Pictured above: Me on the Brooklyn Bridge earlier this year It’s my birthday today so I took the day off work to 1. Drink, and 2. Smash Stuff. Although actually I’m going to smash stuff first, because I want to be sober when I’m wielding that sledgehammer. I woke upContinue Reading
(Pictured above: some of my notebooks from the 2006 Clarion West workshop) I know the world is on fire, but the Write-a-thon is happening for TWO MORE WEEKS! Sponsor me! Sponsor another writer! It’s not like I haven’t been writing, I just haven’t been writing essays and progress reports. ThisContinue Reading
Almost a year ago, on my birthday, I was listening to one of my presents to myself (2010 live recording of Les Miserables) and drinking alone (like you do) and came out with some thoughts on the moral philosophy of Les Miz viewed through the Good-Evil Chaotic-Lawful axis of DungeonsContinue Reading
It’s time for everyone in our little literary corner of the world to think about the Hugo Awards, and all the nominees for this year. The Word Witches weigh in on some items they like, an ongoing series: Aynjel: “Fandom for Robots” by Vina Jie-Min Prasad from Uncanny Magazine September/OctoberContinue Reading
This is a story about the last time I went to church, which was about two years ago now, on one of our final family visits to my grandma in Lewiston. It was a new building, which felt like a concert hall or a commercial establishment. A big foyer entrance,Continue Reading
I posted a few tweets a while back, on a topic that has been weighing particularly heavily on my mind since 2016: Among other things, I can’t believe evangelicals are still trying to get all pious about things like adultery, given their near-universal support for DJT. It tells you aContinue Reading
This idea tickled me so much I took it as a writing prompt: Okay but now I want to do an anthology of SFF pulp stories that all begin with a college lit prof in a bad marriage in love with his student. In one story, she's a succubus. InContinue Reading
What’s a book you totally can’t stop thinking about? Something that makes you want to discuss it and share it with everyone? Our coven has a few squees to share with you all. Aynjel: Have you ever read a book that feels like it was written just for you (butContinue Reading
Our own Love Witch/Ms Witch, Jasmine Silvera shared her quick-n-dirty guide to book and story reviews with us. We’re delighted to share it with everyone. Review Writing Cheat Sheet* Be specific Focus on one thing you liked: “I enjoyed the mature relationship built on respect!” Short and Sweet A usefulContinue Reading
Two of the Witches – Julie and Lindsey – got to see Duran Duran (pop-funk-new wave-new romantic-fancy hair rock gods of our youth) in concert recently. We sang along at top volume until we were hoarse. We knew ALL the lyrics. But we realized, as we listened to the words comingContinue Reading
Lindsey: Writing Resolutions: I’m not one for New Year Resolutions, per se. I find they fill me with guilt and shame – and as Daniel José Older tells us, guilt and shame about writing are a good way to talk yourself out of writing. So instead of a resolution, IContinue Reading
Shown above: Dietrich Bonhoeffer A while back I ran into this quote from famous German anti-fascist, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. [..] Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither protests nor the useof force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; factsContinue Reading
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,Continue Reading