One of the best ways to begin a new week is by reading Jack Cheng letters distributed through his newsletter. I love the way he looks at things and, even more, how he puts his thoughts and experiences to words. I have yet to read a weak letter, and some of the things he’s written […]
Archives for 2016
Odds and Ends
The short story I mentioned in the last entry? You can listen to it right here (or click on the image at the end of this post for a 20-second sample). (It’s about a woman who lands her dream job as a writer, but gets much more than she bargained for in the form of […]
Been a Long Time for a Short Story
I can’t remember the last time I finished a short story. In recent years, it’s been all about finishing novels. That changed yesterday. I Think I Remember How to Do This While I have a decent backlog of short stories for the Not About Lumberjacks podcast, I know I need to start writing new stories […]
On Not Caring So Much
Yesterday, I listened to this interview with Bud Smith. (The interview starts at the 30 minute mark if you’re interested.) Bud is a writer, and his attitude about it all is quite refreshing. The quick version of Bud’s outlook on writing: Just make something. Who cares about a publisher. Just make something cool every day. […]
Looking Ahead (To 2016)
Earlier this month, I talked about how much I like winter because it’s dark and quiet. At the same time, there’s a brightness under it all when a new year rolls around. I suppose it’s natural to kick off a new year with enthusiasm. Plans are made, and you want to shoot off from the […]
Waiting for the Light
First: credit where it’s due. This post was totally inspired by this post by Andrew Conti. Andrew’s views on art and other things makes his blog one of my faves out there. (If you don’t feel like reading Andrew’s post, the gist is he doesn’t get as much art done during winter as he does […]
The Speed at Which One Writes
Writers, take your marks. Ready. Set. Go! And they’re off! (Well, depending who they are…) If you’re George R. R. Martin, you’re told you write too slowly. (GRRM’s announcement that he’s missed a deadline; some fans are not pleased.) If you’re Chuck Wendig, you’re apparently too fast. So who’s the winner? George R. R. Martin […]