#365Ways2024 | J.R. Johnson

Posts Tagged ‘#365Ways2024’

A Great Big Bundle

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, #wotf, #wotf39, books, bundles, genre fiction, Writers, Writers of the Future, writing on November 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I just received word that my Writers of the Future book (volume 39 for those who are following along) is currently part of a great big story bundle from Arc Manor.

Bundle | Arc Manor

HOW DOES THIS WORK? You may select either the base bundle of five books or the enhanced bundle of 14 books (including a surprise title by a bestselling author).

For each choice, there is a suggested price and a minimum price. When you select either of the two options (base bundle or enhanced bundle), you will be taken to a checkout system that displays the suggested price. You may change this to any price you like as long as it meets the minimum price requirements.

The base bundle has big name authors like Joe Haldeman and Nancy Kress and Kevin J. Anderson. The enhanced bundle contains those authors and more, including Jody Lynn Nye, Robert J. Sawyer, my collection and more!

If that sounds like something of interest to you, scroll down the linked page to see what’s included, and enjoy!

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Something to Look Forward To

Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, commercial fiction, creativity, Thoughts, Writers, writing on November 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The other day, I started a book billed as a mystery for fans of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club. Premise, fine I guess. Characters, meh to mediocre. Overall story, tone and execution? Not for me. It takes a lot for me to put down a book, particularly before the first body falls, but in this case, I did it.

I only share books I like here, so I won’t mention the title. I will say that it’s lovely to find a reliable author. The good news is that Osman has started up a new series and I am looking forward to it. Here’s an interview with Osman and Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher books.

And while I think the idea that writing is a good job for those who have already had careers is a mite limiting, it certainly has worked out for these two authors.

‘I wanted to write a suburban Reacher’- Richard Osman talks to Lee Child about class, success and the secret to great crime writing

To me, it’s never about what happens. It’s about: why do I care what happens? And that’s all character…

My default is to write commercial fiction, because that’s just how my brain is. I want to do something that the maximum amount of people love; I want to write something that’s good and then sits right in the heart of popular culture. You want the sort of book where, if you’re on a long-haul flight and you open the first page, it takes you through that entire flight – that sounds trite, but it’s not, because how do you keep someone through an entire flight? You keep them with story, and you keep them with character, and you keep them with wit and with a personality that people want to spend time with.

— Richard Osman

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No Wrong Time

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, action, inspiration, Thoughts on November 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“There is no wrong time to do the right thing.”

― Charles M. Blow

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Go Forth!

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, inspiration, Thoughts on November 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Causes do matter. And the world is changed by people who care deeply about causes – about things that matter. We don’t have to be particularly smart or talented. We don’t need a lot of money or education. All we really need is to be passionate about something important; something bigger than ourselves. And it’s that commitment to a worthwhile cause that changes the world.”

― Steve Goodier

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Need a Cozy Pick-Me-Up?

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, cozy, free fiction, genre fiction, Writers on November 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Do you need a post-election pick-me-up? Are you a fan of free fiction? This new online novella by Jessie Mihalik might be just the thing!

The Sorcerer Next Door

When a mysterious, well dressed new neighbor moves in next door, a potion witch’s life is about to get a lot more interesting.

A cozy, romantic story for fall.

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Looking Ahead

Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, inspiration, next steps, Thoughts on November 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Go! Confront the problem! Fight! Win! And call me when you get back, darling. I enjoy our visits.”

— Edna Mode, The Incredibles

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I’m Waiting

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, elections, hope, poetry for the future, Thoughts on November 6, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I’m waiting
to remember

that there is more to today than a headline
that the lump in my throat is not forever
that my fellow Americans are still that
and when they (we) lose their health care and disasters go unrelieved and preventable disease is not prevented and wells are poisoned and two plus two no longer equals four
I will not rejoice

because

today is more than a headline, and
the lump in my throat is concentrated fuel, and
my fellow Americans are just that, and
we will still fight for health care and disaster relief and disease prevention and clean soil air water and reality in all its forms, and

this timeline is the only one we have, so

I’m waiting.

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Fill the World With Hope

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, election day, Thoughts, voting on November 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.”

― Barack Obama

Today, that’s voting. Go forth, citizen, and make good things happen!

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We Matter

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, #Election2019, democracy, elections, politics, Thoughts, voting on November 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »

It’s finally election week! That’s right, tomorrow is Election Day in the US, and if you haven’t already voted, it’s time to make your voice heard.

To find your voting and drop-off locations:

I Will Vote

For my fellow Pennsylvania voters, here’s how to find your polling place, what to expect if you are a first-time voter, and more info.

(I’ve already voted absentee because I’m out of the country, but if you are in line tomorrow, I hope the Pizza to the Polls people find you!)

Do I think it’s ridiculous that voting takes place on a Tuesday and / or that it isn’t already a national holiday? I do! Still, it could be more complicated.

Do Astronauts Actually Vote from Space? Election Officials Explain

Astronauts do not have to miss out on voting just because they are on a mission on Election Day—they can do it from space! It happens with the help of a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system….

Believe it or not, voting from space has been a thing for nearly three decades. According to NASA, “astronauts have voted in U.S. elections since 1997, when the Texas Legislature passed a bill that allowed NASA astronauts to cast ballots from orbit.”

My absentee ballot was also a bit of a to-do, but hassle or not, it is an honor and privilege to share this democracy with you.

We matter. Vote!