Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, creativity, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on July 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »
“Surely, in the light of history, it is more intelligent to hope rather than to fear, to try rather than not to try. For one thing we know beyond all doubt: Nothing has ever been achieved by the person who says, ‘It can’t be done.’”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, history, research, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »
When you hear “Medieval Times” you may think of a slightly cheesy yet fun afternoon outing with knights and mead halls, but it was more than that. Populated by living, breathing (and dying) people just like us, this era laid the groundwork for civilizations to come. The fact that many of us know so little about it is our failing, not theirs. (Well, that and the fact that literacy was much less common than it is today!)
Not to worry! Professor of English and Medieval Literature Dr. Dorsey Armstrong is here to answer our questions.
Enjoy!
Why is it called the “Middle” Ages? What activities did people do for fun? Why were animals tried in court for crimes? Answers to these questions and many more await—it’s Medieval Support.
(Although it seems to have given George R.R. Martin far too many gory ideas.)
Why do I share this? You did see my previous post on time travel, right?
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Posted in Entertainment, Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, Doctor Who, physics, research, Thoughts, time travel, Writers, writing on June 29, 2024| 1 Comment »
For those of you who enjoy time travel, thought exercises, physics, Doctor Who, or just hate bad time travel concepts (me!), here’s a fun and informative article.
The invisible dangers of travelling through time
The mishaps caused by time travellers exploring the past are a staple of science fiction. But what does physics think?
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, action, creativity, indecision, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »
“Think of many things; do one.”
— Portuguese proverb
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, artists, creativity, genre fiction, illustrators, inspiration, writing on June 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I recently signed up for artist Louisa Pressler’s newsletter. Because someday, I’d love to have her illustrate one of my books.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, aliens, free fiction, genre fiction, sff, Thoughts, writing on June 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »
As a follow-up to yesterday’s discussion of animal crossings as one way we can be kind to the other creatures with which we share this world, I decided to resurface a post from last year:
I came from the stars to meet you. I was happy. Excited, even. First contact with your verdant world. Think of all that we could share with you.
“You” could have meant a lot of things. I started with one of the most populous. An insect.
Go forth, and be kind.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, cli-fi, climate change, creativity, genre fiction, hope, Thoughts, Writers, writing, writing contest on June 1, 2024| 1 Comment »
Are you the sort of writer who can imagine a better future? Do you care about the climate? This may be the contest for you!
Imagine 2200 climate fiction contest 2024: Submit your story | Grist
Imagine 2200 is an invitation to writers from all over the globe to imagine a future in which solutions to the climate crisis flourish and help bring about radical improvements to our world. We dare you to dream anew…
In 2,500 to 5,000 words, show us the world you dream of building…
There is no cost to enter. Submissions close June 24, 2024, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time.
Here’s an example of a climate positive / “hey, maybe we will get out of this alive“ story:
Fishy by Alice Towey – Clarkesworld Magazine
I enjoyed it. Because I too dare to dream.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, Fiction, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on May 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I’m sad that I haven’t written a lot of things, but I’m incredibly happy that I’ve written as much as I have. Because there was a point when I was younger where there was a very good chance that I wouldn’t write anything – I was just too frightened.
— Alice Munro, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, drabble, genre fiction, must love drabbles, Writers, writing on May 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I set out to write a post about climate fiction or reading the geophysical landscape or talking plants, but instead I detoured to write a drabble. Because some days are just like that.
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Help Wanted: Must Love Laser Sharks
The day dawned cold and dispirited. Nila gently set her coffee on the table to keep from screaming. Her mother had ejected her from The Lair exactly one year ago.
She scanned the classifieds out of habit. A new ad caught her eye:
Assistant needed. Must:
- understand the intricacies of shark breeding;
- be comfortable with most weaponry (prepare for mortal danger);
- be skilled in fire management (including molten lava).
Salary negotiable; you keep what you kill.
Yes, please. Six months, twelve max, and she’d take over this aging villain’s empire. Her mother wouldn’t know what hit her.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2024, back to work!, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on May 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »
So I wake up this morning with that age-old cliché in my head: You have as many hours in a day as [Leonardo da Vinci].
Fill in your own preferred goal setter.* Mine changes depending on my current mood and projects. Sometimes it even helps;)
Onward!
* Also, remember that if your exemplar is pre-20th century, your life expectancy is probably double theirs. Strike that, we’re all under enough pressure as it is.
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