Hot Lava and Quicksand
Saw something online about things that worried you as a kid but turned out to be worth very little anxiety as an adult. Hot lava It was never simply “lava.” It specifically had to be hot lava. Never molten magma, liquified rock, vaporized stone, or the like. Similarly scalding, very warm, lukewarm and tepid were…Read More
Isolation Socks
No. That’s not a typo. A while back, my daughter gave me these socks. In the past couple of years, I’ve grown fond of wilder, more expressive socks. I’m also a Trekkie. Spock socks. What’s not to love? At first, I only wore these on weekends. The ears, you know. They stick out and when…Read More
First Look – WB
Very minor spoilers. Will Kwan is a second-generation gamer. His first toys were discarded Xbox and PS controllers that he chewed on as his teeth came in. Spark opened when he was six, but the family waited until he was tall enough to participate in all of the quests. By age seven, he had physically…Read More
First Look – Feral Daughter
Spoiler alert. I’m going to do my best to avoid pre-publication spoilers. I’ll give up minor details, as below, that don’t directly impact any of the main plot lines but will stay away from things like Yoda flying. If you’re a purist, you may want to skip to some of the other posts. Here’s the…Read More
No Dogs. No Dragons.
I wanted both. I mean, who doesn’t like dogs and dragons in a story? Look what it did for A Song of Fire and Ice and George R.R. Martin. I had a dog. Long sequence with Will living on the street in Barstow and befriending a dog. Turned out the dog liked what Will could…Read More
Book Review: A Quiet Read
Just plowed through this book. Outstanding. I’m a guy who can walk into a cocktail party where the world’s 100 most fascinating people are gathered. Let’s say I know two of them when I arrive – you know who you are. Two hours later (if I last that long) I leave. When I leave, I…Read More
Schlock Mercenary’s version of Hemingway’s Rule #1
If you’re a Sci Fi fan and don’t follow Howard Tayler and his web comic, Schlock Mercenary, you’re missing out on good writing, good stories, and Schlock himself. Schlock Mercenary’s Hemingway Rules
Hemingway’s Rules
Hemingway died in 1961. Nearly fifty years ago. His work is still required in most colleges and high schools. I hated his work when I first read The Old Man and the Sea. Don’t remember when I was forced to read it. Then I grew up and read more and realized how great he was. A…Read More
Blog Dogs
These are the hounds that hang out with us. This is Luna. She’s our Primary Dog. Responsibilities include eating, sleeping, and barking at the UPS guy. She was a rescue dog who’d been at the Humane Society ten months. We adopted her when she was just over a year old. Luna weighs in at 98…Read More
Writing and Critique Groups
It’s hard to get honest feedback. But it’s important. I fall in love with my characters. I know what drives them, what they fear, what they want, and even their favorite ice cream. How much do readers need to know? What’s critical to the story? What’s boring? If only we had a way for writers…Read More