Writing – Matthew Ballantyne

Sneak Peek: Passing the Guard

“You know boy, don’t think I didn’t see you in that newspaper, Mr. Big Shot! You think cause you saved some kids you can just break all my rules? Are you out your damned mind! Get in here!” Terry shouted as he grabbed the back of Phillip’s neck and pushed him into the kitchen.

Novel Sneak Peek: Escape Tacoma

Here’s a sneak peak of a scene from one of my novels Escape Tacoma. It’s a title I’ve been piecing along for the past few years, where post-apocalyptic themes are fused with modern emotional outbursts.

Short Story: Time Marches On

Swell, the pep talk ends with the realization that we create lifestyles we can’t afford, ever. People would be better suited to buy a residence, and sink any money they get into that, never buy a car, maintain a spartan wardrobe, and never splurge beyond that until the home is paid off.

Short Story: Beauty is a Fading Flower

As we get older, we still think we’re in control. If we get too angry one day, we can file for divorce and break them mentally, emotionally, and financially. We can flaunt other men in their face, while we fight over the house, we can continue to emasculate them like we have always done, to fit our comfort. Because we can never be comfortable with the confident man that found us staying that way. We need to defeat him so we can continue to avoid what’s truly ailing us.

Short Story: In a Flash

The chauffeur of an actress sought me out when I was up to my elbows in carnitas, after a very long day of shooting.

The Other Part of Travel: Restroom Experiences

Then I saw their fist pumping in the air, above the walls of the stall, out of the peripheral vision in my left eye. I admit, I was getting nervous. I just wanted to get out of there as fast as I could.

Coming Tomorrow:’The Other Part of Travel’

Everyone seems to be working hard to make things over-complicated, unfathomable, unthinkable, overt, and above all, unreasonable. Perhaps it’s in the rush to be a part of the next killer meme. Or to get a video to go viral, add subscribers to whatever nonsense channels they have, so they can claim an income they aren’t getting, in hopes of scoring that income elsewhere.

Why Does Small Town America Matter?

…right now, in 2019, small towns do have the ability to add some balance to the value they provide compared to their bigger, devouring brothers.

Men Should Write: For Themselves, Mainly

…the fact remains that men by and large already do journal, but they skip over the most important topic: themselves.

Travel: Delaware Beaches

There’s a grand sense of peace on this section of our country. The view is like a snow globe, all encompassing, round, but past any sense of limitations your eyes may provide. The view here is remarkable, much like the “Big Sky Country” of Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota.