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Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category

Here’s an illustrated short by Rich Wells, capturing an epiphany he had outside a tire shop.

Graham’s Tyres – Rich Wells

“I thought l’d take the words from my notebook and make something visual.

A reminder to myself that all this everyday stuff – admin, errands, school runs, park trips, waiting in lines, meal times –

it’s all a gift”

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Science fiction is any idea that occurs in the head and doesn’t exist yet, but soon will, and will change everything for everybody, and nothing will ever be the same again. As soon as you have an idea that changes some small part of the world you are writing science fiction. It is always the art of the possible, never the impossible.

— Ray Bradbury

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Today, Mr Man is out in the woods being woodsy, and his cell connection is weak at best. He called with a story about an adventure, full of drama and excitement, near misses and impossible tasks. 

Ninety seconds into the tale, the call cut out. Oh no, I thought, he just set up the problem, how will he triumph? What happened next? I waited by the phone in anticipation.

Another call, another 90 seconds, another cut line, another moment of drama as he hung, metaphorically speaking, between victory and defeat. It happened again, then again. 

I started answering his callbacks with “And then what happened?”

After many episodes I got the whole story, and it was a good one. Let’s just say that most of us would have found ourselves stranded in the bush waiting to become a bear’s dinner, but through creativity, deductive thinking and mechanical know how, he found a way!

And I enjoyed an excellent reminder of the power of suspense in story.

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The only guaranteed way to succeed is simple: don’t quit.

— Arnold Schwarzenegger

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Butterscotch

I made butterscotch last night and realized I’d neglected to post the recipe. Given my habit of scrawling ingredient lists on random scraps of paper which may or may not make it over to my kitchen book shelf, it helps to know exactly where I put my recipes.

Here:)

Butterscotchx1x2x4
Heavy whipping cream175g350g700g
Butter85g170g340g
Brown Sugar150g300g600g
Saltpinchpinch+1/8 t or to taste
Grand Marnier~1T2T4T

  • Heat cream and butter over medium-low heat until melted.
  • Add sugar and salt, if using. Cook, stirring frequently, until thickened and shiny (5–10 minutes).
  • Stir in Grand Marnier (optional but recommended).

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Today, a fun bit of free short fiction from Carrie Vaughn and Clarkesworld Magazine.

The Job Interview

She hit send and hoped that this would be the last she had to think of it. Engineering would get the work order, run the diagnostics, the glitch would get fixed, all would be well. She was also very aware that this would probably not be the end of it. She couldn’t tell if the cramping in her stomach was lunchtime hunger or simmering rage.

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“Every minute of every hour of every day you are making the world, just as you are making yourself, and you might as well do it with generosity and kindness and style.”

— Rebecca Solnit

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“When you’re faced with something you don’t understand, I think the most natural thing but also the least interesting thing you can be is afraid.” 

— Hank Green, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

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Sweat beads on hot skin

Insects buzz, records breaking

Strange October days.

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We are all raised with ideas about what is worth spending our time on. 

“Don’t waste your time [fill in the blank], you should be working on [fill in another blank]. If you have time later, maybe you can play.”

Thanks to some excellent teachers and super cool parents, I tend to think of this equation the other way around. There’s nothing like genuine interest to motivate. I’d put up with a lot of [math] in order to understand [orbital mechanics].

I also believe in the restorative power of doing things that remind me what I love about the world. I can’t work all the time, and if I try, both work and life suffer for it.

I mean, yes, do what’s necessary to graduate, keep a job, care for those you love, etc. There is real satisfaction in that. But I also try not to let anyone make me feel bad when I also [read/write/watch Star Wars] instead of doing something they consider more rewarding.

There are a lot of ways to be a good, capable, productive person. 

Love what you love, and let it be your window onto the whole world.

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