Quarterly & Special Issues
December 30, 2021
The author tossed well-crafted twists that awakened me from complacency for the characters and set them to spinning out of control, recapturing my vigilance.
December 27, 2021
Even with a bit of a cold/flu for most of the month of November, I enjoyed the aroma of the tea as much as the taste. The delectable tea is soft yet cake-y in ways I wouldn’t have thought possible in a green rooibos, gluten-free cake-flavored tea.
December 25, 2021
I grew up in the ’60s.I believed in Santa Claus.We had a real tree every year with tinsel – real tinsel. And putting it up was a family affair. A tradition that continued into adulthood, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
December 25, 2021
Tonight is the night for mystery, and joy
I wander alone to the cove of pine trees
Bedecked in white sparkling gossamer...
December 24, 2021
Her brother was grinning. Despite her intention to remain jaded, Julia’s rebel breath caught. Here she’d thought their views would be restricted to the portholes pocking the side of the shuttle, but there was far more now to see; not only the vast expanse of stars glinting like diamonds by the thousands but the rim of massive Jupiter. And Io: terraformed.
December 24, 2021
Sometimes asking questions leads to a Christmas miracle.
December 22, 2021
“In November of 2021 the leading platform for podcasts was Spotify. They beat out Apple Podcasts, which was second place.”
December 22, 2021
Jingle bells sound off in one accord. Bright, flashing lights on hats and necklaces fill up the night with the feeling that Santa is waiting right around the corner.
December 18, 2021
December 11, 2021
For a time, it seemed
the silence was forged
in fog, compressing the
tides as if a block of wax
was warmed and spread
out to the horizon.
December 8, 2021
Writing a character biography can be one of the most helpful things to do when writing a book. In fact, those character bios about your primary and secondary characters may very well be the best tool for creating the perfect twists and turns for your plot to keep your readers engag
December 4, 2021
I notice him perched on my windshield
as I drive the boys home from school:
His legs like violin bows folded,
black drupelet eyes alert, antennae erect.
Perfect posture, perfect tranquility.
December 2, 2021
“I personally adore almost anything fantasy or science fiction, and have a hard time sticking with a book that has no magic unless it’s an alternate world or universe. I think stories with a romantic plot, and even sub-plot, are drastically overdone and cliché, and eagerly search for books that focus less on the fictional idealised notions of love.”
November 30, 2021
You've done it. You've pushed and pushed, writing thousands of words each week, making it to this day - November 30, 2021. You've written like mad, and today, as you enter that last update, you'll taste that sweet victory of winning NaNoWriMo.
November 29, 2021
Whether you're into city living, country living, or that in-between suburbanite, landscape is a huge part of writing. Not only is it critical for helping our readers establish physical aspects of our writing universes, but the landscape can be an inspiration for storytelling.
November 28, 2021
Last year, I won NaNoWriMo in just a few short days. I met my goal of 50,000 words in less than a week. This year, although I've already won by the time this piece has been published, I've had several days in which I did not meet my writing goals. It's frustrating to miss goals, especially on some special days (like my birthday), but what can you do?
November 27, 2021
If you can write with music playing and you happen to be struggling in these final days of NaNoWriMo, using your writing playlist as a writing prompt could help. Earlier this month, I needed help mustering content while ill. So, I put my playlist on random and let the music move me.
November 26, 2021
A popular misconception exists that “The Next Great American Novel” can lift any feeble, impoverished writer from the mire to Hollywood or at least the White House. But alas, the creation of something incredible does not alone crown peasants kings.
November 25, 2021
It’s time for a little motivation from the Masters.
November 24, 2021
Usually, when I cross the 30,000-word mark each year, my inspiration for NaNoWriMo begins to wane. So, I thought it might be good to work through some of the things I do to keep the inspiration going. I hope my workarounds are things that help keep your motivation flowing all November long!