I want you to imagine you're on a sidewalk. Are you: a. On auto-pilot, listening to your ear buds, more or less staying with the crowd b. noticing things around you like what someone is wearing or the dog out for a walk c. assessing everything around you for potential threats I think most of … Continue reading Doggos, Sherlock, and the OODA Loop
Writing
Better Ways to Be Bad
The last two weeks I've talked about comforting people and setting boundaries. Rest assured, this is still a blog about writing and books. So, what do those things have to do with writing? This is about character studies, babe. I've talked before about how I hate when cruelty is short hand for identifying the bad … Continue reading Better Ways to Be Bad
Spectitular Nameology
A few weeks ago, I realized I may have a problem. I'd already selected a title and started circulating it. And then, like every time anyone shares a name they're thinking about with people at large, it became a problem. "Oh you're naming your kid Alex? An Alex once puked on me. When I hear … Continue reading Spectitular Nameology
Nah, No, WriMo (And Go Vote!)
It's November! So let me start with two questions: Who is doing NaNoWriMo? and Who definitely is not doing NaNoWriMo? I feel like this is all over my everything. Twitter, Facebook, GoodReads, and don't even get me started on tumblr! I love that everyone is motivated and pushing themselves! Writing sprints don't work for me. … Continue reading Nah, No, WriMo (And Go Vote!)
Well, We Found THIS At Least
Writing is work. Artistic work is real work. All kinds. Like with your day job or volunteer work, sometimes you wake up motivated, inspired, and ready for a full day of progress and achievement. But most of the time, Facebook seems way more interesting than whatever is on the to-do list. But that's not an … Continue reading Well, We Found THIS At Least
None With Better Natural Taste
Sometimes, when the news is full of Cthulhu-level madness and your mentions are full of trolls, you need to go and do something just for yourself. And when you're me, that might involve dancing to music about Satan, slavery, and the reasonable fear of imminent death. Please see my previous post and its reminder that … Continue reading None With Better Natural Taste
But Things Were Different Then
"Things were different then." It's amazing how much there is to unpack in such a small, vague sentence. It seems impossible to me that these words can say so much when they say nothing. But they're used often when we're talking about fiction, and they speak volumes. Things were different. This implies that in the … Continue reading But Things Were Different Then
Everyone Likes Ink On the Page
My spouse is mean and insists that getting tattoos is a terrible idea because I don't know when to stop and one day I'd come out neck to toe ink and rue my decisions. I really think that sounds like I'd have won, but it won't do to tell him that because then I definitely … Continue reading Everyone Likes Ink On the Page
An Adventure…in Moderation
As I stand here, making the avocado peanut butter mousse I found on a food blog I follow for more-healthy, gluten-free, dairy-free, added-sugar free ways to trick myself into thinking I'm eating dessert, I wonder how things got so off track. I was so convinced as a kid that I wouldn't grow up to be … Continue reading An Adventure…in Moderation
A Real Character
Sometimes when I'm telling stories I wish I had a fun character thought up already for a quick cameo. Someone memorable, who stands out from the rest, but doesn't require a lot of back story or fleshing out. In case you, like me, wish you had that available, here's a list of a few character … Continue reading A Real Character
The Summoner Sisters 