So we’re going to talk about classic world literature and Open, Sesame. But first, the public service part of the blog!
So you’ve heard by now of the sweeping security breach involving Equifax, who among other things were caught using the user name “admin” and the password “admin.” Seriously. Continue reading
Jodie Whittaker in 13th Doctor announcement photo
On the one hand, I can’t believe we need to have this discussion of how to write female protagonists and balance. On the other, since clearly we do need it, let’s have it.
With the announcement of the 13th Doctor as a female regeneration, the internet slightly exploded. I was actually at a fandom convention during the announcement and heard not only discussion of the announcement itself, but of reactions to the announcement.
We’re going to ignore those who were horrified to discover their Doctor now has girl cooties. They’re easy to ignore — or just borrow for humor, where they’re most useful. Anyway, the haters are vocal but seem to be a minority, or maybe I just have a better-curated network, and I don’t intend to waste blog space on that sort of thing.
But one repeated protest I heard repeatedly in several less-hysterical discussions was, now that the Doctor is a female, the male companions will be written down to idiocy so that she looks clever, and so everything will be less cool and the storytelling will suffer. I found myself saying or typing the same thing repeatedly, so let me just save time and put it here.
This is indeed a huge problem, only the problem is not the Doctor’s personal plumbing. Continue reading
Prepare for battle!
The authors of Equus have agreed to fight it out. We will pitch our equine heroes against one another in classic RPG style until only one remains to claim the title.
There can be only one. /lightning bolts everywhere/ Continue reading
I was shooting some video and realized I’d accidentally bumped the selfie button while using my phone camera to check lighting. That’s how this starts.
Accidental hair flip selfie.
And I thought that expression and that green screen were just too inviting, and so we’re going to play with them. Continue reading
Covalent Bonds is coming!
This is a bit different, so check it out: Continue reading
So this is fun — Con Job is now an audiobook! So if you’re pulling a long drive, or trying to ignore the stitch in your side during your run, or picking up clutter in your living space, or wherever you listen to audiobooks, now you can do it with Jacob and his geeky friends.
Of course, you have to be prepared for a little murder along the way. Continue reading
So July was kind of a blur, and the first part of August, but all for very good reasons.
Ireland Writer ToursLong-time blog readers know I blogged about writing in Ireland in 2015, and I went again this year. It’s a great week, full of fabulous touring and inspiration. But I stayed a little longer this year with organizer Fiona Claire to prepare for 2017, when I’ll be co-teaching with the talented Lorie Langdon!
Stay tuned for more information on this, but trust me, it’s going to be amazing. As I said in my newsletter: Want to explore a 15th century castle, walk through an impossibly green forest to an ancient waterfall, and climb in the footsteps of both 8th century monks and Luke Skywalker? All while improving your writing craft and exploring your publication options? Continue reading
Well, no one won Ireland, not exactly. But I did have a contest based on my writing-in-Ireland (mis)adventures. Readers were asked to guess how many times I checked that I had my passport after so stupidly forgetting it. (Never let it be said that I present only a finely cultivated picture of my own perfection on social media….)
Guesses were submitted via blog comments and Tumblr. None on Twitter, which surprised me a little.
And the winner, who guessed nearest the accurate number, is….. Continue reading
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Guys, I wrote a romance.
I know, I know. It surprised me too.
But it was a geeky romance, so it was easier. And, it was actually really fun! It’s a story about tabletop gamers and a convention and a desperate attempt to save a game. Continue reading
Okay, okay, I know this is the third time I’ve mentioned Star Wars in the last two months. But it’s been kinda everywhere, y’know? And I just wanted to do a round-up of some of my favorite cultural references, from music to electric cars to party food.
Continue reading
