Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, genius, inspiration, Motivation, myths, productivity, Thoughts, Writers, writing on August 4, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“The more shots you get at the target, the more likely you’ll eventually score a bull’s-eye, but the more misses you’ll accrue as well. The bull’s-eyes end up in museums and on library shelves, not the misses. Which, when you think about it, is a shame. It feeds the myth that geniuses get it right the first time, that they don’t make mistakes, when, in fact, they make more mistakes than the rest of us.”
― Eric Weiner, The Geography of Genius
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, #ottweather, writing on August 3, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Today’s warnings:
- Risk of a tornado
- Wind gusts up to 100 km/h.
- Toonie to golf ball size hail.
- Localized heavy downpours.
Dear Weather Gods,
Please chill.
Thank you.
Your humble servant, etc. etc.
Am I posting this now in case the power goes out? I am. Now it’s back to work for as long as I can.
Stay safe out there, everyone!
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Posted in Holidays, Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, adventure, inspiration, Thoughts on August 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Summer can be a time to plan big, but today I am going to suggest that you consider adventures a little closer to home.
The Microadventure-Filled Life of Alastair Humphreys
Humphreys defines a microadventure as “a shorter, simpler, cheaper, more local, more accessible version of what you deem to be an adventure. It’s something that you can squeeze in around the margins of real life.”
I kind of love this idea, of finding what’s interesting right around the corner.
Now I’m off to consider what might be fun to do around town. Like this, which holy crap, looks both scary and crazy cool!
Interzip Rogers – The interprovincial zip line.
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Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, STEM stuff, Thoughts, writing on August 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »
All good advice, and the world needs more inventors because the world needs more solutions. But if you’re not into soldering or whatever and still want to create, remember kids, writing fiction is always an option!
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, #wotf39, free fiction, genre fiction, Writers, Writers of the Future, writing on July 31, 2023| Leave a Comment »
One special part of the Writers of the Future experience was meeting other writers. I’m sure other cohorts were good but our group was (obviously;) the best.
I’ve already introduced you to Elaine Midcoh, but here’s another piece by fellow volume 39 writer, Grand Prize winner and all-around nice guy David K. Henrickson.
Living Space by David K. Henrickson – Factor Four Magazine
Picking up stakes wasn’t easy for the dead. The older you got, the more connections you made. I had friends in the city I’d known for decades, some even before my death. It made relocating elsewhere difficult.
He also wrote an essay about his path to publication, appropriately titled Old But Not Too Old to Succeed!
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, #don'twanna, inspiration, Motivation, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 30, 2023| 1 Comment »
Some days you just don’t wanna, you know? On such days, it helps to rely on the motivating power of a streak.
I’ve written daily posts here since January 1, 2021. That’s not a lot of time compared to some writers (Dean Wesley Smith and John Scalzi, I’m looking at you), but it’s long enough that I don’t want to break it for no good reason.
So here I am, writing and posting, even though I’d rather be chilling with Chewbacca and Mr Man.*
Which is exactly why I started this streak in the first place:)
* Now that’s an excellent band name.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, inspiration, reading, Thoughts, Writers, yay on July 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“The world should take note: not everything is getting worse.”
― Ian McEwan, Saturday
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, aliens, audio fiction, free fiction, genre fiction, Writers, writing on July 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Posting Elaine Midcoh‘s story recently brought another audio story to mind. Do you enjoy free fiction, aliens with bad attitudes, and unexpected moments of redemption? Then you might enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Originally published as “Heaven’s Lot” in Not One of Us, it was also produced in audio by the fabulous folks at Cast of Wonders.
Taxidermy and Other Dangerous Professions | Cast of Wonders
Author: J.R. Johnson Narrator: M.K. Hobson (transcript included for those who prefer text; story starts at 1:51)
By late afternoon the day was hot, hot and hot, my feet burning up through flimsy red canvas shoes. My skin too, even with its built-in mocha café au lait sunscreen, out all day with no protection but a nondescript outfit topped with my stifling jean jacket. I kept that between me and prying eyes, always.
Enjoy!
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Posted in Likes, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, anniversaries, cat herding, Chewbacca, home, Writers on July 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »
A year ago we adopted the cat who would later (much later, fine, it took quite a while) be named Chewbacca. He is the sweetest cat I’ve ever had, and I’m more than glad we kept looking until we found the right fit. Kittens are cute and all, but adopting this older cat from our local rescue was the best thing we could have done.
Recommend.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, inspiration, Writers, writing on July 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I am the sort of person who loves to learn interesting things. Stuffing my head with random facts until it all merges together into a well of creative ideas also serves me as a writer.
While I hope I’ll ever need this information, one of my characters might.
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J.R. Johnson 
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