This is one of those quotes I may have posted before, but I don’t see it in a search and (importantly) it’s the sort of advice you can’t hear too much of as a writer, I think!
“If you’re going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow.” ― Louis L’Amour
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“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” ― William Penn
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Those of us who support libraries, freedom, and history may find this project as fascinating as I did: The Uncensored Library.
There are a lot of ways to preserve information now, and to send a message to the future. As I mentioned here a few years ago, you can write a letter to be delivered later with FutureMe. You could bury a time capsule and register it with the International Time Capsule Society. I even wrote a story about a woman facing down the end of humanity by preserving some of its most beautiful creations for the next intelligent race.
Reporters Without Borders took a different approach. They created a virtual library inside Minecraft. Before you laugh, it’s hard to think of a better place to store and disseminate uncensored information than the world’s best-selling video game.
Providing access to independent information to young people around the world through a medium they can playfully interact with.
Here’s to knowledge, and to our future.
“We cannot shut the windows and pull down the shades; we cannot say, “I have learned all I need to know; my opinions are fixed on everything. I refuse to change or to consider these new things.” Not today. Not any more.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt
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Posted in Other | Tagged Thoughts, knowledge, democracy, #365Ways, censorship, #365Ways2026, #NoKings, Minecraft, meet people where they are | Leave a Comment »
This quote is from a musician, but I think it applies to all artists and heck, to people in general. Be you!
The only way you can move someone is by being someone. —Jacob Collier
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This is for all those who take the world and mold it, via fiction or fact, into something creative and new.
The most interesting inventions are those that haven’t worked yet. — Nathan Myhrvold
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Posted in Science!, Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, inspiration, invention, Thoughts, Writers, writing | Leave a Comment »
Today I’d like to share one of those minor household hacks that is super low stakes but has made our kitchen-related lives much easier.
Have multiple kitchen sponges? We have four: Dish, Sink, Counter and Kitty. And because I have Opinions about sponges, they are often the same brand and style. How to keep them all straight?
Wait until your sponge is dry, then write its intended use on the end with a Sharpie. (Best use of a Sharpie on record, I’m convinced.)
That’s it.
Adds a little personality and you’ll never have to wonder if you’re using the counter sponge for your cat!
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Posted in Other | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, #DoTryThisAtHome, #IHaveThoughts, home | Leave a Comment »
Today’s post is a bit particular, but if you are an author who thinks they might be eligible for the Anthropic/AI training settlement (i.e. they stole your work to train their software and now they owe you money), this may interest you!
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association has put my membership dollars to very good use by assembling an extensive guide to the settlement. If you have questions about whether you’re eligible, how to file a claim, recent updates and more, check out this series of articles from SFWA’s Advocacy Team.
Anthropic FAQ – SFWA – The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
How do I tell if I am affected?
The official List of Works is available on the Anthropic Settlement website. Search it for your name or pseudonym and any titles for which you think you may be either the legal or the beneficial owner.
Why mention this now? Because the deadline to submit claims is March 30, 2026.
And if you happen to be SFWA eligible but are not yet a member, I recommend it!
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Creativity is abundant, it’s execution that’s scarce. — Adam Grant
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Posted in Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, #WriteMoreEraseLess, creativity, Thoughts, work, Writers, writing | Leave a Comment »
Are you a writer in the “1,000 words or less” space? Do you care about the future of humanity? Harbor a secret desire to be named the new Ambassador of the Human Race?
This no-fee super fun writing contest may be for you!
The aliens are coming. Or at least they told us they were.
They asked us for just one item: a written document from humanity.
This is the only thing they are going to read before they arrive.
We have no idea what the document should be, so we’re asking you.
…
We’re giving $2,000 USD to the best submission. Second and third place get $250 each.
We’re going old school here. You’ll have to physically mail in your writing, and it needs to reach us before May 15, 2026.
(I bolded that last bit because prizes are nice, but also it’s been a while since most submissions had to use the mail, and while I love the whole concept of the postal service, it does not travel at the speed of the electron.)
We’d better get writing. And I for one am going to work on cultivating a slightly more positive outlook than I may have in the past (an example I still like, but would be a poor choice in this case! We Are Mirrors).
The fate of humanity may depend on it!
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Posted in Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, no submission fee, prizes, saving humanity a bonus, Writers, writing, writing contest | Leave a Comment »
A brief short on what I call The Balance, used for good:
He was nervous when he left. Big day, a presentation that would be the culmination of months of work, weeks of overtime, uncounted hours of stress. It all came down to one day, and this meeting.
His grin slipped a little as he said goodbye. “Here’s hoping things work out.”
I reached out and touched his right hand, just above the silver circle I’d given him. He laughingly referred to as his magic ring. I felt a spark.
“You’ll be fine,” I said.
I could tell he wasn’t convinced, but I meant it.
My own day was a maelstrom of mishaps. I sloshed hot water on the stairs and watched helplessly as a raw egg slipped from my fingers to break over the fridge drawer, the freezer seals, and the floor. Emptying the dishwasher was a humbling lesson in the fragile properties of glass and ceramic.
That’s okay, I thought. Worth it.
He came home exhausted but happy. Everything that could go wrong, didn’t.
“Somehow,” he said.
I smiled.
“Just lucky, I guess.”
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Posted in Writing | Tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, a little magic, Writers, writing | Leave a Comment »
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