creativity | J.R. Johnson

Posts Tagged ‘creativity’

Speculative Fiction, Fantasy Edition

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, awards, creativity, fantasy, Fiction, free fiction, Writers, writing on July 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I talk about science and fiction here, but I also like fantasy, science and otherwise. What’s up in the world of speculative fiction, fantasy edition? The World Fantasy Awards shortlist, that’s what!

Here’s the full ballot, with links to the short fiction list where available:

Here Are the 2025 World Fantasy Award Finalists – Reactor

Short Fiction

“Our Best Selves” by Hiron Ennes (Weird Horror Magazine #9)

“Godskin” by CL Hellisen (Strange Horizons, March 4, 2024)

“The V*mpire” by PH Lee (Reactor, October 2024)

“Raptor” by Maura McHugh (Heartwood: A Mythago Wood Anthology)

“Everything in the Garden is Lovely” by Hannah Yang (Apex Magazine #143, March 2024)

Do some of these look dark and scary and filled with content warnings? They do, but perhaps that’s your thing? If not, check out the other novels, novellas and more.

Winners will be chosen and awards presented at the World Fantasy Convention in the UK this November!

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With Joy

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, failure, inspiration, persistence, Thoughts on July 3, 2025| Leave a Comment »

This world belongs to you. You are here to lead, to blossom out in the open, to show your heart to strangers, to fail and fail and fail again — with grace, with humor, with dignity, with joy.

— Heather Havrilesky

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Instructions for Living

Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, inspiration, Thoughts on June 30, 2025| Leave a Comment »

There’s a bird hanging around outside, one that’s been frequenting the yard on and off for the past couple of weeks. It’s a cardinal. Pretty, but not extraordinary around here.

This particular bird, however, is a bit peculiar in that it seems to have some interesting blotchy marks on its wings. Or maybe its belly. Or its back? Perhaps it’s just a juvenile taking his first flights into adulthood. I can’t be sure because I’m a typically nearsighted book nerd and the pesky little guy refuses to sit still long enough for me to get my phone or binoculars.

So I think it may have some unusual markings, but maybe it’s just me. All I know is that it’s interesting and I’d like a closer look.

I haven’t been able to get that close-up look, yet, but the possibility of it keeps me focused, and paying attention to what I can see. Squirrel shenanigans, a giant lazy bumblebee, gulls riding air currents overhead, a huge black wasp, a tiny little bee feeding on grass flowers, a chipmunk, lightning bugs in the yard, the beauty of the volunteer daisies around the corner of the house.

I may not always see everything I hope, but I see far more than I would if I were not paying attention at all.

And that’s a very good thing.

“Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”

— Mary Oliver

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Find Your Way

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.

— Mary Lou Cook

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Better Is Better

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, life, Thoughts on June 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“We’re not born creative or destructive. Each one of us has the ability to create or destroy, to leave the world better than we found it, or worse.”

— Yo-Yo Ma

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Up In the Sky

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, quoteandaprettypicture, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.”

— Lauren Bacall

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Laughing Too

Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, climate change, climate communication, comedy, creativity, humor, science, Thoughts on June 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

First let me make clear that what I’m about to share is 100% not safe for work. Or delicate ears. I mean, yeah, there’s a lot of swearing. That said, the subject matter is one of those topics that almost requires strong language.

This series of videos pairs climate scientists with comedians who translate for us regular folks.

Again, there’s definitely swearing!

Here’s an article about what they’re doing and why with a link to the main site.

And here’s an example:

David Cross Meets Prof Michael Oppenheimer | NSFW – YouTube

Watch Emmy Award-winning comedian David Cross and Professor Michael Oppenheimer pretty much fix the climate crisis between them, in the first US pilot of the hit “Climate Science Translated” series. What’s the gist? Most Americans (74%) actually want more climate action from government. What no one wants is sky-high insurance bills, a home destroyed by extreme weather, or to pass on a ruined planet to their kids.

The films use humor (and profuse swearing) to translate the urgency of the problem, and bring it back down to Earth.

For more, check out the playlist. They even made PG versions, if that’s your thing!

And yes, climate change is something to cry about. But we can laugh too.

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Book Break

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, authors, climate fiction, creativity, inspiration, interviews, sci-fi, to read, Writers, writing on June 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

An interview with a sci-fi author about a series that sounds good:

‘For anybody who could use a break’: A Q&A with sci-fi author Becky Chambers

So, my goal with these books was to create something that hit that same note, of: “You can just be comfy here for a while. You can just be safe. Nothing’s gonna jump at you, nothing’s gonna stress you out. But I am going to speak to you as a fellow adult. I’m going to talk to you about things that are relevant to you in your adult life.”

Sounds fun, and I’ve enjoyed other Becky Chambers books, so I’m adding the Monk & Robot series to my list.

“One of the things I aim for is just to say, hey, it doesn’t have to be this way. I think that’s the key goal of science fiction in general, whether it’s a positive future, a negative future, somewhere in between. It doesn’t have to be like this.”

— Becky Chambers

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Seven Words

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, inspiration, life, Thoughts on June 12, 2025| 2 Comments »

As part of an answer to a woman looking for answers to big questions (excuse me, Big Questions), blogger Darius Foroux was asked to sum up his definition of life in 50 words or less. His answer?

No one knows what they are doing.

— Darius Foroux

I find this both reassuring and encouraging. I mean, sure, a lot of people know a lot of things, but no one knows everything. Everyone has questions, everyone has areas for improvement, and we’re all just wading through life trying to keep our feet dry (or not, you do you!).

Here’s to doing it anyway.

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