Chats

I’ve been busy.

Posted on by Brett Jackson

This week, I have:

✔ More editing updates
10 chapters closer to Beta Reading, then final release. I am so excited, I decided to have a bash on Canva and create the book cover. Lots of good stuff coming, yay.

✔ Went to a craft show
My wife took me and some fam to a craft show in NEC. As a creative, I am often using outward energy to make my characters come to life, and craft the stories I write. When an opportunity come along to get some inward energy, I seize the opportunity to see what’s happening. This act of being able to enjoy other peoples crafts is quite often inspirational, and fantastic for giving my brain a chance to just stop and gather some ideas. We saw all sorts of cardboard crafting supplies, demos, sewing, knitting and more. The displays were exquisite, and gave me lots of ideas for future book signings 🙂

✔ Spent some time in Rugby
Decided to have a day away from the study and get some fresh air into my lungs. A change of scenery recharged my batteries and the day off was just what I needed. The town is quaint and has lots to offer, although I did notice some areas which offered more of a rugged look, which may take some people out of their comfort zones. When you compare the place ou live, with the places you visit, it can really make you feel thankful that you have what you have got, but also sad for others who have less.

✔ Ran an internet safety session for teenagers.
My previous tech experience gave me the opportunity to help some teenagers understand just how dangerous Social Media and the internet can be. The session lasted approximately 30 minutes. At the start, the children I was teaching were a little uneasy, and probably put off by “some old guy” who was going to teach them about the internet… after all, I’m old, what do I know? 
During the session, the teenagers really listened to what I had to say, asking great questions, and by the end of the session, even the adults joined in.
The group has asked me to go back in future, to do a talk about being an Author, and I can’t wait to introduce them to the worlds of writing 🙂 

Edits, Project management tweaks, and Dopamine Habit Trackers

Posted on by Brett Jackson

In Brett’s study this week

This week, I have:

✔ Edited more chapters of Time Clones book 2
Another chunk of editing done which takes me up to twenty chapters in the last edits in Time Clones book 2.

✔ Increased my project management, by merging two popular tools together.
I had a great idea recently, and decided to make mind maps, and todo lists work together. Find out more in the Featured Article section.

✔ Calculated the results of my dopamine habit tracker scores.
A little while ago, I watched a video which showed me how to gamify my habits, and tasks. Over the last couple of weeks, this hack has made it more fun to complete my habits, even the ones I don’t enjoy doing, but I know will be good for my health in the long run, such as sleeping before 11pm.
Last week out of a possible score of 54 (8 habits over 7 days), I achieved a score of 15 🙁
This week, I achieved 25 🙂

Eye of Time

Posted on by Brett Jackson

This weeks Book Of The Week is

Eye of Time: A Time Travel Adventure (The Frank Stone Series Book 1)

Blurb: Thirty-six years have elapsed since the murder of Jemma Stone. An unsolved case consigned to history – or is it?

Leap back to 1979 in this humorous time-travel whodunnit.

A clandestine organisation requires a Change Agent to alter the past and ensure certain future events are averted. Frank Stone, a rough sleeper, becomes their latest target.

In 2015, as his life spirals downward, Frank has fallen on hard times. However, fate hasn’t finished with Frank. Despite his scepticism, the Correction Years Association send Frank through time, back to 1979, instructing him to change history. As he calamitously tries to readjust to his youthful life, the extensive list of potential murder suspects continues to grow.

Frank is running out of time and, unbeknown to him, he’s not the only one attempting to alter the past. Can he identify the killer before time repeats? Will he succeed and change history, and what are the penalties for failure?

If you like time travel, entwined with mystery and humour, you’ll love this fast-paced series by Adrian Cousins. 

Link

​https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eye-Time-Travel-Adventure-ebook/dp/B09KCKYHQ7/​

How I Combined Checklists and Mindmaps (And Why You Should Too!)

Posted on by Brett Jackson

How I Combined Checklists and Mindmaps (And Why You Should Too!)

Have you ever felt torn between the structure of a checklist and the creative flow of a mindmap? I certainly have. But recently, I created a way to combine both — and it’s been a game-changer for my writing and productivity. Here’s exactly how I did it, and why you might want to try it too.

Step 1: Start with a Mindmap

  • Begin by creating a mindmap focused on your topic.
  • Write the central idea in the middle of the page.
  • Branch out with key subtopics or related ideas.
  • Don’t worry about order or structure — just get the ideas out.

👉 Example: I used this method to create this newsletter, but it could work with any situation, for example, If I’m planning a new book, I’ll put the book’s title or theme in the centre and branch out with characters, plot points, and settings.

Step 2: Convert Mindmap Nodes into Actionable Tasks

  • Look at the branches of your mindmap and identify specific actions.
  • For each branch or idea, ask: “What needs to happen next?”
  • Write down these tasks as bullet points or numbered steps.

👉 Example: If a branch represents a character’s backstory, the checklist task might be “Write a 500-word backstory for Character A.”

Step 3: Create a Master Checklist

  • Once you’ve extracted all the tasks from the mindmap, organise them into a clear checklist. I have folded my mindmap in half, and written the tasks in this todo list.
  • Group similar tasks together and set deadlines if needed. Look how I have marked the group titles with a hyphen, and then ticked off the tasks beneath them.
  • Keep the list simple and actionable.

👉 Example: My book outline checklist might include tasks like:
✅ Develop main plot arc
✅ Write first draft of Chapter 1
✅ Research historical references

Step 4: Track Progress and Update

  • As you work through your checklist, update the original mindmap.
  • Cross out completed tasks and adjust branches as new ideas emerge.
  • The mindmap helps you see the big picture while the checklist keeps you focused.

Step 5: Repeat as Needed

  • When you reach a creative block or need to regroup, revisit the mindmap.
  • If the checklist gets overwhelming, go back to the mindmap to refocus.
  • The flexibility of this system makes it easy to adjust and adapt.

✅ Why It Works

✔️ Mindmaps = Creative Flow: They help you see connections and generate new ideas without pressure.
✔️ Checklists = Structure: They keep you on track and focused on execution.
✔️ Together = Balanced System: The mindmap helps with big-picture thinking, while the checklist ensures nothing gets overlooked.
✔️ Flexibility: If you hit a roadblock, you can switch between creative (mindmap) and practical (checklist) modes.
✔️ Perfect for Writers: Helps with plotting, world-building, character development, and marketing strategies.

🚀 Try it Yourself!

If you’ve ever struggled to stay organised while writing or working on a creative project, this combination might be the solution you need. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!

My Writing Life – Book Progress, and more.

Posted on by Brett Jackson

In Brett’s study this week

This week, I have:

✔ Edited x chapters using MS Word
I’ve scribbled in more squares in my paper tracker, and am now more than 15 chapters into the final edits for Time Clones Book 2.

✔ Really boosted my productivity with my pocket bullet journal and a dumb phone
Afer buying a Nokia 110 phone this week, I have noticed that I don’t really notice my smart phone as much as I thought I would. Also, the pocket bullet journals are great. I have one 2025 calendar, and one for adding my tasks, notes and for logging my days. Less distractions mean more chance for my brain to relax because it’s not as distracted, and time to deal with my task / action list, because I am not falling down distraction rabbit holes. yay 🙂

✔ Started reading “Audio for Authors, etc by Joanna Penn.
After backing up all my books on kindle, I tried something new with it. I wiped it completely, then when it restarted, I didn’t log into the amazon account. Instead, I used Calbre to upload all my books to my kindle. The result is, an ad-free, distraction-free experience, and all my books are now all in one place. The best bit about this is, I have tried the highlights feature, and it works (even without the cloud). Collections don’t work, but the battery lasts so much better now, and I couldn’t be happier.

This week I have been reading a book by Joanna Penn called Audio for Authors, and it’s all about how Authors can use the power of Audio in Audiobooks, podcasts and more to reach more readers.

✔ Recorded my new weight, and the result is…
I’ve lost another pound in weight, yay 🙂 I haven’t personally noticed much difference yet, but I do seem to have a little more energy, so that’s a plus for the moment. Hopefully as I shed more weight, and reach my BMI target, my health will be even better 🙂

Book of The Month – Introducing Candice Yamnitz

Posted on by Brett Jackson

This weeks Book Of The Week is

Ruthless

by CANDICE YAMNITZ: 

BIO: Candice Pedraza Yamnitz is a homeschooling mom, author, and teacher. She taught in an elementary dual-language classroom for seven years before having her three spirited children. She mentored teen girls for years and now aims to inspire through stories.

SHORT PITCH: An assassin and prince romantasy 

TAGLINE: One last hit to gain freedom

BOOK BLURB: 
Seventeen-year-old assassin Cottia is desperate to leave behind the work she’s been forced into.
Her lord offers freedom in exchange for one last hit. The assignment is to start a war by killing a target during the Giddelian prince’s betrothal selection ceremony.
When the prince uncovers her identity, he offers her a new opportunity. Will his invitation grant her freedom from the notorious underlord?

BOOK LINKS:

Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/202249388-ruthless

Amazon: https://a.co/d/2MP6WzB

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Facebook: ​https://www.facebook.com/candiceyamnitz​

Youtube: ​https://www.youtube.com/@candiceyamnitz​

Instagram: ​https://www.instagram.com/candiceyamnitz​

Pinterest:

Website: h​ttps://candiceyamnitz.com/​

BookBub:

LINK FOR NEWSLETTER JOINING:

– Includes a free novella, RUTHLESS, the first book in a novella trilogy. 

​https://BookHip.com/DMNSFNP​

Ask The Author – Kirsties asks a question.

Posted on by Brett Jackson

This week Kirstie asks:
If you travel to your future, and talk to yourself there, do you remember the conversation when you go back, or do you forget it?

Great question! The answer depends on how time travel works in the way you’re imagining, and whether you are talking about your past self or your future self forgetting the conversation. Here are a few simple ways to think about it based on your past self time travelling.

1. Fixed Timeline (Nothing Changes)

  • If time is set and nothing can be changed, then when you go to the future, talk to your future self, and come back, you would remember the conversation. It’s like the conversation was always meant to happen, so when you go back to the past, you already have the memory of it.

2. Mutable Timeline (Things Can Change)

  • If time is changeable, your conversation with your future self could alter the future. However, since you have had the conversation with future you, this conversation would now be a memory for your past self, even though it happened in the future, it is in your past.

3. Parallel Universes (Different Realities)

  • Another idea is that each time you travel into the future, you’re stepping into a new version of the timeline, like opening a new door. So, after you talk to your future self and return to your past, you might not remember the conversation because you’re back in your original reality, where that event never happened.

4. Twice Upon A Timeline (Cloned Time Traveller)

  • If Zac Drummond were to clone himself and go to the future, then speak to his future self, his future self would have a past memory, however, if Future Zac hadn’t met younger Zac then gone back to the past, he would have no memory of any conversation.

I hope this helps answer the question is the best way I can. The reason there are so many answers, is because there are so many possibilities, and since I have not personally been to the future, I can only speculate as to possible outcomes based on logic.

Featured Article – Could Deja Vu Be an Indication of Time Travel?

Posted on by Brett Jackson

Have you ever experienced that strange feeling of Deja Vu, where something feels oddly familiar, as if you’ve already lived through it? You might be walking down the street, having a conversation, or just doing something ordinary when suddenly, you get a sense of “I’ve been here before?”

It’s a curious phenomenon, but what if Deja Vu isn’t just a trick of the mind? What if it could be an indication of something more mind-bending—like time travel?

Here’s the idea: What if, during time travel, our minds somehow catch glimpses of the past or future? What if Deja Vu is the brain’s way of processing a moment that we’ve already experienced in a different timeline, or maybe even in a different version of reality? It could be a memory from a parallel universe—or perhaps a hint that we’ve altered the timeline and are now experiencing a repeat of an event.

Could it be possible that Deja Vu is our subconscious recognizing a moment that has already happened, not in our immediate past, but from a different time or reality? It would make sense in a world where time travel is possible, and memories from different timelines sometimes bleed through.

So, the next time you experience Deja Vu, you might just want to wonder: Could this be a sign that time travel—whether through parallel universes, timelines, or even time loops—is real?

Featured Article – Could Deja Vu Be an Indication of Time Travel?

Posted on by Brett Jackson

Have you ever experienced that strange feeling of Deja Vu, where something feels oddly familiar, as if you’ve already lived through it? You might be walking down the street, having a conversation, or just doing something ordinary when suddenly, you get a sense of “I’ve been here before?”

It’s a curious phenomenon, but what if Deja Vu isn’t just a trick of the mind? What if it could be an indication of something more mind-bending—like time travel?

Here’s the idea: What if, during time travel, our minds somehow catch glimpses of the past or future? What if Deja Vu is the brain’s way of processing a moment that we’ve already experienced in a different timeline, or maybe even in a different version of reality? It could be a memory from a parallel universe—or perhaps a hint that we’ve altered the timeline and are now experiencing a repeat of an event.

Could it be possible that Deja Vu is our subconscious recognizing a moment that has already happened, not in our immediate past, but from a different time or reality? It would make sense in a world where time travel is possible, and memories from different timelines sometimes bleed through.

So, the next time you experience Deja Vu, you might just want to wonder: Could this be a sign that time travel—whether through parallel universes, timelines, or even time loops—is real?

Edits, Kuru Toga upgrade, Bullet Journals and more.

Posted on by Brett Jackson

In Brett’s study this week

This week, I have:

✔ Finally finished the grammarly edits, and am now on the Final Word Edits.
Yes, I have finally completed the Grammarly edits (a whopping 26 chapters this week) and have now started the MS Word Read editing. This is the part of editing I absolutely love, where I put the chapters of my book into MS Word and have it read to me. This means I can listen to the book, and make any repetition changes, and make final tweaks to the manuscript before it goes off to the Beta Readers. I’m so excited that it’s this close to completion.

✔ Started to gamify my tasks
Following a lack of motivation for the mundane tasks in my life, I have discovered two key things that have really changed things, and turned them around.

  • 1 – I have decided to rename the tasks in my bullet journal to Actions and this has really changed my mindset (it’s crazy how little things like this work).
  • 2 – I have a task list that I now score. Yes, that’s right, I score my action list. How does this work I hear you ask? Simple. Every day I make entries in my action list (I write down tasks) and at the end of the day, I total how many I have done. At the end of the week I total all my daily score, and jot down my weekly score. Each week I reset my total, so I have a fresh start each week. Each month, I total the weekly scores and at the end of the year, I write down the annual total. This way I can see the progress, and even plot them on a graph if I wish to.

Bonus – I got some more a6 journals to organise my life. These pocket journals are proving to be way more useful, and less cumbersome than the Filofax I used to use, and a great way to keep track of life using the Bullet Journal method.

✔ Lost some weight, yay
Okay, so I only lost half a pound, but it’s a loss, and that’s important. I will keep going, and look forward to the day when I can reward myself for hitting the goal weight that I want to hit.

✔ Started Bullet journaling again
These a6 pocket notebooks are fantastic, and the change from Filofax to pocket journal, and pocket diary make life so much more focussed, which is definitely a plus for me.
I have tried several ways of keeping organised the last few years, and so many digital planners and apps, and honestly I can say that these small books are the best thing to come along. 
The pocket planner is so much easier than using the Bullet Journal future log, and the bujo itself is now packed full of notes, ideas, and journal entries. Last night I had a fantastic idea for a new book series, and I also know how I can tie it into the Time Clones trilogy.

Bonus:
Recently I told you how I had fallen in love with the Kuru Toga technical pencil which stays constantly sharp by revolving the lead, so you never get a dull edge. 
Sadly this week, my Kuru Toga broke. It was in my pocket, and I sat on it. The plastic splintered, so I did the best thing I could think of.

I ordered the metal version, and I can’t believe I didn’t do this earlier. I love the look, the feel, and the lightness of this metal pencil. I am confident this one won’t break as easily, and although it was a little more expensive, I would definitely buy another 🙂 Bigger bonus, the Kuru Toga metal comes with 5 erasers, and a pack of leads.