Two months ago, I read a story prompt for an anthology call, and I immediately had an idea. However, I didn't start writing it. Why?

I was scared of the story.

See, it involved hard science. I don't write much hard science fiction. I'm very fact-oriented and OCD. I must get it right. This particular story idea required writing about teleportation ( Read more... )

How is it June already? Wasn't it Christmas, like, yesterday? And why is the temperature supposed to be 112 degrees today? That's egg-frying-on-car-hood kinda weather. Yeesh. Why is my son home all day--why does summer break exist? Then there's my email box. Why do I keep getting all these mean, negative emails from editors ( Read more... )

Contrary to popular belief, I do leave the house on occasion, and not just to hit grocery sales with a stack of coupons in my fist.

Tomorrow (Saturday) I'll be attending Phoenix Comicon. I'm not on panels or anything. I'm there, a fan in the mob. I will be wearing a pink shirt with a slime on it, and switching between a slime hat and a Jayne hat ( Read more... )

As an author, you write and labor and hope the stars align and grant your writing some extra attention.

I now have that attention... thanks to my "toilet story."

My local, regional newspaper, the West Valley View, has an article in today's edition about my flash fiction "Brains for Breakfast" and Uncle John's Bathroom Reader presents Flush ( Read more... )

I was chatting with a friend recently. She was discouraged about her writing and rejection and everything else. I had to be honest with her: it's not easy, and it doesn't really get easier. It changes--the scope of the rejections will change--but I always battle that fear, "This sucks. People will hate this. They'll hate me for writing it. I'm ( Read more... )

I live near Phoenix, one of the most devastated real estate markets in the country. While out doing errands, I drive past "For Sale" signs everywhere. It's something I should be used to. On one particular day back in February, those signs stood out like flashing lights and neon letters that said: WRITING PROMPT [HERE ( Read more... )

There's something I've learned during the past few years. If you want to succeed as a writer, it's not all about talent. It's not about developing a thick skin. Rejections make you cry? Scream? Those are valid reactions sometimes. But what enables you to succeed is sheer stubbornness. You send the story out again.Case in point: my story "Red Dust ( Read more... )

I utilize a to-do list app called Epic Win on the iPad. Basically, it lets me input tasks and assign points, and when they are completed I gain experience and items like a role-playing game. It divides tasks into five types, like a D&D character sheet: strength, stamina, intellect, social, and spirit ( Read more... )

I haven't talked about Critter in a while ( Read more... )

I'm pressed for time today, but I still wanted to post. I'm just going to cheat and link to this great post by Joe Konrath on why you need to overcome insecurity as a writer.You can't control what other people say or do. You can control how you react, as hard as that is. I think when you're down, it's okay to give yourself time to grieve, but you ( Read more... )