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Posts Tagged ‘writing’

Exploration Zone

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , on April 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Science fiction has long been considered a harbinger, and sometimes a driver, of future innovations. It can also be one of our best venues for the “cultural brainstorming” required to interpret current social, technological and political challenges.

How do some of our leading authors view the impact of SF on society as a whole?

This fascinating interview asks N.K. Jemisin, Andy Weir, Lois McMaster Bujold, David Brin, Cory Doctorow and Charles Stross about this and much more.

Does Science Fiction Shape the Future? by Namir Khaliq in Nautilus

Recently, I interviewed six of today’s foremost science-fiction authors. I asked them to weigh in on how much impact they think science fiction has had, or can have, on society and the future…

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Photo by KNXRT on Unsplash

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Begin, Again and Again

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , 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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Photo by shawnanggg on Unsplash

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A Fine Mess

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , 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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Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

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The Creative Well

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , 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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The Wishing Well. Photo by Robert Thiemann on Unsplash

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In Pursuit

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , on March 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

We’re out and about today, and I’m finding inspiration in both natural and human worlds. I don’t have time to get started right now, but I’ve got two story ideas competing for space in my head. I look forward to chasing them down soon.

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Photo by Karly Santiago on Unsplash

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On a Bit of a Tear

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , 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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Photo by Ed Robertson on Unsplash

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The Nebula Award Finalists

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , 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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Photo by Nataliya Melnychuk on Unsplash

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Use What You’ve Got

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , 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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Photo by Sarah Shull on Unsplash

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Sci-Fi Book Blast

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , 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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Uniquely You

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , 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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Photo by Evgeni Tcherkasski on Unsplash

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