I’ve been “attending” a few virtual conferences this summer. No sci-fi unfortunately, but writing tips & tricks translate across the genres. Summer is one of the best times for conferences… many people have time off to attend and they’re looking for interesting things to do. Right now, I’m listening to a session from the Historic…
I’m co-chairing our local critique group meeting Monday evening, since our regular chairwoman is on vacation this week. My duties will be keeping track of who’s reading and in which order the critique-ers will speak. This is good, because I don’t think I could handle running the chat room all by myself. SCWA meets every…
Have a new anthology or two we’re trying to get into. One’s a weird history detective story that will feature Badi, our favorite velyr PI. I like his sarcastic noir attitude and am setting the story in 1800s Savannah so it’ll fit in with the anthology’s guidelines (they don’t want anything after the turn of…
My alter ego and I are submitting various stories to various contests and anthologies. I’m working on two anthologies: Inclusive Future Magazine’s “What Will Gender Be Like in 50 Years?” and Writing The Future You Need’s “Navigating the Ruins.” I may also submit something later in the summer for “Prohibition.” My alter ego is sending…
Another month has flown by and it is yet again time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. All writers suffer from insecurity at times. I’m feeling fairly insecure because I have yet to place a story in an anthology, though I did make the short list in one of them. The editor wrote me…
We’ve decided to do the yearly vacation this year, even though I don’t actually have paid vacations with this new job. We’ll be at the beach again, rejuvenating our creativity and relaxing by the surf. The place we’re staying has a pool, too, so this year we’ll be able to swim no matter what the…
I’m starting a new feature of the blog: reviews of classic science fiction novels and movies. I’ll begin with one of my favorites: Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein. It’s the far distant future, on a far distant planet, and an old man is dying … or is he? Woodrow Wilson Smith, aka Lazarus…
It’s time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group Post! Doesn’t seem like it should be the first Wednesday in May but here we are … Every writer struggles with insecurity. Each one of us has looked at their work and wanted to toss the computer out the nearest window. One way to combat that feeling…
I know, I know: I said before that I never read Stephen King because he’s just too good at what he does (creating horror). However, I had a friend recommend one of his later books as more of a science fiction story about time travel and I was intrigued. So here I am, reading 11/22/63.…
How is a writer supposed to find inspiration in today’s world? With the pandemic raging and the political upheaval and climate change … how can you keep your muse healthy? One thing that inspires me is reading. I’ll admit it’s getting harder to find good science fiction or fantasy that inspires me rather than bringing…