cartoon of four people cosplaying as the jetsons

Archetypes: I Use ‘Em

Blog topic suggested by CuMhara O’Holyhead I remember as a new writer being afraid of using character archetypes. I mean not just stereotypes, but the wider, gentler tropes. The typical whatever. Hard Boiled Detective, Sexy Cat Burglar, Laconic Wise Man, Sassy Friend. I spent a lot of time coming up Read more…

Marie swirls her skirt in a factory setting

Obsolete Competencies

Blog post topic suggested by Shelli Snyder A fun way to make your science fiction future world feel aged-into is to include skills your characters have that they can’t use anymore. Maureen McHugh once confessed to me that she was a wizard at hand-focusing microscopes. With an elegant twirl of Read more…

Usula Whitcher eating tacos and beer by the Chicago River

North Continent Ribbon

My dear friend and a fantastic author and mathematician, Ursula Whitcher, is launching her first short story collection, North Continent Ribbon as part of Neon Hemlock’s 2024 novella series.  Ursula is quiet and casual and unassuming, just as she was when I met her at an SCA meeting when she Read more…