I received an e-mail this morning for a software product being given away at Giveaway of the Day, a website that puts up links to commercial software that’s free for a download that day. Today’s Giveaway? Liquid Story Binder XE. The software is supposed to keep track of a writer’s outlines, notes, character sketches, andContinue reading “On Getting Organized”
Category Archives: Writing
On the Latest Credit
Received today at work — Star Trek Magazine, issue #8. Behind a stunning cover of Riker, Data, and a sparkler, there is a four-page article entitled “Mind Children.” Author? Moi. 🙂 What will readers find in “Mind Children”? Why is Data different than other artificial intelligences, not only in the Star Trek universe, but withinContinue reading “On the Latest Credit”
On an E-Mail Gripe
Well, that was a fun ten minutes. I tried to send an e-mail. I couldn’t connect to my SMTP server. Why? Because Earthlink had put up some extra jiggery-pokery to prevent spammers from using their servers. Well, yippee. My e-mail error log gave me a URL to visit. So I did. And it wasn’t helpful.Continue reading “On an E-Mail Gripe”
On a Sad Discovery
I made a shocking discovery yesterday — Constellations has been remaindered. Imagine Anakin Skywalker as he’s awoken, encased in Darth Vader’s environment suit. Imagine his scream of “Nooooooooo!” Yeah. I can’t complain, really. I’ve signed a lot of copies. The book’s gone through four printings at least. That Constellations would turn up remaindered somewhere wasContinue reading “On a Sad Discovery”
On Rating Notice
Over on the bulletin board run by Simon & Schuster, the parent company of Pocket Books, I’ve recently rated as an “Author.” Take a look. My name is in blue, and rather than a title of “Member,” I am now an “Author.” I’m an author. How does this happen? One of the sysadmins there droppedContinue reading “On Rating Notice”
On Allyn Codes
One of my readers has asked me a very strange question. “You know how there’s a code in the Bible?” (Speaking, of course, of The Bible Code, that book of errant nonsense. You can find the same damn stuff in Moby-Dick.) “I bet there’s a code in your work. I bet there’s a code inContinue reading “On Allyn Codes”
On an Overseas Constellations Review
While puttering about the ‘net today, I discovered a review of Star Trek: Constellations. No real surprise there — they’ve been showing up on the ‘net for nearly a year now. But this one was different. This one was written in Chinese. 🙂 I don’t read Chinese. I can recognize it. That’s about it. Fortunately,Continue reading “On an Overseas Constellations Review”
On a Declaration of War
My fellow writers, Times New Roman offends me. Its crimes against reason and common sense are legion. Times New Roman is common. Times New Roman is plebian. Times New Roman lacks style and panache. Times New Roman is blase. Times New Roman lacks art. Times New Roman has cast a spell upon the world. ItContinue reading “On a Declaration of War”
On a Grand Designs Review
The UK website Sci-Fi Online reviewed the newest Star Trek: Corps of Engineers compilation Grand Designs, of which my own Ring Around the Sky is a part. From their review: It’s obvious from his detailed descriptions that Gibson gets a real kick out of technology as he indulges himself and the reader in descriptions ofContinue reading “On a Grand Designs Review”
On Joining SFWA
A few days ago I received an e-mail from Star Trek writer Kevin Lauderdale. Kevin and I have shared covers—he has a story in Constellations—and I’ve been a long-time fan of his work, going back to a review website he ran about ten years ago called “The Kevindex.” He’d joined SFWA. Science-Fiction Writers of America.Continue reading “On Joining SFWA”