One of my ongoing gags with friends is saying, “This wasn’t the cyberpunk dystopia I was promised. There’s supposed to be more neon and cyberwear.” A recent video takes on Cyberpunk and its reliance on visuals essentially created in the 80’s and, if I had to give it a tagline, it would be my cyberpunk… Continue reading Nostalgia for Dystopia
Monster is as Monster Does
1995. The movie Species had just come out in theaters and there were a lot of problems with it. Let’s put aside the terrible science (as a friend of mine put it, “Breeding doesn’t work that way. After a few generations, the worst you’ll have is someone with the occasional tentacle...”). Let’s put aside the… Continue reading Monster is as Monster Does
Our House, In The Middle of Our Street
Today, I'll be discussing Madness. Not the band, although they're brilliant and you need to dig into their back catalog. No, I'm going to be talking about this madness called being a writer. I'm making a distinction between being a writer and being an author. An author is a writer who's been published a significant number of… Continue reading Our House, In The Middle of Our Street
Having Trouble Finding the Holy Mountain
Today is a day of odd confluences. This morning, after waking up to another rejection, I turned to Twitter for a rant I was rather sure only one person would read. I've included an edited version below. I remember hearing a podcast where JMS (of Babylon 5 & Sense8) told a story of being a… Continue reading Having Trouble Finding the Holy Mountain
Steps in the Ocean
One of the things I enjoyed about my former writer's group was the 20 minute writing exercises which began every session. Now, to help get me going before working on the latest short story or novel project, I've started pulling writing up writing exercises based on images from Michael Whelan's latest collection Beyond Science Fiction.… Continue reading Steps in the Ocean
In the Heat, All Reet
August is upon the DC Metro area. For those unfamiliar with this time of year, it's when you can switch between your local weather forecast, and that of Baton Rouge, LA, and not see that much of a difference. Storms roll in with frequency and ferocity. The humidity is almost drinkable. Energy levels drop. Most,… Continue reading In the Heat, All Reet
Author, Dreamweaver, Visionary – Me?
This image, this entry title, and the dramatic music you suddenly hear playing in the background means one thing: Chuck Wendig's Awkward Author Photo Contest is coming to a close. First, congratulations to the winner for an amazing, haunting, eye-popping photo. Second, yes, you can still vote if you want to help decide who's in… Continue reading Author, Dreamweaver, Visionary – Me?
Walls, Drones, and Dreams – Sleep Dealer
Recent events, involving our government's horrific treatment of families seeking asylum from terror and death in Central America and the placement of children in privately run detention facilities, have made it difficult to do anything but post angry faces on social media, donate to folks willing to help, protest, and circulate articles about how our… Continue reading Walls, Drones, and Dreams – Sleep Dealer
Time Is the Enemy
It's been two weeks since I was let go from my job. In the last two weeks, I have become a house husband. In addition to reaching out to everyone who said, "Hey, get in touch with me after the holiday," I started cooking and cleaning up. And trying to fill my days with writing… Continue reading Time Is the Enemy
Unemployed in Greenland
"WHATS IN THE BOX??"
Biomechanoid Blues 