I feel like one more post on Orlando is just noise right now. Yet I also feel silence is unacceptable. So, in short: First, it is not any one problem, it is multiple problems. And the solutions are complex and many. Here’s an admittedly simplistic and limited list: Yes, it is the problem […]
Orlando: Many Problems, Many Solutions Read Post »
It’s award nomination time! AND THANK GAWD, I don’t need to ask you fine folks to nominate or vote for me or anything, because I already know all the awards I’m going to win this year. The people behind the people behind the scenes have told me I’m a shoe-in. So here’s the list. Don’t
Important Update: All the Awards I’m Going to Win in 2016! Read Post »
In my social media feed, a lot of people were sharing this post about City on Fire, a book with sentences so bad they are funny (much like entries into the Bulwer-Lytton “Dark and Stormy Night” contest but not intentionally so). I laughed. Then I learned about the author, and the history of the book. I think we
On “City on Fire” and Mocking Bad Writing Read Post »
When the lights went out in the room due to the lack of bodies, we had to laugh. I was a panelist at Rustycon this weekend, a lovely small local con run by very dedicated and passionate volunteers. Unfortunately, several factors led to smaller than expected turnout — horrible Friday weather and traffic, every
The Benefits of a Con Where Few People Came Read Post »
Happy New Year! Rather than simply share events from my past year, I thought I’d again offer a bit of encouragement and advice to help with the coming year. While this is aimed primarily at my fellow writers, the same advice can also, I think, be applied to most any goal or creative pursuit, and to
Setting Your Goals for 2016 Read Post »
Hey there fine folks, The first 5 people who send me evidence that they’ve donated (today or later) $25 or more to one of the charities listed below, I will send a free hardback copy of Finn Fancy Necromancy. Evidence would be, for example, a screenshot of the thank you screen or email receipt (with
Finn Fancy Charity Giveaway Read Post »
What a terrible week. As usual, there are folks quickly navigating to extremist positions (Thanks, Obama, for freeing terrorists!) (Thanks, Bush, for invading Iraq and creating ISIS!) (Not all Muslims are terrorists, but the “real” terrorists all seem to be Radical Islamists…) Yes, I imagine this next week will see the inevitable debates between the
When Discussing Paris and Beirut and Kenya and Damn It Read Post »
My social media feeds are chock-a-block full of posts from writers promoting the books they’ve written and published or had published. I just want to pause a minute and point out why this is actually frakking AWESOME! And say how AWESOME all of you writers and artists and creators are. And what an awesome and wonderful
WHY I MIGHT NOT BUY YOUR BOOK BUT I LOVE THAT YOU WROTE IT! Read Post »
I haven’t weighed in on Tempest’s challenge because others said what I would have said quite well. But this morning as I read yet another bit of concern over it, I realized that many people who are reacting to it are writers (and many who are reacting negatively are white male writers who fear this
Reading Tempest’s Challenge as a Writer Read Post »
Brainergy. It’s not a new agey thing, or a result of midichlorians. It’s just my word for measuring how fresh and alert and energized my brain is feeling. And I believe learning to organize your writing schedule around your brainergy is very useful for writers. Alas, I am not independently wealthy and writing this from my
Using Your Writing Brainergy Wisely Read Post »