Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, #YesIt'sZombiesAndYesIt'sScary!, creativity, dreams, horror, six-word story, Writers, writing on August 15, 2026| 1 Comment »
I may have mentioned before that I had a transformative encounter with a scary movie as a child (and still don’t like Dutch Colonial architecture) and don’t enjoy horror. I don’t often read it or write it, at least not on purpose, but my sleeping mind sometimes forgets that.
I woke this morning with a six-word story in my head.
Go away! We buried you yesterday.
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Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, Fiction, fun on the internet, inspiration, mapping fiction, maps, travel, writing on August 9, 2026| 2 Comments »
I like books and I like maps, which is why I was excited to run across this website combining the two:
Reading Maps – Maps & Travel Routes from Books & Films
The site’s tagline is “Journeys from fiction drawn on the real world.” That won’t be much use when it comes to Middle Earth or Star Wars, but is very cool when considering more local stories. Like Homer’s The Odyssey. Or Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Or Little House on the Prairie, which was somehow not where I expected it to be!
They have lots of classic books and also movies (like Raiders:). Have fun!
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, curiosity, inspiration, Thoughts, universe, Writers on August 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“We ought to view ourselves with the same curiosity and openness with which we study a tree, the sky or a thought, because we too are linked to the entire universe.” — Henri Matisse
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Posted in Entertainment, Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, designers, games, inspiration, Jimothy, Writers, writing on August 7, 2026| 1 Comment »
Maybe you’ve heard of Jimothy, the Seattle native and short-spined raccoon who has captured the hearts and minds of the internets, but if you haven’t, this critter has inspired creatives far and wide.
Art, tattoos and now a video game for Jimothy | KNKX Public Radio
That includes Chris Pirillo, a designer who has created not one, not two, not three, but four ! arcade-style video games starring the adorable little raccoon. If you need a bit of a break today, you can check them out here:
Jimothy: Every Free Game and Toy Starring Seattle’s Raccoon
Have fun, and remember, inspiration is everywhere!
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, inspiration, quotes, Thoughts, Writers, writing on August 4, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“To begin anything — a new practice, a new project, a new love — is to cast upon yourself a spell against stagnation. Beginnings are notation for the symphony of the possible in us. They ask us to break the pattern of our lives and reconfigure it afresh – something that can only be done with great courage and great tenderness, for no territory of life exposes both our power and our vulnerability more brightly than a beginning.” — Maria Popova
That said, finishing is good too!
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Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, art, creativity, imperfection, inspiration, life, perfection, Thoughts, Writers, writing on August 2, 2026| 1 Comment »
Imagine a world in which
you were actually perfect.
Finished.
Done.
With nothing to chase
nothing to walk toward.
How boring.
God, how boring.
— Arthur Brooks
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Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, art, Artemis II, beauty, creativity, inspiration, movie, music, NASA, public domain, space on July 31, 2026| 1 Comment »
One of the (many) great things about NASA is that the images it produces are public domain. What might a curious and creative person do with such imagery? Why, cut it together as a moon mission movie, of course!
Filmmaker Turns Artemis II Footage Into Cinematic Short Film
“I have been completely spellbound by the images coming out of NASA’s Artemis II mission,” Boswell wrote on YouTube. “NASA / ESA deserves best cinematography at the Oscars! I dropped everything to put together a tribute to the mission, piecing together the best, highest resolution footage and mission photography with a custom eight-minute score.”
In case you could use a little space-based inspiration today. Thank you, John D. Boswell!
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, connection, creativity, emotion, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 30, 2026| Leave a Comment »
“Why else do we write but to make people feel, and perhaps even think a little?” — Gail Carriger, The Heroine’s Journey
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, hope, inspiration, joy, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Today in happy history: On July 29, 1954, The Fellowship of the Ring was first published.
What did past generations of my fellow nerds get excited about before then? No idea! But now I’m happy to share my love of Tolkien’s books with the world.
“[The fairy tale] does not deny the existence of sorrow and failure: the possibility of these is necessary to the joy of deliverance. It denies (in the face of much evidence, if you will) universal final defeat…giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy; Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, no fees, secret agent dogs, wacky fun, Writers, writing, writing contest on July 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »
Here’s a fun writing contest: 1Picture1000Words
Write 1,000 words about it by August 31st, 2026. You can write whatever you want, so long as you connect it to the photo. Creative nonfiction. Sci-fi. A joke. Something else. It’s up to you.
It’s run by Quarter Mile, the folks who put together the previously mentioned “Dear Aliens” contest. The contest is what you probably think it is. They’ve provided a photo and want 1,000 word stories about it. No more, no less. No fees!
Check out the site for more info (although apparently they’re being cagey about the name of the dog!).
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