Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, creativity, Fiction, persistence, Thoughts, Writers, writing on April 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »
“Beginning is underrated. Merely beginning. With inadequate preparation, because you will never be fully prepared. With imperfect odds of success, because the odds are never perfect. Begin. With the humility of someone who’s not sure, and the excitement of someone who knows that it’s possible.”
— Seth Godin
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, creativity, oops, Thoughts, Writers, writing on April 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »
This morning I tried a new recipe. It turned out… on the mediocre side of ok.
I made copious notes and version 2.0 will be better, but what I really took away from the experience was what I was telling myself throughout the bake: Something wasn’t right.
Turns out, I should have listened.
The result was a bit of a mess, but that’s fine. I get some of my best ideas when I’m working with an idea that, well, doesn’t work. Knowing what’s broken makes a project easier to fix. That applies to food and to art.
So, my takeaway from today, for both cooking and writing: trust yourself. Learn, experiment, use the Force, whatever helps you take that next step down the path.
It will be fine.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, creativity, Thoughts, Writers, writing on April 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »
“In filling the well, think magic. Think delight. Think fun. Do not think duty. Do not do what you should do—spiritual sit-ups like reading a dull but recommended critical text. Do what intrigues you, explore what interests you; think mystery, not mastery.”
― Julia Cameron
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, #wotf39, Arthur H. Manners, Dreamforge, free fiction, genre fiction, Writers, Writers of the Future on March 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »
More excellent free science fiction, this time by my friend Arthur H. Manners in Dreamforge.
I was feeding the cuttlefish when a newsreader announced that the Children had crossed the heliopause. My stomach sank as I turned up the TV and watched the newsreader refer to a grainy image in the corner of the screen. All our best telescopes could see of the Children’s starship was a fuzzy white dot sailing into the abyss beyond the edge of the solar system.
“They were serious. They’re actually leaving,” I said.
The cuttlefish could see me talking. A few of them used their chameleon-like skin to conjure yellow haloes on top of their heads.
:: ? ::
I switched on the translator pad strapped to my chest. “Ah guys, where do I even start?”
Filled with science and humanity, a little heartbreak and a lot of hope, this is a great short story by a terrific writer and all-around good human.
I know I’m a little biased, but seriously, my Writers of the Future cohort is the best.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, genre fiction, productivity, reading, Thoughts, Writers, writing on March 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »
This isn’t something I would normally say, but I think I’m reading a little too much.
I’ve been on a bit of a tear, rereading some of my favorite stories. I’ve just finished to the tenth book plus spinoffs in one series, and I think I need to slow down after this.
It’s cutting into my writing time.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, awards, books, Clarkesworld, genre fiction, inspiration, Nebula Awards, short stories, Uncanny, Writers, writing on March 22, 2024| 1 Comment »
Fun, new reading recommendations! SFWA Announces the Finalists for the 59th Nebula Awards – SFWA
Here are links to the short story and novelette finalists. Most are free to read. For the full list with info links (including those below), see Finalists for the 59th Nebula Awards | MetaFilter.
Nebula Award for Novelette
Nebula Award for Short Story
I read this delightful short by R.S.A. Garcia with lunch: Tantie Merle and the Farmhand 4200 – Uncanny Magazine
You could meet him if you want but take off the recorder first. I tell you my story, but you have to ask him if you want to hear his.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, #messyfeels, creativity, Thoughts, Writers, writing on March 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Procrastination can get in anyone’s way but I’ve also noticed creative people in particular can get all caught up in their messy feelings about their work and whether or not the conditions are right for them to channel their muse. If working in journalism has taught me anything it’s that there is no “right” time and there are no “right” conditions; there is the time you have. You use the materials you’ve got. And the first precondition of getting anything done at all is trying to do it.
— Stephanie Convery
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, free fiction, genre fiction, science fiction, sff, Writers, writing on March 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Today only (well, yesterday and today, for any time travelers out there)!
Free free free book giveaway from a wide array of science fiction authors. I heard about it through Krista D. Ball, another SFCanada member who is part of the event.
Here’s the main link: Sci-fi Book Blast March 15 – 16, 2024
Books available in the following categories: Adventure, Alien Invasion, Colonization, Crime & Mystery, Cyberpunk, Dystopian, First Contact, Galactic Empire, Humor, Military, Post-Apocalyptic, Short Story Anthologies, Space Opera, Time Travel
Note: it does say to be sure to check that the link is free because database updates don’t always work like they should, and I did run across a few that were either not free or not available. That said, there are over a hundred books in the list so lots to choose from.
I ended last night in a bit of a funk because I 1) finished my book, and 2) the ending was disappointing as hell. Was it supposed to be a dramatic climax and just fizzled, or was the author so committed to his (also annoying) cliffhanger that he decided to just bypass the climax altogether? Ugh.
Either way, I am very much in the market for a new book and new authors, so this giveaway is excellent timing. Hope you find something you like!
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, Fiction, Thoughts, Writers on March 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »
The four sayings that lead to wisdom:
― Louise Penny
I was wrong
I’m sorry
I don’t know
I need help.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, creativity, genre fiction, Thoughts, Writers, writing on March 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »
“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.”
— Neil Gaiman
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