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Posts Tagged ‘Fiction’

Story Ideas

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , 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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Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

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Getting the Sad Out

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on June 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »

I try to keep things fairly light here, so when I write a piece that is… not that, I can end up in a bit of a bind. 

Do I share because that’s where I was on that particular day? I don’t, usually. For example, I recently wrote a drabble that has not even a sprinkling of humor to lighten the mood. That’s how it goes sometimes.

I’ve been writing less than I’d like, and what I do write is darker than I’d like. It’s easy to get distracted by the world. But that’s also our context right now, and what we need to get through in order to move on to the next better thing. 

It’s like football great Rosey Grier’s classic song, “It’s Alright to Cry”: 

“It’s all right to cry

Crying gets the sad out of you.” 

So today I’m going to share one of my darker drabbles, because what is art if not a reflection of the maker’s time and place? (But I’ll add an extra step to view here in case this isn’t your thing right now.* I get it!)

Remember I Love You

“I love you,” she would say as I ran outside. 

Determined, I searched for water, scrap metal or other goods extricated from the rubble. Fuel, usually the kind that used to be someone’s house. Food, always.

Anything to keep the family going. I learned that from my mother.

She stayed with my little brother. He stopped crying two days ago.

“Remember I love you,” she’d say, her eyes turned away from the morning sun. She watched our last pot simmer, making stew with whatever she could find.

Her hand could still grasp the wooden spoon. 

She had three fingers left.

Told you it was dark. But if that’s the rain, I think we’ve earned a rainbow!

* With apologies to my email subscribers, who apparently get the unfiltered version.

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Photo by Nabih E. Navarro on Unsplash

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To the Billionaires Among Us

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , on May 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Hmm. Maybe writing after reading the news isn’t a great idea? Or maybe it is.

To the Billionaires Among Us

What will you do?

When the skies pour fire onto cracked and desolate earth,

tornadoes skip from your first mansion to your third yacht

and hail plays paddy whack with your bones?

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What will you do 

when the oceans rise and the gates fall,

and there is nothing left to consume 

but yourselves?

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Photo by Photoholgic on Unsplash

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Safe Travels, Winners!

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on April 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Congratulations to the latest class of Writers & Illustrators of the Future winners! Their workshop week in LA just ended and I’m sure they are chock full of interesting observations and ideas for future projects. They will certainly have met some terrific fellow artists and had a fascinating experience. (I’m also betting they’re exhausted because that week is intense, but they can sleep on the way home!)

I look forward to reading volume 42!

If 42 is the answer, these stories ask the questions worth thinking about.

Discover fifteen unforgettable science fiction and fantasy short stories—illustrated in full color—featuring twelve emerging voices alongside three acclaimed masters of the genre. From visionary sci-fi to emotionally rich fantasy and quiet horror, this collection delivers bold “what ifs” that linger long after the final page.

What if a perfect rescue went catastrophically wrong?

What if the “better you” doesn’t want to share your life?

What if love could survive inside a virtual reality?

Inside, you’ll encounter a flawless time-rescue gone wrong, a beauty treatment with terrifying consequences, a detective hunted by a body-hopping killer, and a homesteader uncovering a truth that rewrites Earth itself. You’ll also find dragons that defy myth, fairy-tale chaos, supernatural horror, and high-concept science fiction that blends heart, humor, and imagination.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Well, that sounds interesting, and also I am not a professional (yet) and might qualify for this competition,” I say go for it. The contest is free, accepts entries quarterly, and can be excellent as a motivating deadline. (And who knows, you may find yourself in a room with the writers of some of your favorite childhood books. Now that’s magic made real.)

Writer Contest | Writers & Illustrators of the Future (illustrators too!)

Enter a short story science fiction, fantasy, light horror. 

Up to but not exceeding 17,000 words. 

Free to enter and entrants retain all publication rights. 

Enter 1 story per quarter, up to 4 per year. 

Anonymous judging. This is a merit-based competition.

Here’s to this new round of winners, and to artists everywhere!

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Photo by Jeff Tumale on Unsplash

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Still Progress

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , on November 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I wrote a drabble yesterday but decided not to share it. Why not? Because it’s dark and it’s sad. I like to keep things largely upbeat here, for my readers and for myself. 

That doesn’t mean I’m all unicorns and rainbows, obviously, but I want you to come away from this site feeling at least a little hopeful. I try to focus on the future, and I hope that it’s a good one. 

Sometimes that means facing down darkness, and I’ve done that before even in a 100-word format. Not this time, though, so I’ll keep it in my files for now.

Still, progress is progress, and I’m happy to be writing!

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Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

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Welcome to the School Year

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , on August 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

As the run-up to back-to-school time is starting up again, I’m thinking about students and teachers and technology.

With that in mind, I share this short in the tongue-in-cheek spirit in which it was written:

How I Learned to Stop Teaching and Love AI by Brian Michael Murphy

All students, for all assignments, should use ChatGPT to complete each task. Why would you waste your time writing a paper? We now have a tool that can do that for you. And all professors will save massive amounts of time and energy by using ChatGPT to grade all those papers. Isn’t that great? I mean, what an educational revolution.

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Photo by Lasse Jensen on Unsplash

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Speculative Fiction, Fantasy Edition

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , 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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Photo by Vitaliy Shevchenko on Unsplash

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Humor, That’s the Ticket

Posted in Funny, Other, tagged , , , , , on November 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Updates on the Arc of the Moral Universe – McSweeney’s Internet Tendency

The arc of the moral universe is running very late. It’s sitting in standstill traffic behind a fleet of Amazon delivery vans, a burning Tesla, and a stretch limousine with Truck Nuts.

The arc of the moral universe is leaning on the horn.

The arc of the moral universe shouldn’t have stopped for that latte.

The arc of the moral universe owes you an apology.

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Photo by Kyle Wagner on Unsplash

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The Revolution is Today

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on October 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Just a quick reminder that the Technology Revolution panel is today at 11 am Eastern!

Here’s the info:

I’ll be part of a discussion with fellow writers Jason Palmatier, John W. Maly, and Brad C. Anderson about the influence of AI and other technologies on characters and plots in sci-fi.

If you’re interested in such topics (and really, who isn’t? :), join us today at 11 am Eastern / 8 am Pacific to discuss

The Future of Sci-Fi Characters and Plots + AI.

Hosted by Bonnie D. Graham.

WATCH Live-stream and On-demand: Linkedin and Facebook and YouTube

LISTEN Live: Technology Revolution Radio and Later: On-Demand

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Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

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Random Acts of Gnomeness

Posted in Other, tagged , , , , , , , on August 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Need a quick pick-me-up? Here you go:

Mystery Group Prowls Town Conducting Mischievous Kindness- Stealing, Restoring & Returning Garden Gnomes

Mischief reigns in a small Canada community after a kidnapping left a man’s garden vacant of the ten ceramic garden gnomes that resided there.

(Don’t worry, there’s a happy ending.)

I’ve had a soft spot for gnomes ever since my parents gave me a copy of this classic: Gnomes by Wil Huygenn (Rien Poortvliet, ill.)

Most of my childhood books went by the wayside over the years, but I’ve slowly built my library back up with replicas of my favorites. I’m looking at a new copy of Gnomes on my bookshelf right now.

“Those who shun the whimsy of things will experience rigor mortis before death.”

― Tom Robbins

May you never lose your childhood delights.

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Photo by Sarah Mae on Unsplash

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