Writing Wednesday: Measuring Up

Last week’s goal report: My stories are still rotating in and out to market nicely (I did just discover that when I submitted “The Voices” to a market 3 months ago, the process failed, so it’s been lying fallow all this time. It’s gone onto another market now.) My second publication is already available for … Continue reading →

Meandering Monday about Giving In

So, Bill Mangieri, The Immortal, who hardly ever gets sick spent the weekend dealing with – I think – the flu. But I wasn’t going to let that keep me from my appointed rounds, because, after all, as my wife usually says, she and my son can’t stand me, because when I do get sick, … Continue reading →

Film Friday: Favorites, Anyone?

We all have our favorites, don’t we? Before you read any further, list your 10 favorite movies. If you need help thinking of them, in this day and age of movies on demand (on disc or streamed whenever you want), yours are probably the ones you’ve watched the most, or perhaps that you own. Just … Continue reading →

Writing Wednesday: A Novel Process

Last week’s goal status: My stories are going back out to market as quickly as they can. My first ePublication for this year released on time last Friday.  Blogs continue to post as scheduled (3 per week.) I finally managed to post 3 comments on other people’s blogs, in my effort to increase my internet … Continue reading →

Meandering Monday about the Dangers of Magic

Magic is dangerous. (No, this is not a caution against trying to cast spells at home, although you should be careful about that, too.) I’m done reading A Storm of Swords, and I’m taking a brief break from that world by reading R.A.Salvatore’s The Dame. I’ll return to the land of Westros afterwards. A writer … Continue reading →

Faltering, Festive Friday: In My Prime

That’s right – today I’m a birthday boy! At each age that I live through, I try to think of something significant about the number (not the age.) 52 is a FULL DECK of cards (like I operate with one.) 55 was my favorite because I kept hearing it like Sammy Hagar singing “I. Can’t. … Continue reading →

Writing Wednesday: The Value of Reading the Work of Others

First, to last week’s goals: I’m focused on Swordsmaster for the first half, so I’m not writing any short fiction right now (I’ll stop updating on my ten story quota until July – unless some rogue story forces me to write it.) My stories are going back out to market as quickly as they can. … Continue reading →

Meandering Monday about Missing Manliness

It is very hard to be a man. It is not something that you are born with, although being born the right gender is pretty much a prerequisite. Being a MAN is something you have to grow into. Some people arrive their naturally – it’s just in their genes, and they just directly and purposefully … Continue reading →

Fooled Me Friday: Can I Have Another?

**WARNING: The following contains SPOILER information regarding A Storm of Swords, the third book in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. I haven’t watched the HBO TV series, so I don’t know if it gives things away that happen in that production. Misdirection can be a wonderful thing. It can be built … Continue reading →

Writing Wednesday: Character Building (Who are These People?)

Goals status from last week:  Nothing yet toward my quota of ten short stories for this year (I’m supposed to be focused on Swordsmaster for the first half, so unless a story starts knocking me about the head, there won’t be any new ones for a while.) Stories are going back out to market as … Continue reading →