When I was an unpublished, aspiring writer, oh lo those 15 years ago, I was soaking in desperation. I thought-screamed, “What do you want from me?!” over every rejection letter. If they’d only say, I could write it! I tried to come up with the Cool New Concept that would Read more…
In October of 2012, I got my first pro-rate acceptance. I waited breathlessly to be able to announce it to the world once I’d signed a contract. That day never came. The magazine folded, and I received a kill payment for the story from their bankruptcy. Did I wonder if, Read more…
A piece of advice I have often heard is that your story must clue the reader in to its genre quickly. “In the first line, if possible.” I remember getting quite tangled up in my thoughts, trying to introduce character, setting, plot AND genre in one sentence. Exhausting! Impossible! But Read more…
Ronald Reagan figured out a way to develop support for the right among the working class. It was brilliant in its simplicity: Lie. Pretend you already did. He spoke in his speeches about a silent majority of conservative Americans who wanted fewer social services, lower taxes, and a dogwhistle in Read more…
I wrote a personal essay on how it felt to be a woman warrior in medieval reenactment combat (SCA). It started as something I just wrote for myself, as I was working on my memoir about playing football. Then I saw an open call for short nonfiction on the subject Read more…
Greetings, Earthlings! It is December, which means we are entering a time of year with traditions and fellowship — yes, Science Fiction Award Season! So if you’ve been naughty or nice and can vote for the Hugos, Nebulas, Locus Awards, Otherwise Award, what have you — here is what I Read more…
Did you know there are towns in China that become hellscapes every fall to churn out products for American Christmas? I read a frightening article about it. Imagine forests choked by smoke churned out to create plastic trees with an estimated use span of one month. Imagine beating the planet Read more…