Welcome to Cindy Rae Writes

Dear Reader,

Welcome. So glad you’re here!

I am finally emerging from survival mode due to personal circumstance and am in the process of rebooting my life as a writer. Thanks for hanging in there with me. Or, if you’re new, thanks for taking a look.

I am an aspiring novelist. While my first series, Salvage, is science fiction, I write across genres and even dip my toe in nonfiction waters from time to time.

Reading is embedded in the fabric of my life, and I like to connect with other readers who enjoy a good story.

With a curious mind, I like to learn — about the craft and business of writing, about how the mind and brain work, about full-time remote work, and so much more. You can read some of my blog posts for writers here.

Salvage:Book 1
Salvage:
Book 1

The start to a coming-of-age saga of a girl plagued by nightmares and thwarted by circumstances in a perilous interstellar world 

Portfolio
Professional

My thoughts on the craft and profession of writing

Personal
Personal

Personal news, my interests, background, and life

Thanks for stopping by.

Cindy Johnson

Writer and Owner of Cindy Rae Writes

P.S. If you’re looking for a software developer, you can find my tech alter ego over at CodeOnward.com.

Summer Hiatus

Life happens.

Clichéd but true.

We’re in the middle of some major transitions here in our household.

So, there have been and will be a dearth of posts here on this blog. I anticipate in a few months the dust will settle on several of these transitions, and you’ll be able to read some longer posts here once again.

Check back in often, and feel free to contact me by email or Facebook or whatever. I’d be glad to hear from you.

Distractions of Today

Focus is a Writer’s Superpower

One of hardest battles I fight as a writer is the battle for focus. So many things pull at my attention, but I am my own worst enemy.

Distractions of the last hour:

  • This blog: Writing this of course! And I should plan future posts. Maybe one one business planning for writers? Or 5-act structures. What will I write on Salvage? Oh, I should be writing.
  • The window: Oooh, look! Spring! Where is my neighbor going? Their grass is so green. Cool! Is that a chickadee calling? I haven’t seen those in awhile…
  • The environment. It’s 39 outside! Turn on the heater. I need music — where’s Spotify? But Pandora and I are old friends…
  • Family: Has my son eaten breakfast yet? Oh, drat, he didn’t finish that chore yesterday. I should write him a chore list…
  • Household: I should get a load of laundry going. Wait — the cat’s making for my unmade bed. No!!! No cat hair on the pillow!!
  • Self-care: I should at least do my morning stretches, face, etc.
  • Facebook: Oh, no! I’ve fallen into the black hole that is Facebook! What time is it?

My Favorite Women Characters in Science Fiction

Actually, a Partial List, a Very, a Very Partial List

It’s not a surprise the protagonist of my Salvage series is female. I like strong women characters. Some of my favorite women characters in science fiction, in no particular order: