#365Ways2026 | J.R. Johnson

Posts Tagged ‘#365Ways2026’

Story Ideas

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, Fiction, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »

It’s a classic question for writers: “Where do you get your ideas?” In my experience, they come from lots of sources, and certainly not the same places for everyone. Find what interests you and follow it. Think big, think small, think sideways.

And if you’re stuck or just looking for new inspiration, you could do worse than follow advice from one of the masters of the field.

“Make a list of ten things you hate and tear them down in a short story or poem. Make a list of ten things you love and celebrate them. When I wrote Fahrenheit 451 I hated book burners and I loved libraries. So there you are.” — Ray Bradbury

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A Cosmic Dance

Posted in Science!, tagged astronomy, NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day, #365Ways, look up!, #365Ways2026 on June 12, 2026| Leave a Comment »

This week, Venus and Jupiter are in planetary conjunction, and unlike some astronomical events this one should be easy to see.

Conjunction from Avebury

To see Venus and Jupiter together this month, you won’t need binoculars or even a telescope. Just look up after sunset and you’ll find them emerging as the sky grows dark near the western horizon.

Venus-Jupiter conjunction: Sky’s 2 brightest planets meet (includes a helpful video for orientation)

Venus and Jupiter – the sky’s 2 brightest planets – are shining together in the west after sunset. They were closest on June 8 and 9. But June overall offers your best opportunity to see them together.

Even more photos to pique your interest:

Jupiter and Venus dazzle in planetary conjunction photos. Here are our favorites | Space

Enjoy the dance!

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Culture is Us

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, good society, Thoughts on June 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“If you don’t like how culture is going, that’s a huge opportunity, because culture is us. You can move the needle just by showing up to the places you like to be, posting and promoting the kind of stuff you’d like to see, ignoring the things you don’t like, and vacating the places you think are bad.” — Adam Mastroianni

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Imagined Endings

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, aliens, contests, free fiction, scifi, Writers, writing, writing contest on June 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Perhaps you remember the “Dear Aliens” contest? Maybe you even submitted a story to be shared with our alien visitors?

Mr Man and I have had a lot going on over the past few months so I did not get a story together, but I’m glad that many of you did. And now, the winners have been announced!

To Those Arriving Soon by MacEagon Voyce

“You’ll know by now that we humans fear the unknown, and that we fill that chasm with stories, imagining endings we have some agency over.”

See the full list for the top ten stories, and enjoy!

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It Makes No Sense

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A little Star Wars-based humor to get you through your day. Because:

“…my task is to try and make you smile despite the state of the world. I will not pretend the world doesn’t exist.” — Scott Lynch

“They Would Never Use the Death Star on Us”: Alderaan Residents Reflect on Their Support for the Empire as a Large Imperial Installation Enters the System

MODERATOR: In one or two words, finish this sentence: “I’m feeling ‘blank’ about the Empire these days, now that the galactic superweapon I willingly supported hovers overhead.”

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The 61st Annual Nebula Award Winners

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, awards, Nebulas, SFWA, Writers, writing on June 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »

This weekend, The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association presented the 61st annual Nebula Awards. If you saw the finalist roster I shared in March and thought, “Gosh, I wonder who will win?” well, wonder no more!

Just some of the winners of the Nebula awards for the best speculative fiction from 2025:

The Nebula Award for Novel

★ The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones (Saga; Titan UK) ★

The Nebula Award for Novella

★ The River Has Roots, by Amal El-Mohtar (Tordotcom; Arcadia) ★

The Nebula Award for Novelette

★ “Uncertain Sons”, by Thomas Ha (Uncertain Sons and Other Stories, Undertow Publications) ★

The Nebula Award for Short Story

★ “Laser Eyes Ain’t Everything”, by Effie Seiberg (Diabolical Plots 5/25) ★

For more, see the complete list of finalists and winners at SFFWorld!

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At Heart

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, Thoughts on June 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.” — Anne Frank

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Use Wisely!

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, life, Thoughts on June 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »

One thing that’s easy to lose sight of in our culture is that despite the challenges, growing old is a gift. It gives you time to experience more, but also to have a greater impact and transform your vision of a good world into reality.

And to set up a charming stand like this!

Feeling lonely? Stop by a Grandma Stand for a heartfelt chat

“I have no idea how many people she talked to through those years, but at least a thousand,” Matthews said. “She had never had any hesitancy caring and just being present with whoever sat down on that chair.”

Here’s to life, and to using it wisely!

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