Life is weird. When 2021 began I was working on a story that I really loved. Then life did what life does – it tossed a curveball that hit me square in the nose. Since then I’ve been working early and late, often through the weekend. I’ve been swimming in the guilt and regret that…
The story so far: The survivors of this world summoned her to be their hero. She ran away from the ceremony and fell to her death. Then she got better. She learned that she’s not the first hero, but they hope she will be the last. Convinced that her help will only guarantee their demise,…
The story so far: The survivors of this world summoned her to be their hero. She ran away from the ceremony and fell to her death. Then she got better. Finally, she confronts her captors. She’s ready to get some answers. He cupped his hands into a circle and a soft, blue glow leaked through…
The story so far: A woman woke up in another world with many of her memories missing. In her rush to run away from her abductors, she took a tumble from a window and fell to her death. Lucky for her, the death thing didn’t stick. A kind, old woman led her out of the…
The story so far: A woman was summoned to another world, but decided it wasn’t really her thing. In her rush to run away she took a tumble from a window and fell to her death. Lucky for her, the death thing didn’t stick. I lounged on a fluffy white cloud. Far below, the kaleidoscope…
Most of us go through our day trying to look normal, or at least fit in with the people we are around. We try to hide those awkward parts of ourselves so that we’re not different. Humans are social creatures… even one as hermit-esque as me. At the end of the day, we all want…
I didn’t used to wonder about a “writer’s voice” because I thought I knew what it was. It was just tone, right? Formal or silly, casual or crass. That’s what set Clive Barker apart from Terry Pratchett. Then I got a little older, and knew I had been wrong. A “writer’s voice” wasn’t just the…
The story so far: This is the first chapter in the untitled story of Jack, set in the world of the Aether. The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I ever had.– Roland Orzabal, Mad World A kaleidoscope of images writhed over the ground. I knew them all: every face and scene and…
I love working with universities, or maybe I’ve been very fortunate in the clients I’ve taken. The various things they need just to open the doors on that first day of class is overwhelming: housing, parking, registration, financial aid, course delivery… there is never an opportunity to be bored. This year I’m working with four…
So the first act of Riley’s story is up, but maaaaaan. They call the first pass a vomit draft for a reason. For the past two weeks I’ve been a little quiet as I work through it and push the edits to the redesigned Aether category. Whee! I got hung up on the chapter where…
