Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, haiku, just thinking, poem, Thoughts, Writers, writing on October 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Sometimes a story seed comes to me, and while it doesn’t always grow into a full-fledged story, it’s often expressed in the form of its own small poem. Like this.
Can We Make a Deal?
My alien mind
In this animal body
Which wins, in the end?
And since today is National Cat Day in the US, let’s make that animal a kitty.
* * *
Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, lessons for living, procrastination, Thoughts, whoops on October 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Some days seem designed to deliver a lesson. I won’t go into the sadly uninteresting and happily trifling details, but today’s lesson for me?
Time comes for us all. Don’t put stuff off!
* * *
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, creativity, Thoughts, Writers, writing on October 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Looking for an unexpected way to find interesting and creative story ideas? Creativity expert Keith Sawyer has a suggestion.
The Creativity Hack No One Told You About: Read the Obits
Here’s how you can use the obituaries to enhance your creative cognition.
First, start by reading them slowly, without searching for a big idea. Let the details wash over you — the places lived, the professions practiced, the odd hobbies pursued. Notice what sticks.
It’s not just about learning new facts, of course — it’s about asking questions.
There’s more to this idea than just skimming the paper. Want to know more about how to enhance your creative cognition? This article can help.
“…research shows that distant analogies often lead to creative breakthroughs, often in unexpected ways. What you’re doing is filling up your brain with a range of very different cognitive material.”
As you read the obits (or watch TV, or stroll through the neighborhood, there are lots of options), start by asking questions. Get a sense of the who, what and where, then look for the why and see where it leads.
To your next story, I hope!
* * *
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, #DefineWaste, philosophizing, Thoughts on October 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »
It’s not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.
— Seneca
* * *
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, Thoughts on October 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »
We drove out to woods yesterday, the gently curving country road surrounded by rolling hills and turning leaves and the crisp cool air of an autumn evening.
Welcome, fall.
“No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face.”
— John Donne
* * *
Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, candy, Halloween, new experience, social contracts, statistics, Thoughts on October 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »
I recently received an emergency request from a friend for a critical mission: Could I please run over to the old Toys ‘R Us and check for a certain costume for their toddler?
That’s right, I was asked to visit Spirit Halloween.
Sure, I said, no problem. I’ve never been to a Spirit Halloween before, it’s bound to be interesting.
And it was. I’m not a big Halloween person (I believe I’ve mentioned my childhood scars from The Amityville Horror; thanks, Dad! and also thanks for not moving into that house that looked a lot like That House when we were kids).
My last real costume was a ghost (although I did attend one party as Trinity from The Matrix which was fun; still have the leather trench coat), so it’s been a while since I really celebrated.
I do remember that there were very definite differences between good candy and not-so-good candy.
As many of us prepare to do That Halloween Thing, I thought I’d share this highly scientific analysis of candy preferences:
The Ultimate Halloween Candy Power Ranking.
The social contract of Halloween is simple: Provide adequate treats to costumed masses, or be prepared for late-night tricks from those dissatisfied with your offer. To help you avoid that type of vengeance, and to help you make good decisions at the supermarket this weekend, we wanted to figure out what Halloween candy people most prefer. So we devised an experiment: Pit dozens of fun-sized candy varietals against one another, and let the wisdom of the crowd decide which one was best.
Or just buy what you like and share it with the neighborhood. Either way, have fun!
* * *
Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, art, creativity, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers on October 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Here’s an illustrated short by Rich Wells, capturing an epiphany he had outside a tire shop.
“I thought l’d take the words from my notebook and make something visual.
A reminder to myself that all this everyday stuff – admin, errands, school runs, park trips, waiting in lines, meal times –
it’s all a gift”
* * *
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, inspiration, learning stuff, Thoughts on October 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »
It’s a brave act to embrace incompetence. What’s delightful is that it’s a temporary state.
— Michael Bungay Stanier
* * *
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, inspiration, possibilities, scifi, Thoughts, Writers, writing on October 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Science fiction is any idea that occurs in the head and doesn’t exist yet, but soon will, and will change everything for everybody, and nothing will ever be the same again. As soon as you have an idea that changes some small part of the world you are writing science fiction. It is always the art of the possible, never the impossible.
— Ray Bradbury
* * *
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2025, Thoughts on October 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »
Ikea is many things: an overwhelming shopping destination, a supply chain and engineering marvel, an unexpected beacon of sustainability, source of endless jokes about infuriating instructions, and a good place for meatballs.
It can also surprise you, as it did when I went looking for one thing and discovered something I’ve been looking for years: An affordable, practical, decently sized cake carrier.
It’s not a big deal, but when you need to transport a cake across town without it ending up in heap in the back of the car, it can be important.
Important enough to consider shelling out for an overpriced carrier? Not quite, as it happens.
Because I don’t need to move cakes all that often, I’ve been putting this purchase off for years. I’m glad I did, because now, C$12.99 + tax later, I am the proud possessor of a decent cake carrier. (I also picked up a year’s supply of that critical Swedish ingredient, lingonberries.)
Thanks for this, Ikea, and for the reminder that solutions are sometimes where they’re least expected.
* * *
You must be logged in to post a comment.