Every year, my baseline seems to slip a little lower. I fight it full throttle, no excuses, no mercy. I remember a young man I had as a patient. He had cancer. He was dying. He was in love. They tried everything. Nothing was too strange. Nothing was off the table. Every minute was precious … Continue reading Wednesday’s A Moment…
Saturday Storytime – Jackie, Jackie
Writing is a bit like painting for me. I layer one idea over another, a dollop of more detail here, a swirl of emotion there. There's a lot of re-reading and asking, "why?". This first draft doesn't have those layers, so it may feel like an overheard conversation or a brush of bird's wings. It's … Continue reading Saturday Storytime – Jackie, Jackie
Saturday Storytime – A Decision Too Late
This story is an exercise in having fun with first drafts, stretching boundaries and creativity, and giving back to my readers. If you like what you read, leave a comment or consider my Patreon. Thank you. For those needing to catch up, here's the Table of Contents. A Decision Too Late Mistress Nora was eating … Continue reading Saturday Storytime – A Decision Too Late
Famous Starts with Humble Endings
Here is a game to play with poetry. The trick is to not read more than the first two lines of a famous poem, and then you try and write the next lines. Make no mistake, it's generally awful, but it's fun to do! So, get out a piece of paper and jot down your … Continue reading Famous Starts with Humble Endings
Saturday Storytime – Six Mothers
This is an experiment in writing a first draft in public. It's an exercise in not being perfect. It's meant to be a bit of fun, an inspiration, and a way to grow. You can find the story from the beginning here. Six Mothers Sharna’s room was the opposite of her state of mind. … Continue reading Saturday Storytime – Six Mothers
Wednesday’s A Moment…
I love pine cones. Like much of nature, they appear alien and otherworldly. As I sat in the shade of a dying pine yesterday, I was facing a vibrant one - full of blossoms and green tips, and I realized I didn't actually know how pine cones are formed. Did you know that there are … Continue reading Wednesday’s A Moment…
Miscon – The Ascension, Part Two
I talked last time about the overall experience I had this year at the convention. Today, I want to share some of the lessons I learned from panels. Family Dynamics (Esther Jones, Maggie Bonham, Danica Waters, and Dean Wells) The most profound of the tidbits was given by Dean Wells. He said, "Family is shorthand … Continue reading Miscon – The Ascension, Part Two
Saturday Storytime – Rags and Rhymes
Happy Saturday! If you need to catch up, go here. Rags and Rhymes Rags and Rhymes smelled like sex. There was no nice way to say it, so no one mentioned it, but everyone thought it. Jackie didn’t mind. It was one more potential thrill to light up her senses, and tonight she could use … Continue reading Saturday Storytime – Rags and Rhymes
Miscon 31 – The Ascension, Part One
Last year, I felt I was given permission to write what I wanted. I didn’t have to be the next Virginia Woolf or Jane Austen. Fantasy was fabulous. Science fiction was valuable. So, I went home and wrote Ferals & Blights. I entered the Writers of the Future contest and won a Silver Honorable Mention. … Continue reading Miscon 31 – The Ascension, Part One
Saturday Storytime – Lily Quee
Yes, I know. It's Sunday. Late on Sunday! I'm at Miscon, the fabulous SFF convention in Missoula, Montana. I'll be writing up a post soon about the things I've learned this year, and the super-cool and sweet people, so keep an eye out for it! If you need to catch up, here's the link to … Continue reading Saturday Storytime – Lily Quee
