“Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time.”
— Sandra Day O’Connor
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Posts Tagged ‘Writers’
Me, Facing Down My To Do List
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, doing my best, Fiction, genre fiction, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 20, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Word of the Day: Noctilucent
Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, fun with words and other things, science, sky, Thoughts, Writers on July 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Today’s Word of the Day (in my world, at least) is “noctilucent.”
The term is typically applied to a specific type of cloud, “a luminous thin usually colored cloud seen especially at twilight at a height of about 50 miles (80 kilometers).” It’s the luminous aspect that makes these clouds particularly dramatic.
Noctilucent clouds: What are they and how can you see them? | Space
The name noctilucent is derived from the Latin words “nocto” and “lucent” which translates to “night” and “shining” respectively, according to Merriam Webster.
These clouds are seasonal, and in the Northern hemisphere that season is now.
Noctilucent clouds: The season starts now!
The season for noctilucent clouds at northerly latitudes is now. People at high latitudes report seeing noctilucent clouds. This happens every year, from about May through August in the Northern Hemisphere, and from November through February in the Southern Hemisphere.
I chose this word because its Latin origins are interesting to unpack, it refers to a beautiful and intriguing phenomenon, and it’s fun to say.
The world is a marvelous, mysterious and magical place. Science (and science fiction!) just makes it that much better.
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Begin Doing… Whatever You Like
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, Thoughts, Writers on July 16, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
— Walt Disney
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Un/Stuck
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »
I have spent a good chunk of the past two days a little stuck. It’s a day job thing so I can’t just roll a twenty-sided die or add vampires (sadly!) but it does, in the end, have something to do with writing.
The problem was that I wasn’t 100% clear on the problem. Usually, more research is supposed to clarify issues, but as I dove deeper the assignment made less sense, not more.
How to escape this quandary? In the end, I wrote myself a path out.
My approach? Examining the challenge from multiple angles, breaking it down into pieces as bite-sized as I could make them, and outlining whatever ideas came to mind until they stopped being terrible and started to be interesting.
Next thing I knew, I was on my way.
This happened to be a day job problem but I find the same strategy also applies to fiction. In case you, too, find yourself stuck.
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The 2023 Hugo Finalists
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Fiction, genre fiction, Hugo Awards, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »
The finalists for the 2023 Hugo Awards have been announced!
Best Novel
- Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree (Cryptid; Tor)
- Nettle & Bone, T. Kingfisher (Tor; Titan UK)
- The Spare Man, Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)
- The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey; Jo Fletcher)
- Nona the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir (Tordotcom)
- The Kaiju Preservation Society, John Scalzi (Tor; Tor UK)
See the full list of nominees across all categories at Locus Online: 2023 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Finalists. Winners will be announced at Chengdu Worldcon in October.
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On Writing Compelling Speculative Fiction
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, Fiction, genre fiction, speculative fiction, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »
J.R. Johnson On How To Create Compelling Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories
What does it take for a writer today, to write compelling and successful Science Fiction and Fantasy stories?
Click over to Authority Magazine for my thoughts! If you can’t access the file there, here’s a PDF (but the formatting is better at Authority!).
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A Super Signing
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, authoring, Fiction, genre fiction, Writers, writing on July 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »
A huge thank you to everyone who attended today’s signing of Writers of the Future Volume 39, and to the terrific staff at Ottawa’s Perfect Books. Also, particular thanks to the friends who trekked across the city, wrangled energetic children, or both! You made it a special experience.
Enjoy the book!
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Potential ! Limitless
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“To go from this idea of limitless potential that you have as a young person — ‘Oh, I can do anything! Just give me the chance!’ — and then realizing, well, maybe you can’t do anything. But then what do you do? What do you do after that happens? What do you do after you realize that? Do you give up? Or do you try and make your art out of your own limitations?”
— David Duchovny
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Book Signing
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, authoring, genre fiction, Writers, Writers of the Future, writing on July 5, 2023| Leave a Comment »
What’s this, what’s this? It’s a book signing, that’s what! I’ll be at Perfect Books in Ottawa this Sunday, July 9th, between 1:00–3:00. I’ll be signing copies of Writers of the Future Volume 39, answering questions about the contest, and generally enjoying the vibe at one of Ottawa’s leading independent bookstores. Drop by and say hello!
proudly Canadian, fiercely independent
258A Elgin Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 1L9
And just for fun, here’s the book trailer again:
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What Makes Speculative Fiction So Great?
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, genre fiction, Thoughts, Writers, writing, yay on July 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Recently, I had a chance to talk speculative fiction with the good folks over at Urban Book Reviews. Check out my thoughts on what makes spec fic great, getting started as a writer, themes in fiction and more. Find the full interview here!
Meet This Author: J.R. Johnson – Urban Book Reviews
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