Speculative Fiction That Asks Big Questions
Right now, I’m about four weeks away from beginning yet another round of revisions on my novel. Why four weeks, you ask? Because the draft is still out with two readers and, by the time I get their changes back, I’ll be preparing for a trip to Guatemala with friends. A series of semi-major revisions…
One thing I see a lot of in our local writing community is public readings, where a writer stands before an audience and reads a segment of their work. If you’re a writer, but you’ve never attended a public reading, you should consider it. It’s a great way to get a taste of different styles…
Next month at this time, I’ll be preparing for a one-week trip to Guatemala. Oh, who am I kidding. I’m preparing now. There’s a lot to do, and even though much of the trip will be unscripted, I know at least some of what I’ll need to have while in-country. It helps to know I…
In a strange duality of perception, I am both surprised that Christmas Day is upon us so quickly, and relieved that it finally arrived after Time dragged its feet for so long. This year has been a fast-and-furious roller coaster of activity with surprises around every turn. Life has been good and I am thankful…
Dear Kris, How are things at the North Pole? I hope you and your Kringle S.O. in the red leggings and faux-fur lined cap are both well and ready for the imminent last-minute rush. Rudolph and all your other four-leggeds are healthy and rested? I’m sure the elves have been putting in loads of overtime….
NaNoWriMo always surprises me. Every Fall, it hovers around the corner like one of our kittens, furry butt wiggling in preparation for The Pounce and, the minute November 1 arrives, it attacks my conscience. I always want to be a NaNoWriMo writer. I’ve occasionally planned to participate. It just never works out. Bad Drema. No…
In September of 2017, I blogged here about an idea for a transgender character, and how my initial inquiries to trans or genderfluid friends and contacts led me to reconsider that story as too stereotyped. Since then, I’ve danced around the inclusion of non-binary characters in my fictional works. It isn’t that I write only…
I see semi-regular comments on Twitter about writers who argue with editors. The overwhelming majority of opinion on this subject from writers who actually get published is this: DON’T. I agree. A magazine’s editor certainly knows better than any of its writers (or potential contributors) what is best for its particular market. That said, I…
In the U.S., winter holidays are just around the corner. That means the biggest season in the year for retail spending. Marathon shoppers know all about how to prepare for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and all their associated merchant-inspired lead-ins to this most mercantile of all seasons. Maybe you’re a mad shopper who loves trips…
I recently critiqued an excellent short story for a fellow Critter, a soft sci-fi piece with some hard sci-fi elements, which takes place on a distant world and has a … unique twist. From the moment I started reading it, I was hooked. The author doled out hints and clues about this world in tantalizing…