Today, September 24th, is National Punctuation Day. I, who have never seen a comma I didn’t like, wanted to take a moment to encourage each and every one of you, my readers, to revel in your love of and need for punctuation. Whether it is the curiosity inherent in a question mark, the certainty inContinue reading “On a Paean to Punctuation”
Tag Archives: Writing
On Contemplating Pseudonyms
Many years ago, when I was a manager for EB Games, I told a friend of mine that I did some writing on the side and that someday I hoped to be published. "Do you write under your own name? Or do you use a pseudonym?" he asked. "Under my own name," I said. "I'veContinue reading “On Contemplating Pseudonyms”
On Weekend Writing Plans
This weekend looks like a writing weekend. The main thing on the plate? My self-appraisal for work. The company skipped reviews last year, due to the uncertain economic climate, so this year’s reviews are more thorough than previous years, as this review covers two years of employment. But that’s not the only thing on myContinue reading “On Weekend Writing Plans”
On Writing a Merlin Drabble
Last night, I had an idea for a drabble. Well, that’s not quite right. It might be more accurate to say that an idea for a drabble that had been kicking around in the recesses of the mind finally announced itself as being ready. I like writing drabbles — a short story of 100 words,Continue reading “On Writing a Merlin Drabble”
On Star Trek Magazine’s Vulcan Super Special
On a Surprisingly Good Day
Today was, barring two transportation snags with the Baltimore Light Rail system that aren’t worth mentioning, a surprisingly good day. I received an Advance Reader’s Copy of Michael Moorcock’s forthcoming Doctor Who novel, The Coming of the Terraphiles. 😯 I was retweeted by the Voyager 2 space probe. (Okay, okay, it’s by the JPL team,Continue reading “On a Surprisingly Good Day”
On Story Ideas Rattling Around
When it comes to writing, I like to play with form. I’d point to “The Spindle of Necessity” as perhaps the pinnacle of my “playing with form” — the story is a four-part Socratic dialogue, complete with scholarly introduction (and, had I the room under the word cap, it would have had footnotes!) — butContinue reading “On Story Ideas Rattling Around”
On Writing Styles I Emulate
Here we are, nearly a month past Bloomsday, and what do I discover? I write likeJames Joyce I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing! James Joyce! 😎 Except that it’s F. Scott Fitzgerald I really try and emulate… :-/ Thanks to David McIntee for the link…
On Writing Fiction at Stupidly-Short Lengths
This morning at Shore Leave I will be on a panel, with Dayton Ward, titled “Writing Fiction at Stupidly Short Lengths.” I described this panel, a few days ago, thusly: Learn about Twitterfics, Drabbles, and Flash Fiction as writers talk about creating stories at super-short lengths that make conventional stories look like War and PeaceContinue reading “On Writing Fiction at Stupidly-Short Lengths”
On the State of Blogging
I’ve been thinking recently about blogging. Not my blogging, but blogging in general. I’ve noticed, from completely unscientific personal observations, that blogging is on the decline. Eight years ago, when I started up this website, it seemed like the rage. A journal… online! There was no reason I couldn’t have done that before; software (namelyContinue reading “On the State of Blogging”