Sometimes, an article pops up online that is exactly what I need. A team of researchers led by Princeton University scientists has found for the first time that tropical rainforests, a vital part of the Earth’s ecosystem, rely on the rare trace element molybdenum to capture the nitrogen fertilizer needed to support their wildly productive […]
Today, BoingBoing reminded me that John Lennon died 28 years ago today. Since my first national sale was a story involving Mr. Lennon, I thought I would excerpt some here: He turned to face me, and it felt like being cut off at the knees. Suddenly, I understood my mother’s Beatlemania in a completely new
I realized the other day that what I’m working on isn’t quite fun enough. Some parts of it are fun to read (I think) and (I know) some parts of it are fun to write. But in thinking so much about wordcount and moving from Point A to Point B (or in this case, Sequim
Hmm. Needs more fun. Read More »
There’s something magic about watching rotten, rusty barns and roll by and eating nigh-frozen sushi while listening to this song. (It’s even better after the snow has been and gone.) This is my favourite of all the things written this weekend: “Don’t you ma’am me, mister. I’m only seven years old.” “Hey, in cat years,
This is my new favourite song: Read More »
A while ago, I talked about a story that, to quote Dan Aykroyd (or Harold Ramis) “just popped in there,” inspired by looking at old clips of Vampira. Well, that story is finished, now. It took me about three days. Now I’m in the butcher shop phase, trimming fat where I can find it. There’s
Two rejections in as many weeks. I’m missing a weekend of free Japanese films, including one by Takeshi Miike, to go out of town. …By contrast, running is simply a matter of putting one foot in front of the other. I’m not good at it, but it’s something I can at least manage. Also lately
Reasons to go running: Read More »
Polaroid camera Quaalude Austin State Hospital (formerly the Texas State Lunatic Asylum) Oh yeah. It’s a fun story.
I’m up late and I start wondering about Vampira. (No, really.) And I start feeling nostalgic for a time I never lived in, and I see an ad about how analog television is going the way of the black swan, and I think about how tv and radio used to be local, really, how there
How it works for me: Read More »
Dear Story Entitled “The Von Neumann Wives,” Thanks for appearing to me last night. That was very nice of you. I like it when you guys show up. Really. I just wish there could have been some notice, first. Otherwise I would have known to get some other things done, beforehand. Like some more Foresters,
"The Von Neumann Wives" Read More »
While re-examining a piece I did last year for submission, I suddenly realized that it had (what I now consider) a beautiful ending spot, but silly me insisted on writing a lot of extra scenes that bloated it into something grotesque. This is my favourite part:
Sudden realization Read More »