Don’t overthink it, do something, and repeat. — Arnold Schwarzenegger
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Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category
Fishing In a Sea of Possibility
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, #GettingThingsDone, action, creativity, Thoughts on May 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »
What If They’re Already Here?
Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, aliens, inspiration, science, self-reflection, writing on May 5, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Recently, Neil deGrasse Tyson visited Stephen Colbert to talk about aliens and his new book Take Me To Your Leader: Perspectives On Your First Alien Encounter. He discussed aliens, why you probably shouldn’t shake hands, and how they might mirror what they see of humanity.
It made me think of the story I wrote on that topic, and how I hope that humanity does more good than not. I’ve re-posted before but I like the story, so here it is again. Click through for the full piece.
You and Yours
I came from the stars to meet you. I was happy. Excited, even. First contact with your verdant world. Think of all that we could share with you.
“You” could have meant a lot of things. I started with one of the most populous. An insect.
I remember little of what it was like, a flash of light, a warm wriggle in a puddle after rain. The feel of wind in my wings.
It’s embarrassing to say this now, but I was promptly eaten.
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Keep Creating
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, Thoughts on April 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »
I think I need to start getting up earlier so I have time to do everything on my list. But I didn’t and I don’t, so today, another quote and a pretty picture!
Picasso created more than 50,000 works of art.
How many are considered masterpieces that we still admire today?
About a 100.
Less than 1% of his creations are still relevant.
Stop trying to be perfect.
It’s a numbers game.
Start creating.
Be courageous enough to share.
— Ryan Stephens
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Add Your Own Twist
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, Thoughts, Writers, writing, writing advice on April 28, 2026| Leave a Comment »
If you’ve seen it before, don’t do it again. — Shonda Rhimes
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A Great Strange Monster
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, free fiction, Hugos, short stories, Thoughts, to be read, Uncanny Magazine, Writers on April 26, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Fair warning, I’m about to recommend a story I have not yet read. Why? Because it’s a finalist for the Hugo Awards. Because it’s by Scott Lynch, author of The Lies of Locke Lamora and many more excellent works. And because it has a great title.
[Time Reference Unavailable]—August, 1946
The watchseed is planted in a watery hemisphere of a watery world. The place spins around a yellow star, wearing its magnetic field like a proud little hat. It’s ridiculous with life.
Hence, a watchseed, with the best of intentions. Let’s give the seed-planters that much. They mean well. Crawling from star to star at not-quite-c, they make their surveys, consult their charts, launch a seed now and then. Old thinkers, they make an endless circuit of the galaxy on behalf of young thinkers. Young thinkers are rare and precious and must be protected, particularly from themselves, because young thinkers are stupid as hell and prone to misadventures with anything they can dig out of their planetary crusts. Hydrocarbons, radioactives, anything.
This planet is rich in ingredients for misadventure.
A terrific opener. Also, it’s free at Uncanny Magazine, one of the best venues for short fiction out there today.
So yes, I expect this story to be a fun read. Perhaps you’d like it too?
Note from the future: I was right, the story was a great read!
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That Felt Sense
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, AI, creativity, editing, Thoughts, Writers, writing on April 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“A good editor brings accumulated taste, emotional response, and a felt sense of what’s working — and that felt sense is genuinely different from the pattern recognition that I do.” — Claude AI, as quoted by Tony Schwartz, when asked why the AI’s editorial feedback was not as useful as a human editor’s (and why the AI spent so much time straight up sucking up to the author in ways that were not only unhelpful but actively counterproductive)
Just one more reason why having a body is a good thing. To me, a well-written story feels like standing in a stream where all the water is flowing in the right direction.
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All Hail Libraries!
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, children, community building, growth, public libraries, Thoughts, Writers, writing on April 24, 2026| 5 Comments »
It is National Library Week in the US, and what better opportunity to take a moment to appreciate the joy and wonder that is the modern library system?
However you use your library, there’s joy waiting for you there.
Bored? Library. Curious? Library. Broke? Library. Rich? (Donate to the) library. Interested in the past? Library. Worried about the future? Library. Need to do your taxes? Library. Want to learn a new language? Library. Want to build a better community? Library!
“Congratulations on the new library, because it isn’t just a library. It is a space ship that will take you to the farthest reaches of the Universe, a time machine that will take you to the far past and the far future, a teacher that knows more than any human being, a friend that will amuse you and console you — and most of all, a gateway, to a better and happier and more useful life.” ― Isaac Asimov
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In A Drop
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, Thoughts on April 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.” — Rumi
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Just a Thought
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, Thoughts on April 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“Never try to discourage thinking, for you are sure to succeed.” — Bertrand Russell
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Safe Travels, Winners!
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, #wotf, books, contests, Fiction, science fiction, Thoughts, Writers, Writers of the Future, writing on April 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Congratulations to the latest class of Writers & Illustrators of the Future winners! Their workshop week in LA just ended and I’m sure they are chock full of interesting observations and ideas for future projects. They will certainly have met some terrific fellow artists and had a fascinating experience. (I’m also betting they’re exhausted because that week is intense, but they can sleep on the way home!)
I look forward to reading volume 42!
If 42 is the answer, these stories ask the questions worth thinking about.
Discover fifteen unforgettable science fiction and fantasy short stories—illustrated in full color—featuring twelve emerging voices alongside three acclaimed masters of the genre. From visionary sci-fi to emotionally rich fantasy and quiet horror, this collection delivers bold “what ifs” that linger long after the final page.
What if a perfect rescue went catastrophically wrong?
What if the “better you” doesn’t want to share your life?
What if love could survive inside a virtual reality?
Inside, you’ll encounter a flawless time-rescue gone wrong, a beauty treatment with terrifying consequences, a detective hunted by a body-hopping killer, and a homesteader uncovering a truth that rewrites Earth itself. You’ll also find dragons that defy myth, fairy-tale chaos, supernatural horror, and high-concept science fiction that blends heart, humor, and imagination.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Well, that sounds interesting, and also I am not a professional (yet) and might qualify for this competition,” I say go for it. The contest is free, accepts entries quarterly, and can be excellent as a motivating deadline. (And who knows, you may find yourself in a room with the writers of some of your favorite childhood books. Now that’s magic made real.)
Writer Contest | Writers & Illustrators of the Future (illustrators too!)
Enter a short story science fiction, fantasy, light horror.
Up to but not exceeding 17,000 words.
Free to enter and entrants retain all publication rights.
Enter 1 story per quarter, up to 4 per year.
Anonymous judging. This is a merit-based competition.
Here’s to this new round of winners, and to artists everywhere!
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