the individual elements down, you suddenly have a whole scope of skills to master and bring together to produce a good fictional story or a work of art.

This is just what I’ve discovered so far (?), but today these really clicked together for me and I wanted to share.

2026

The best place to be

Apr 20

I broke my writing streak, but that's okay

Apr 13

Using LLMs to write texts and emails?

Apr 8

'Can't' isn't a good excuse

Apr 7

He changes hearts

Apr 6

What commitment means

Apr 5

Parallels of Passover and the Messiah

Apr 4

Childish vs. childlike

Apr 3

Short story: A llama coincidence

Apr 2

Every work of art is saying something

Apr 1

How much of our anxiety is self-imposed?

Mar 31

Everything is a choice

Mar 30

Halfway commitment?

Mar 29

Be happy and joyful now

Mar 28

Short story: Olives ‘n Blessings

Mar 27

Short story: Canyon Rescue

Mar 26

Discipline requires looking far

Mar 25

Rushing isn't ideal

Mar 24

Live now

Mar 23

What is this site?

Mar 22

Going into debt is a really bad idea

Mar 21

Ebbs and flows

Mar 20

Life lived in-between

Mar 19

Thoughts on grief

Mar 18

A clear, closed door

Mar 17

Unnecessary complexity has a cost

Mar 16

Revising posts

Mar 15

An interesting shift

Mar 14

Short story: Bike Horn Greg

Mar 13

Every story is about relationships

Mar 12

Why are you moving?

Mar 11

Write plans in pencil

Mar 10

Short story: Mew dogfood

Mar 9

Too short

Mar 8

Convincing truth

Mar 7

No undo, redo

Mar 6

Once

Mar 5

The anxious octopus

Mar 4

Simplifying concepts

Mar 3

Computer programming, simplified?

Mar 2

Making history

Mar 1

Are you willing to be a fool?

Feb 28

Solomon's ask

Feb 27

Intellectual humility

Feb 26

Science, faith, and belief

Feb 25

Relationships are your wealth

Feb 24

Milestone: the 100th (continuous) post

Feb 23

Functional and beautiful

Feb 22

Asking the wrong question?

Feb 21

Short story: The Sleepwalker

Feb 20

Thoughts and temptation

Feb 19

Take a break

Feb 18

Short story: The Mailboy

Feb 17

You won't be good right away

Feb 16

Write down what inspires you

Feb 15

Blessings we don't often think about

Feb 14

When all is going well

Feb 13

A better business ethos?

Feb 12

Opening your mouth

Feb 11

The big picture of writing and art

Feb 10

Working more isn't always the right thing to do

Feb 9

Passion without discipline is not much

Feb 8

The word 'fiercely'

Feb 7

Where the abundant life is found

Feb 6

The wind and clouds of uncertainty

Feb 5

(Probably) an over analysis of social media

Feb 4

The final judgment

Feb 3

Please don't posture like this

Feb 2

Pruning to bear better fruit

Feb 1

Are we fulfilling our calling?

Jan 31

Random thoughts on individualism

Jan 30

Humility vs. pride

Jan 29

The amazing creativity of faces

Jan 28

Worry

Jan 27

True unity

Jan 26

A look into someone's brain

Jan 25

A real man

Jan 24

What makes art valuable

Jan 23

What matters and lasts is hard

Jan 22

Show up everyday and do your part

Jan 21

'Feeding the monster?'

Jan 20

Cup analogy

Jan 19

Please have convictions and opinions

Jan 18

Our imperfection is the point

Jan 17

Documenting the process of creating your project

Jan 16

Your sphere of influence is larger than you think

Jan 15

Never say never

Jan 14

Politically correct?

Jan 13

Two extreme misrepresentations of the best days

Jan 12

Loose analogy of the OT/NT using math

Jan 11

Considering death makes us live

Jan 10

The reality of entreprenuership

Jan 9

Short story: Two ways

Jan 8

Intentional improving

Jan 7

Presented your way

Jan 6

Naming things

Jan 5

Short story: Surrender to win

Jan 4

Forms of lying

Jan 3

How I'd like to improve in writing these posts

Jan 2

Making plans

Jan 1

2025

Leaving 2025

Dec 31

Writing practice: Story forest description

Dec 30

Finishing things

Dec 29

The danger of overpromising

Dec 28

Using our gifts

Dec 27

Slow down

Dec 26

A Sass reminder

Dec 25

Weekly (experimental) comic

Dec 24

Fiction story plot ideation reference

Dec 23

How to see spiritual growth

Dec 22

(Quick explanation) Why I keep the Sabbath

Dec 21

Casting lots to make decisions

Dec 20

Importance of a good attitude

Dec 19

Say hello

Dec 18

Short story: Turn lemons into lemonade

Dec 17

Short story: Nothing for granted

Dec 16

Truth matters

Dec 15

Think about the ending first

Dec 14

We won't agree on everything (and that's okay)

Dec 13

We need more emphasis on discernment

Dec 12

Don't focus on pleasing critics or your peers

Dec 11

No insignificant calling

Dec 10

An artist's sketchbook is their greatest asset

Dec 9

Two things to understand

Dec 8

Play

Dec 7

The only approval that matters

Dec 6

Where our worth comes from

Dec 5

Lessons illustrating a children's book for the first time

Dec 4

(Maybe) how to post consistently

Dec 3

What we can control

Dec 2

Influences shape us

Dec 1

What I've learned about ideas

Nov 30

More valid, not less

Nov 29

More than two

Nov 28

Like fish (Carp, to be exact)

Nov 27

He cares

Nov 26

Consistency over time

Nov 25

Love

Nov 24

When you're winning, be quiet

Nov 23

An eternal perspective

Nov 22

Small victories

Nov 21

Joseph

Nov 20

Being used

Nov 19

Storytelling and MMC

Nov 18

Imperfections

Nov 17

Don't wait until you're ready

Nov 16

Abraham's test

Nov 15

Manage energy not time

Nov 13

Limits of logic

Aug 27

Not even close

May 1