Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“To go from this idea of limitless potential that you have as a young person — ‘Oh, I can do anything! Just give me the chance!’ — and then realizing, well, maybe you can’t do anything. But then what do you do? What do you do after that happens? What do you do after you realize that? Do you give up? Or do you try and make your art out of your own limitations?”
— David Duchovny
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts on July 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I recently sent a birthday card to a friend and in it, tried to capture the essence of my wishes for her. Now I share those wishes with you, too.
I hope you have a wonderful day, one where you can see beyond the sharp edges of the world to the beauty and mystery that surrounds us all.
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Posted in Holidays, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, nonfiction, Thoughts, travel, writing on July 6, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Thursday
Cairo
Up a few steps and across a pedestrian overpass and we were in the market. The guidebooks warned that getting lost here was easy, and not to be surprised at the incredible number of small passages and alleys in this area. They were absolutely right, but I loved it. The market’s narrow winding paths, busy streets, men sitting outside shops, women herding children they could barely see through crowds, carts, stalled taxis, cats everywhere, and getting lost were all part of the fun. For the first time I felt I was in a true souk, a local market where tourists were not yet driving the economy. Sure, there were tchotchkes on the main streets, but there were also suitcases and socks and nightgowns and shirts. When we did get completely and unbelievably lost, a small boy appeared from nowhere. He led us back to our starting point, but his way out was nothing like our way in. I followed the boy’s slight figure down stairways just wide enough for one, around corners, into shops and out their backdoors, and finally out into the cool night air. We thanked him profusely, tipped him and everyone went home happy.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, authoring, genre fiction, Writers, Writers of the Future, writing on July 5, 2023| Leave a Comment »
What’s this, what’s this? It’s a book signing, that’s what! I’ll be at Perfect Books in Ottawa this Sunday, July 9th, between 1:00–3:00. I’ll be signing copies of Writers of the Future Volume 39, answering questions about the contest, and generally enjoying the vibe at one of Ottawa’s leading independent bookstores. Drop by and say hello!
proudly Canadian, fiercely independent
258A Elgin Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 1L9
And just for fun, here’s the book trailer again:
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Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, history, hope, inspiration, Thoughts on July 4, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“The happiness of America is intimately connected with the happiness of all mankind; she is destined to become the safe and venerable asylum of virtue, of honesty, of tolerance, and quality and of peaceful liberty.”
— Marquis de Lafayette
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Posted in Likes, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, craft, making stuff, Thoughts on July 3, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I like making things and I like learning about making things. This predilection may have its roots in family trips to places like the Kellogg and Hershey factories (mm, Fruit Loops and chocolate samples), but whatever the reason, I dig a behind-the-scenes perspective.
You too? Then perhaps you will also like these deep dives into the wonderful world of pencils:
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, genre fiction, Thoughts, Writers, writing, yay on July 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Recently, I had a chance to talk speculative fiction with the good folks over at Urban Book Reviews. Check out my thoughts on what makes spec fic great, getting started as a writer, themes in fiction and more. Find the full interview here!
Meet This Author: J.R. Johnson – Urban Book Reviews
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Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023 on July 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts on June 30, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“The foolish person seeks happiness in the distance, the wise person grows it under his feet.”
— James Oppenheim
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, current events, Thoughts on June 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”
― Sylvester Stallone, Rocky Balboa
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