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Posts Tagged ‘creativity’

Reading for Generation Mars

Posted in Likes, Other, Science!, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 15, 2013| 1 Comment »

This article by scientist Pascal Lee has a great point: reading helps kids turn dreams into reality. I just have one tiny bone to pick, and that has to do with the non/fiction divide:

“Let’s get ready for Mission: Mars and take our kids with us. Let’s start them on this journey with a non-fiction STEM book.”

I absolutely agree that Science, Technology, Engineering and Math learning and advancement requires books of the non-fiction variety. That’s right, actual facts are actually important. No question. I would add, though, that not only is it not bad if Generation Mars includes fiction on its reading list, doing so will help them with that first bit: having dreams. It’s also important to remember that much of the best science fiction is based on extrapolated science fact.*

“The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.”
— Peter Diamandis

As Lee points out, Scholastic’s “Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life” motto is right on target, but why limit that reading? Non-fiction shows you how to build the path, fiction helps you decide where you want to go and imagine what it will be like when you get there.

I can’t wait to see where Generation Mars takes us.

* While “top X” lists are always arguable, they can be a great place to start. Check out this list of The Best Hard Science Fiction Books of all Time: Ten titles that inspired Technology Review to publish TRSF, its own collection of sci-fi stories.

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The Future Powered by Fiction

Posted in Likes, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »

If you or someone you know is between the ages of 13 and 25 and into science fiction, check out the Tomorrow Project’s new competition. Together with the Society for Science & the Public, ASU’s Center for Science and the Imagination and the Intel Foundation, they have put together “The Future Powered by Fiction” competition:

… an innovative fiction competition geared at 13- to 25-year-olds worldwide, asking them to contribute science fiction stories, essays, comics and videos to explore the kinds of futures we want to work toward together.

Fun! Prizes! A chance to shape the future! If this sounds good to you, visit the above link for full submission details.

I think this is a terrific idea and only regret that my crazy cool nephew isn’t old enough to get in on the action. Even if you don’t qualify, or you’re a teacher interested in this as the groundwork for classroom activities, the site has some great material for building these kinds of creative projects, including examples of previous winners, themes and tools to get started.

It’s free to enter, is open to entries from anywhere on the planet (sorry, extraterrestrials!) and the deadline is November 14, 2013.

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Felicia Day on Deadlines, Social Media & Creativity

Posted in Likes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 3, 2013| Leave a Comment »

In which Felicia Day goes to the Wharton School of Business, talks with B-school types, and tells them how she succeeded even when everyone told her she was doing it wrong.

I’m a better person now and, I think, a happier person having come out of some of the darkest times in my life, having gone through this process. So, I can’t regret one step of it. In retrospect, there are so many things I learned. And I guess in this life, if you’re not learning, you’re dying.

Lessons? Set deadlines. Sell the rights to your content with caution. You can’t do everything, but low budgets don’t have to mean low aspirations. Also, never underestimate the power of awesome. (Ok, that’s me paraphrasing, but I dare you to check out the geeky fun that is Geek and Sundry and tell me it’s not true;)

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Busy Day

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on September 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Busy, busy today, too much to do and not enough writing time. I did just get a great rejection (or as I like to say, a pre-acceptance), from a senior editor who asked to see more material. If that isn’t fuel for the fire, I don’t know what is.

Here’s hoping your day is also productive and encouraging…

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It’s Enough

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »

For a friend who is facing down a challenging project, here’s a quote I like:

“E.L. Doctorow once said that ‘Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.’ You don’t have to see where you’re going, you don’t have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you. This is right up there with the best advice on writing, or life, I have ever heard.”
― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Who among us couldn’t use a little perspective, and some encouragement? I would add that it’s helpful to remember that whatever the undertaking, the work doesn’t have to be perfect. Heck, I can guarantee that it won’t be perfect, nothing is. That’s not the point.

To my friend, and to myself, and to anyone else confronting a difficult task, I recommend taking a breath, and just making it as good as you can.

It will be good enough.

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Death, and After

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , on September 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I’m back, the world is still turning, and suddenly it’s Fall. 

Death, like so many of life’s difficulties, serves to highlight what can be accomplished in the meantime and the short span in which we have to do it.

Time to get back to work.

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Satisfy Your Soul

Posted in Likes, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on August 31, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Oh, I love this, and it’s just the sort of inspiration I need today. The text is an excerpt from a commencement speech in 1990 by Bill Watterson (of Calvin and Hobbes fame). The art is by Zen Pencils and is a beautifully done tribute to his inspiration, Watterson.

If you have a moment Read the Zen Pencils essay. I always enjoyed Calvin and Hobbes but didn’t know much about Watterson’s challenges as he made the strip or his history. I particularly like the part about persistence.

… Broke, he was forced to move back in with his parents and worked an advertising layout job he hated while he drew comics in his spare time…. Luckily Watterson didn’t quit…

Of all the things that could go on my tombstone, “Luckily, she didn’t quit” is right up there.

ZenPencilsWatterson

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Submit!

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 27, 2013| 1 Comment »

If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.
— Thomas J. Watson

Today I finish two new stories and submit them. At least, that’s my plan. It’s a good plan. Even if I lose, I win:)

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Coding My Way Out of a Corner

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 24, 2013| 1 Comment »

Some days I stand here at my desk trying to generate a creative thought (or even two!) and it doesn’t happen. If I can’t do the thing I set out to do I still try to do something, so on those days I look for alternatives to get my mind working. My latest filler project is a little Applescript (sorry Windows, I just don’t swing that way) that pops up a window with practice ideas for writing projects. Not what to write, but what to practice while writing.

Here’s the code with a sampling of my current list of practice topics. If this is your sort of thing, substitute your own practice topics as necessary:

set x to some item of {"*action*", "*all five senses*", "*catchy beginnings with a hint of the speculative*", "*characterization*", "*cliffhangers*", "*conflict*", "*distinctive dialog*", "*emotion*", "*grounding*", "*imagery*", "*immediacy*", "*openers*", "*scenes*", "*settings*", "*showing instead of telling*", "*smart science*", "*visual detail*", "*writing without 'was'*"}
set textToType to "Practice " & x & " in your story today."
set answer to the button returned of (display dialog textToType as string buttons {"Excellent idea, thanks!"} default button 1 with icon note)

So it’s code today, perhaps cake tomorrow. Chocolate. Triple tier. With Bailey’s icing:)

/unless that’s a lie

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Maximum Elmore

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 20, 2013| 1 Comment »

Crime Novelist Elmore Leonard Dies

Elmore Leonard died today, after a recent stroke and related complications. That’s sad in all sorts of ways, most importantly for his family but also for his fans.

That said, I have had it up to here with death.

Yes, it’s inevitable. Yes, you only have one life and then poof, gone. But what if you have an impact on the people around you that will last beyond your lifetime? What if you are thoughtful and kind and concerned about bringing the best to our shared world? And what if you are a writer with the sort of innate feel for dialog, story and character that Elmore Leonard had, dedicate your efforts to the constructive pursuit of creativity, and work hard enough and well on work like Get Shorty and Maximum Bob?

Then you earn a devoted following of fans who will not only remember your efforts but will see the world in a slightly different way, thanks to your work. I am such a fan. Mr. Leonard will be missed.

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