From Vacuuming Churches to Writing Fantasy Epics
Why I Only Gave My Friend’s Debut Book 4 Stars (Kudos buddy!)
It all started with a 4-star review—and turned into a weekend-long family meme. Dom and Gabe kick things off with a light roast about what it means to not get five stars from your own friend, and then spiral (in the best way) into everything that goes into writing a book.
From vacuuming church pews while dreaming up a hunter in the woods, to acting out scenes alone in your living room just to make the dialogue sound real, we cover the strange, beautiful, sometimes ridiculous process of getting a story from your brain onto the page.
We talk about the pressure of finishing your first book, the fear of writing the climax, why Brandon Sanderson’s first dozen books didn’t work, and how sometimes just “hitting play” in your head can get you through a stuck scene. There’s a bit about old sweaters from the ’96 Olympics, a poem about stars waiting for us to show up, and a moment of real encouragement: if the story has chosen you, it’s worth following.
Whether you’re deep into edits or haven’t opened your draft in a year, this one’s for you.
🧠 TOP 15 MINDSETS, QUOTES & THOUGHTS
“If it’s really good—three stars max.”
Don’t rate based on flattery; rate based on honesty.
Finishing your first book is a massive milestone, even if it’s not perfect.
“You don’t understand your story until you write through it.”
Characters often surprise you—they’ll say things you didn’t plan.
“Hitting play” in your mind can unblock a stuck scene.
You don’t start writing to say something—you write to find out what you’re trying to say.
“Dialogue is where the story lives.”
Writing aloud helps prevent cheesy or stilted dialogue.
Writing one book teaches your body what writing feels like—book two goes faster.
“The story has its own agenda—you’re just along for the ride.”
It’s okay to start with fun, easy reads to prime the fiction pump.
“Stories are ancient soul technology.”
Being blocked at the climax isn’t failure—it’s a sign something deeper is at work.
You’re not just writing the book—you’re becoming the person who could.
✅ HELPFUL HABITS DISCUSSED
Reading dialogue aloud for flow and tone
Acting out scenes to test authenticity
Using tools like the Freewrite for distraction-free writing
Breaking through stuck moments by mentally “watching” scenes like a movie
Reading “easier” or fun books to reawaken fiction-reading joy
Using personality tools (MBTI, Enneagram) to deepen character understanding
Writing in nature or different locations to finish hard scenes
📖 Funny Stories
1. The Four-Star Meme Weekend
After receiving a heartfelt 4-star review from a close friend, the author's daughter roasted him: “Why not five, Dad?” That kicked off a whole weekend where everything—even great meals—got ironically rated as “Three stars.” What started as a tiny critique turned into a shared family joke, showing how humor can soften the sting and bring joy back to the creative journey.
2. Vacuuming Churches and Dreaming of Hunters
In 2018, after being laid off, Gabe took a job vacuuming church pews. The silence gave space for a story idea to bloom—a hunter, alone in the woods. That seed turned into a fantasy novel written over seven years, quietly shaped by seasons of depression, joy, and growth.
3. Finishing the Climax by the Lake
The final scene sat unfinished for a year. Gabe finally took his Freewrite into the woods by a lake and told himself, “Even if it’s garbage, I’m finishing it.” He wrote the whole ending in one sitting. Mostly. Sometimes you just need a new place—and permission to write badly—to finally finish strong.