I’ve been writing a lot lately. Did a major revision – this was, in fact, the hardest I’ve ever done, it really was hack and move – on my first contact novel. I’ve mentioned about “real litrachur” being heavily a “slice of life”, and too many people that I, at least, don’t want to know… Continue reading Story writing

I see people talking about how much “Real Litrachur” shows a slice of life. I’m reading The Great Gatsby for the first time, and yesterday, hear Richard Powers, the honoree at the Festival, reading his favorite of the short stories he’s written (actually, it may have been a novelette). IT’S ALL DEPRESSING. I could sum… Continue reading Following on KSR at FSFF

I believe I mentioned on File 770 that I’d seen that Kim Stanley Robinson would be in Rockville (just up the road from us) on the 15th (today as I type this) at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival, and was thinking of going. Mike Glyer emailed me, and asked that if I was going,… Continue reading KSR & FSF

Over on Charlie Stross’ blog, the eternal thread on ICE vs. EVs has surfaced. There are people who argue that we’re not ready, that we need the infrastructure, and a) many of the EV charging stations are frequently out of order; b) people plug in and walk away, and c) some of us can’t charge… Continue reading Cars, electric and otherwise

While I was at Capclave last weekend, I went to the “Ask an Editor” panel, and asked a question – “can you sell a story that starts slowly, you know, like ‘in a hole in the ground lived a hobbit…” (Whe moderator took them all, and went through the list). He answered mine last:  he… Continue reading Starting a story slowly

Ellen suggested the reason the other day: waiting for other people to get around to things. Right now, I’m somewhat depressed, partly due to another short story rejection (but I submitted two others, one to the same mag, one to Analog). And I just finished complete edits on my two completed next novels. But… I’m… Continue reading Why do authors drink

While I was at Chicon 8, I went to the Hopepunk panel. Among the things mentioned was Noble/Bright, as opposed to grim/dark, but the panel said that it tended to be a hero who saves everyone. In contrast, in hopepunk, hackers/punks get together, and maybe make things better for a least some few people. But… Continue reading A Manifesto for a New Movement

If you haven’t heard, the Ring of Fire Press is going to be liquidated. I don’t know what the story on the Grantville Gazette is, but his widow’s got a lot of debts with the company. Not many copies of my book left – I have some for sale, as does Sally, of Larry Smith,… Continue reading Bad news – RoF Press going down

This year, there have already been a couple of high-profile issues – and that’s not mentioning what happened to be (see a previous post). In all the cases, it appears to have been overreactions to off-handed comments. I’m going to ignore the possibility in one case that someone on the religious right could have weaponized… Continue reading What’s gone wrong with the codes of conduct?

Hi, folks. Just changed the website – now, instead of me having to approve every comment, you just need to register (once), then log in when you want to comment.