- It all started with Jurassic Park (hence the T-Rex in the header). That novel introduced me to the wonder of books. A dinosaur story led me to the written world of Michael Crichton and I've been a reader ever since. Then, in 2009, I was encouraged to write my story - a memoir of my days as a college football player. Excited about the destination but intimidated by the journey, I sat in front of my computer, the only one awake in my sleeping house, and began Discovering Writing. More...
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Author Archives: ryan85
Seasons is complete!
My poor mini van is riding on it’s rear axle due to the weight of 1000 copies of Seasons sitting in the back. In case you are wondering, that’s 867 pounds of books! I should probably get those out. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged college athlete, high school athlete, Ryan Sprague, Seasons, student athlete
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My new book is ready to print! Pictures of the process.
After lots of writing, lots of editing, and lots of formatting, my second book is going to press this afternoon. It’s called Seasons: What College Athletes Need to Know About Their Future. I went by Rose Printing to sign off on the … Continue reading
Writing would be easier if…
You don’t have to read many books on the craft, be they memoir or how-to, to find out writing is hard work. And it is. As a married man with five young children and a full-time job I sometimes envy … Continue reading
Unglamorous: Act 2
Cause him to suffer – our words, the Father’s will Righteousness personified… and rejected Upon him? The punishment that brought us peace Crushed not for what he did, but for our iniquities Innocent blood for the guilty – hammers in … Continue reading
Are you scared of flying? A poem of comfort.
My wife is off to Colorado today and she’s a little apprehensive about the flight, so I wrote her this poem. Maybe you’ll find comfort in it too. You’re Going on a Plane Today You’re going on a plane today … Continue reading
How many books do you read in a year?
I read about thirty to forty books a year and numerous magazines, but usually not the personal-experience type of literature.” -Gary L. Thomas, from “Sacred Marriage” When I ask about key principles for becoming a good writer, I almost always get … Continue reading
Where do my story ideas come from?
The not quite final manuscript of my second book is being, or has been, read by a few different people to give me feedback and improve the final product. I’ve received some great thoughts and some absolutely necessary corrections. For … Continue reading
facebook & twitter or Facebook and Twitter???
A friend reviewing my forthcoming book kept marking the words “facebook” and “twitter” in my story claiming both should be capitalized. Before you assume I’ve written a novel full of social media cliché, it’s actually a chapter where a member … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged brand names, capitalization, capitalization rules, capitalizing
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Unglamorous: Act 1
Entered the world’s stage dependent on another Mothered by an assumed harlot, fathered by a perceived weakling Manifestation of promised pain – reminds us why he had to come, hints at what he came to do Authority, like his teeth, … Continue reading
What I learned: Maggie, by Charles Martin
I’ve read almost everything Charles Martin has available. Chasing Fireflies is my favorite, and I shared what it taught me in a previous post. Maggie is his second novel – a sequel to The Dead Don’t Dance – and I … Continue reading
Posted in What I learned, Writing
Tagged Charles Martin, Maggie, The Writing Process, Writing Routine
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