Category: Uncategorized

It’s happening a lot around the country right now. A bunch of people both I and my wife know have been hit by the news that their position has been downgraded, eliminated, or whatever other word is used. And, unfortunately, this became the case for me late last week. The…

So the latest Clarity of Night short fiction contest ended yesterday. Did anyone else enter? Send me the link to your post if you did. There are over 125 entries this time around. Quite a turnout. It’s always fun to see this many people’s interpretation of a single picture. (Here’s…

Head to The Swivet, where agent Colleen Lindsay is hosting a “Best Query Letter in 140 Characters or Less” contest. Fake queries, or queries from people already agented or published are welcome. Have fun. I see that smile.  Subscribe in a reader

If you’ve never read anything by Le Guin, you’ve missed out on a big founding stone of the speculative fiction genres. Whether fantasy or science fiction or a mix of  both, Le Guin’s writing never fails to create numerous worlds inside your head, along with characters that are walking, talking,…

This is one of the reasons I never want to write non-fiction–so my writing doesn’t come under this kind of critical scrutiny. It seems that many people are willing to embellish their life stories, or even make them up entirely, in order to get published. James Frey, Harvard graduates, and…

After being sick yesterday, my body seems to be trying to go into hibernation today and dragging my mind along with it. Therefore, instead of whipping myself into shape and trying for something original and creative in the post today, I will instead point you in the direction of a…

The title says it all. See more of it here. I see that smile.  Subscribe in a reader

Since I pointed out that thread of rejection quotes the other day, I thought it fitting to highlight a source of encouraging and insightful writing quotes. Quote It Write is a blog run by Josephine Damian, where she both lists and provides illustrations of various quotes that touch on all…

The Clarity of Night short fiction contest has officially begun. The photo used for inspiration this time is titled “Ascension.” The deadline is January 14th, the word count limit is 250, and  the prizes are: 1st Place: $50 Amazon gift certificate, 8 x 10 print of the “Ascension” photograph (inscribed…

There’s a writing forum that I visit often and would recommend to anyone looking for a helpful community of writers and agents who are there to sympathize, support and motivate each other to do the best job they can.  Absolute Write has every genre involved, sub-forums set aside for critiques…