Writing | J.R. Johnson

Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category

It’s Enough

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, Thoughts on July 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.

— St. Francis of Assisi

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Thank Goodness

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, quotes, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“Excellence does not require perfection.”

— Henry James

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Speculative Fiction, Fantasy Edition

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, awards, creativity, fantasy, Fiction, free fiction, Writers, writing on July 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I talk about science and fiction here, but I also like fantasy, science and otherwise. What’s up in the world of speculative fiction, fantasy edition? The World Fantasy Awards shortlist, that’s what!

Here’s the full ballot, with links to the short fiction list where available:

Here Are the 2025 World Fantasy Award Finalists – Reactor

Short Fiction

“Our Best Selves” by Hiron Ennes (Weird Horror Magazine #9)

“Godskin” by CL Hellisen (Strange Horizons, March 4, 2024)

“The V*mpire” by PH Lee (Reactor, October 2024)

“Raptor” by Maura McHugh (Heartwood: A Mythago Wood Anthology)

“Everything in the Garden is Lovely” by Hannah Yang (Apex Magazine #143, March 2024)

Do some of these look dark and scary and filled with content warnings? They do, but perhaps that’s your thing? If not, check out the other novels, novellas and more.

Winners will be chosen and awards presented at the World Fantasy Convention in the UK this November!

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Instructions for Living

Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, inspiration, Thoughts on June 30, 2025| Leave a Comment »

There’s a bird hanging around outside, one that’s been frequenting the yard on and off for the past couple of weeks. It’s a cardinal. Pretty, but not extraordinary around here.

This particular bird, however, is a bit peculiar in that it seems to have some interesting blotchy marks on its wings. Or maybe its belly. Or its back? Perhaps it’s just a juvenile taking his first flights into adulthood. I can’t be sure because I’m a typically nearsighted book nerd and the pesky little guy refuses to sit still long enough for me to get my phone or binoculars.

So I think it may have some unusual markings, but maybe it’s just me. All I know is that it’s interesting and I’d like a closer look.

I haven’t been able to get that close-up look, yet, but the possibility of it keeps me focused, and paying attention to what I can see. Squirrel shenanigans, a giant lazy bumblebee, gulls riding air currents overhead, a huge black wasp, a tiny little bee feeding on grass flowers, a chipmunk, lightning bugs in the yard, the beauty of the volunteer daisies around the corner of the house.

I may not always see everything I hope, but I see far more than I would if I were not paying attention at all.

And that’s a very good thing.

“Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

— Mary Oliver

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Find Your Way

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.

— Mary Lou Cook

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Up In the Sky

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, quoteandaprettypicture, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.”

— Lauren Bacall

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The Nebulas Await

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, #TeamCanada, awards, inspiration, Nebula Awards, Writers, writing on June 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I’ve been too focused on work lately. Mr Man had to remind me that the Nebula Award winners were announced earlier this month. Thanks, Mr Man!

Here’s the announcement: 2024 – The Nebula Awards®, and Locus has the list with online links for free-to-read stories.

As usual, the Nebulas provide a slate of interesting material for my reading list. I’m also happy to say that Canadian authors are well-represented in this year’s awards.

Canadian sci-fi scribes among the winners for this year’s Nebula Awards

The winners’ roster also includes an interactive game that sounds like something I very much want to check out:

A Death in Hyperspace (via Stewart C Baker)

As an embodied ship Intelligence and fugitive former warship, you’ve faced many challenges.

But when your captain dies suspiciously halfway through a hyperspace transit, you know you’re in trouble. Not because you need a captain — you can pilot yourself just fine — but because, as an aficionado of mysteries and detective stories, you know there’s only one explanation: murder most foul.

Investigate your rooms.

Interrogate your crew and passengers.

Solve the mystery.

Will you find your way back to reality — or be stuck in hyperspace forever?

It beat out big names like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and it’s free to play online? Sounds excellent!

Way to go, everyone!

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Book Break

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, authors, climate fiction, creativity, inspiration, interviews, sci-fi, to read, Writers, writing on June 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

An interview with a sci-fi author about a series that sounds good:

‘For anybody who could use a break’: A Q&A with sci-fi author Becky Chambers

So, my goal with these books was to create something that hit that same note, of: “You can just be comfy here for a while. You can just be safe. Nothing’s gonna jump at you, nothing’s gonna stress you out. But I am going to speak to you as a fellow adult. I’m going to talk to you about things that are relevant to you in your adult life.”

Sounds fun, and I’ve enjoyed other Becky Chambers books, so I’m adding the Monk & Robot series to my list.

“One of the things I aim for is just to say, hey, it doesn’t have to be this way. I think that’s the key goal of science fiction in general, whether it’s a positive future, a negative future, somewhere in between. It doesn’t have to be like this.”

— Becky Chambers

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Happy Friday!

Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, inspiration, quotes, Thoughts on June 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I’m behind and my to do list is calling, but I’ve managed to sneak in some of the things that really matter. Like a little writing, food for the birds, and making Mr Man laugh.