Motivational Monday: No Greater Agony

[Link] Ray Bradbury Explains Why Literature is the Safety Valve of Civilization (in Which Case We Need More Literature!)

by Dan Colman

Ray Bradbury had it all thought out. Behind his captivating works of science fiction, there were subtle theories about what literature was meant to do. The retro clip above takes you back to the 1970s and it shows Bradbury giving a rather intriguing take on the role of literature and art. For the author of Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles, literature has more than an aesthetic purpose. It has an important sociological/psychoanalytic role to play. Stories are a safety valve. They keep society collectively, and us individually, from coming apart at the seams. Which is to say–if you’ve been following the news lately–we need a helluva lot more literature these days. And a few new Ray Bradburys.

Read the full article: https://www.openculture.com/2024/08/ray-bradbury-explains-why-literature-is-the-safety-valve-of-civilization.html

Reese Unlimited is proud to announce the return of New Pulp’s most popular hero!

Reese Unlimited is proud to announce the return of New Pulp’s most popular hero! Lazarus Gray and his partners in Assistance Unlimited are back!

THE ADVENTURES OF LAZARUS GRAY VOLUME FIFTEEN: BRIMSTONE! Reese is joined by collaborator Dale A. Russell to craft this deadly new addition to the ongoing saga!

Throughout the world, legends of the Black-Eyed Children haunt those that live in the shadows. When a group of them arrive in Sovereign City, it falls to Lazarus Gray and the members of Assistance Unlimited to uncover their deadly secret and try to prevent the downfall of mankind! Be prepared for a wide-ranging adventure that spans the Philadelphia Experiment, the dark dimension of Dusk, a powerful sorcerer named Brimstone, and a looming gang war in Sovereign.

THE ADVENTURES OF LAZARUS GRAY VOLUME FIFTEEN: BRIMSTONE by Barry Reese and Dale A. Russell.

• Paperback edition
• The ebook edition

Hey You! Get Out of Your Head!

Hey, writerly folks! I have a friend of a friend who can't get out of her head to get started. Let's get together and give her our best advice to get over it, shall we? 

What do you have for her?

Josh Nealis: Just set a small goal. A minimum word quota everyday. Then up it every 10k words or so. Gives you time to find the tone and the story you want to tell.

Frank Fradella: Write the absolute worst opening line in the history of ever ever.

Rachel Burda Taylor: Go get Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way.

Robin Adams: Research always inspires me as well as gives me ideas!

Jessica Nettles: Just open Word and put the ideas on the page.

Carrie Fisher helped me a lot. She had anxiety and a lot of other stuff going on in her head. In spite of this, she was an actress and wrote hilarious novels. She said, “Stay afraid. Do it anyway.” When I get scared or the imposter syndrome gets loud, I hear Space Mom. If she could things, so can I, and so can you.

I bet your stories are awesome.

Sara Freites Scott: Just sit down and spill it all out on paper/laptop LOL don’t worry about it. Write what YOU want to read. You can always do rewrites later but get what you can down while you still have it!

John Morgan Neal: Start filling the blank page. With anything related to the story you are wanting to tell. Lists. Opinions. Song lyrics. What is the main character's favorite ice cream? Why? What makes them angry? Make up something about the setting. Who's is the weatherman on the local TV News? Describe them. What kind vehicle does the second main character drive. What color is it. Is that the color they wanted.

Kay Iscah: I tend to stay in my head until I can play the story out like a movie and I know the ending and all the key scenes. It was a little gratifying to hear Brandon Sanderson dignify being a "binge" writer as something other than horribly unhealthy in his lecture series. There is a point where you have to sit down and write, but it is okay to figure out what/why you're writing first.

My antisocial is kind of kicking in this week. Frankly writing is a flooded market, so if someone has to make themselves write, I think it's okay to not try to be a writer. Enjoy reading. Enjoy day dreaming. Turning your hobby into work makes it work instead of play.

ou should write because you love the craft or you have a story that's burning to be told. If you want to have a book because you just like the idea of being a writer, but not the work that goes into it, don't force yourself.

You can also simply write for the joy or therapy of it without worrying about producing anything sellable. Stream of conscious writing, journal writing, scribbling bad poetry in the margins. I love the line from Sabrina "I wrote nonsense in a journal... and then one day it wasn't nonsense."

If it's a story, write a story you want to read, and decide later if/when you want to share it.

Mari Hersh-Tudor: Start typing. Type anything. Type “I am typing.” Then keep typing literally any words. They don’t have to make sense. They’re warmups. Eventually they will turn into words you like.

Bobby Nash: Just start writing. Even if it isn't something you can use, just pick a character and follow him/her around. A little free writing can open up your creativity.

Emily Leverett: Admit that what you do write isn't going to be as good as you want it to be. (Also known as: embrace the suck, but that sounds more harsh than I mean it.) Know that it is okay to not get it right the first time. In fact, it is GREAT because you now have room to learn about yourself, your writing, the piece and characters, all of it! If it is fear of failure that is stopping her, then just knowing you'll fail in some way, and being okay with it, is an important step. Perfectionism is deadly, especially early on in the process. As others have said, be afraid and do it anyway. But don't worry about whether or not it is good. It isn't. But it can't be better until you write it. Hugs to her and anyone else struggling with it.

George Tackes: Read a non-fiction book with a notepad and pen nearby.

Gordon Dymowski: Do something that gets you out of your head: wash your dishes. Do your laundry. Work your garden if you have one. I find that the best ideas come when I'm *not* focused on the blank page.

Sean Taylor: Use Checkov's trick. Look at something close to you: an ash tray, a pet collar, anything. Write something about it, an anecdote, a story, a description (again, anything). By the time you're done, the muscles should already be pushing you forward.  

E. Robert Dunn: From Bullied to Books

I met E Robert Dunn just a few days ago at Stellar Fest. My first thought was, "I bet that dude takes a really nice author photo." (To be fair, I was correct. Just look to the right.) But, then I got to talk with him and share the floor on a few panels, and I learned that he had a lot to say about the art and craft of writing. 

E Robert Dunn is an American author born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Born Eston Robert Dunn, he began his career writing spec for The original 1970s Battlestar Galactica television series. As a teen, he also wrote for the British television series Space 1999.  

Tell us a bit about your most recent work. 

My most recent work is a play book entitled: Monologues From The Like Minded. It is a play consisting of a series of monologues that explore life experiences, body image, and several other topics through the eyes of psychiatric patients with various ages, races, sexualities, and other differences.

What are the themes and subjects you tend to revisit in your work? 

Morality themes/subjects. Hoping that whoever reads any of my (play) books 'walks away' thinking and/or learning something about themselves and/or others. 

What happened in your life that prompted you to become a writer? 

Bullying led to journaling which led to my craft in writing to become proficient and catching the eye of an English teacher who made a telephone call to a friend in NYC who knew a literary agent. 

What inspires you to write? 

There's so much more humanity needs to do to reach its fullest potential.

What of your works has meant the most to you? 

Well, my first novel: Echelon's End, Book 1: Last Generation.

What writers have influenced your style and technique? 

E.C. Tubbs, John Rankin, Michael Butterworth

Where would you rank writing on the "Is it an art or it is a science continuum?"   Why?

An art. My style of writing is not aimed to show student performance and how it can improve over time, nor assess student's abilities to engage in science practices, nor inform of future instruction.  

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? 

Finding one's muse and following through with what stories inspire the writing process. That and financial backing to allow for the creation of an environment that is free of the stresses of day-to-day subsistence.

How do your writer friends help you become a better writer? 

I do not have friends who are writers. I am the only one in my inner circle. 

Or do they not? 

The majority of my friends do not support my writing, have not purchased any of my books, nor seen any of the plays I've written that have been produced. 

What does literary success look like to you? 

Financial security. 

Any other upcoming projects you would like to plug? 

Not at this time. Hopeful to acquire a literary agent that can take my writing to the 'next level' ---such as a film and/or franchise series. 

For more information, visit: https://erobertdunn.com

Motivational Monday: The Voice Will Not Be Stilled

[Link] Dangerous Writing

Nothing Good Comes From Nothing

by Chuck Palahniuk

Nothing good emerges from nothing.  Years back, Max Brooks and I were alone in an otherwise empty lecture hall.  His book World War Z had become the all-time bestselling zombie novel, but I suspected it wasn’t about the walking dead.  Okay, it was and it wasn’t.

About his father, Mel Brooks, Max told me, “We never ate in restaurants because all through dinner men would line up at our table to tell my dad their best jokes.  Every Jewish dentist dreamed of making their hero, Mel Brooks, laugh.”  And laugh he did, whether or not the joke was funny, while his wife, Anne Bancroft, graciously played along with the performance.  Relaxing it was not.

Here I saw my opening and asked, “Your mother?”  I asked, “Is World War Z really about your mother?”  This wasn’t a random guess.  The last year of his mother’s life coincided with the year in which it seemed he’d been writing the book. 

Max’s eyes got, well, misty, and he said, “No one’s ever caught that.”  He went on to say that in the last year of her life, he’d driven his mother to oncologist after oncologist.  Each had confidently assured them about a new cancer treatment and set their minds at ease.  That’s why each government in the novel confidently announces a new plan for resolving the zombies.   

Each promising cancer therapy had failed, and that’s why after a year the zombies had won.  Max said readers hated the downer ending of the book, but that’s how it needed to end because after a year of battling cancer Anne Bancroft had died. 

Max and I alone in that lecture hall, well, it was a moment.  A nice moment.

Max is funny and hairy and has flat feet—a defect that got him bumped out of military training.  All his life older men had told him, “Your mother, in The Graduate, she’s sex personified!  The sexiest woman alive!” so he’d never watched the movie.  His fear was he’d get an erection, and then what?

The truth was Anne Bancroft had always raised her own vegetables and saved the seeds to replant year after year.  She canned food.  During the Rodney King riots she’d watched the smoke rising over Los Angeles and calculated how long her family could eat if she butchered the family pit bull and harvested the koi in their backyard pond.  Max told me, “She was basically an Italian peasant,” but not with rancor.  With pride.

In the year after her death he’d compiled everything she’d taught him.  About gardening, about canning.  As a tribute to her he’d put all of this legacy into his book, The Zombie Survival Guide.

I wasn’t surprised.  This is what it takes to write a good book.  My best writing teacher, Tom Spanbauer, taught me as much.  Tom called it “Dangerous Writing,” and by that he meant that a writer had to explore an unresolved personal issue that couldn’t be resolved.  A death, for instance.  Something that seemed personally dangerous to delve into.  By doing so the writer could exaggerate and vent and eventually exhaust the pain or fear around the issue, and that gradual relief would keep the writer coming back to work on the project despite no promise of a book contract or money or a readership. 

Moreover, the writer had to explore the issue through a metaphor.  Like zombies.  Or Fight Clubs.

Read the full article: https://chuckpalahniuk.substack.com/p/dangerous-writing

George Tackes: Instinct and Feel Take Over

Tell us a bit about your most recent work. 

My most recent published work: CNI Classified Vol. 2 short story “Hatchet Job” Oct 2025. Blue Planet Press. Robert Mendenhall created a fun group of military adventurers to write about. Masked Rider #4 – “A World Aflame” short story for Airship 27 – Western featuring Wyatt Earp fighting a fire rampaging through a small town. Secret Agent X Vol. 7 another short story for Airship 27 American Operation Hummingbird. Secret Agent X takes on a Nazi killer – always a great villain, 

My most recent unpublished work: In Search of the Cinnamon Bear, a novel – sequel to 1938 radio serial The Cinnamon Bear.

What are the themes and subjects you tend to revisit in your work? 

Currently adventure/action pulp stories with historical basis. Overall, I have to say the subjects are a wide range. I’ve written articles, plays, novels, short stories. My themes center around good versus evil, justice prevails.

What happened in your life that prompted you to become a writer? 

I remember as a child seeing a typewriter for the first time. I was fascinated by it. My mother gave me something to type but I didn’t want to copy something. Instead I wrote a story.

Motivational Monday: Don't Stop!

Sunday Funnies: The Autocorrector Strikes Again!

[Link] 5 Sneaky Mistakes Destroying Your Writing Focus (Fix Them Fast!)

by Colleen M. Story

You sit down to write, determined to finally make progress on your project. The words will flow this time, you tell yourself. But before you know it, you’ve checked your email, responded to a message, scrolled social media, and now you’re standing in the kitchen wondering why you even got up in the first place.

The writing? Still waiting.

In today’s world, distractions are everywhere. It’s not just technology demanding our attention, either. There are all the never-ending tasks we must complete to manage our writing careers, plus life’s responsibilities piling up. It can make maintaining focus feel nearly impossible.

Still, if you’re serious about your writing, you have to take control of your focus. Below are five common mistakes destroying your concentration—and what you can do to fix them.

Writing Focus Mistake 1. Multitasking While Writing

We often think we can do more than write. Write and watch the baby. Write and cook dinner. Write and help a child with their homework.

It’s easy to succumb to this temptation. We have a lot to do, and sometimes, it can feel like if we don’t combine writing with something else, we’ll never get the writing done.

But while multitasking may seem productive, it actually fragments your focus and makes writing much harder. Say nothing about how it lengthens the time required to get the words down.

The Fix:

Commit to single-tasking during your writing sessions. Remember that even 15 minutes of focused writing is better than 30 minutes of multitasked writing. Experiment yourself if you like and compare your word counts. Most likely, you’ll get more done if you can focus on your story.

Set clear boundaries. Silence notifications, close unnecessary tabs, and resist the urge to jump between tasks. Consider using a distraction-blocking app to prevent temptation. By focusing on one thing at a time, you’ll enter a deeper state of concentration and boost your writing output.

Read the full article: https://writingandwellness.com/2025/03/03/5-sneaky-mistakes-destroying-your-writing-focus-fix-them-fast/

Falstaff Books Introduces a New Badass Urban Fantasy Series Starter, The Driver of Serpents!

It's just NOT Saint Patrick's day...

St. Patrick has seen better days.

The reincarnation of Ireland’s patron saint and your favorite screw-up’s reason to drink in March has quit the Vatican again, tired of serving as one of their exclusive exorcists amid the constant corruption. Well and pissed, he gets on a plane…

And goes to New York, of all the dreadful places.

But the call to serve never ends, and on a dark trail of clues given to him by a strange demon, St. Patrick must navigate the city from the booze-soaked bowels to its glittering heights, uncovering a conspiracy that stretches back before Creation.

To stop it he must rescue the last Nephilim.

Locked and loaded with action-soaked comedy, The Driver of Serpents is the Urban Fantasy debut of a war between the forces of heaven and Perdition, archangels and demons, God, and the rest… and one Irishman already tired of it!

For fans of The Iron Druid Chronicles, Dogma, and Constantine, prepare for hell in this unholy thrill ride!

Available from Falstaff Books.

Titles and Stories (We Got Together, Like...)

This week, let's talk about stories and titles and how they go together (or don't -- I wan't presume your process!). 

What comes first for you, the story or the title? How does one drive the other through the process?

Sara Freites Scott: The title comes first but may change after I write the story! (Which actually happened with my first book.)

Bobby Nash: It could happen either way. Most of the time, it’s the story. That said, doing series work, like Snow or Tom Myers, I like to have a page at the end that states, “Tom Myers will return in…” and so I try to have at least a loose idea and a title for the next book ready to go. I have had instances where the title changed in the process.

Sean Taylor: I find it very difficult to write without a title. I'll jot down story notes and hold off actually writing the narrative until the right title falls into place. Yes, I know that (among other things) makes me an odd duck. 

Chris Riker: First - the moment. That one heart-wrenching scene. It contains the seeds of the story. It lives at the heart of the theme. Where do they come from? I live in a stressful world. Perhaps you've heard of it. Earth? Second - a few characters. Names. Quirks. Third - The ending. Not the plot; that's different. I need to know where my characters need to get to emotionally. Lastly: WRITE!

Jerry Motyka: Yes. Sometimes I get inspiration from a title, other times I get inspiration for the story and the title comes last.

Brian K Morris: Most of the time, it's the story, especially when I'm working with someone else's characters. Then again, I've come up with a title that practically writes the story for me. Also, I have to really put on my thinking cap to come up with a halfway pleasing (to me, at least) title.

Aaron Rosenberg: Oh, story 99 percent of the time, definitely. A lot of the time I'm scrambling for a halfway decent title -- I just use a placeholder to start, and hope something better comes to mind as I get into the book properly.

Gordon Dymowski: For me, the story almost always comes first. It's easier for me to come up with a killer title for a well thought-out story than it is a story for a killer title. I have several works in progress which I have named "Untitlted [INSERT GENRE OR CHARACTER" here to make them easier to track.

George Tackes: Always the story. Something in the story inspires the title. I couldn’t imagine having the title dictate the story. Because sometimes a story can go in an entirely different direction.

Iscah: Usually the story comes first, but it depends. Originally Seventh Night was called The Magician's Apprentice, and the story more heavily focused on Phillip. Then I saw a book with the same title at the store and decided I needed a new name. As the best fairytales are named after the princess, I went with *Seventh Night*, but this meant my title character was unconscious for two-thirds of the book. So, I reworked the middle to give her more to do and a bit more of a growth arch. I do think the story works a bit better that way.

When I say the story comes first, I tend to mean the general story. I usually have an idea for the title before I have finished writing. In some cases, it's a working title. I had a story called The Littlest Vampire, which is another title that I discovered was taken. That one has been sitting on my hard drive long that I may have to retitle it again if it ever comes out.

Some titles emerge while the story is still forming. I can be glacially slow from the spark of an idea and finding time to write it. So I have several backburner novels which are partially formed and still in the notes stage. Most of those have working titles.

Motivational Monday: Born That Way

[Link] The Classic Novel You’ve Been Misunderstanding All Along

by Girish Shukla

Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein' is often regarded as a simple tale of horror—a mad scientist creates a monster, and chaos ensues. This enduring image has been cemented by pop culture adaptations, where the creature is often portrayed as a lumbering, inarticulate beast. However, the novel is far more complex and thought-provoking than this surface-level interpretation suggests. Beneath its gothic exterior lies a profound exploration of humanity, responsibility, and the dangers of unbridled ambition.

Not Just a Monster Story

Contrary to popular belief, 'Frankenstein' isn’t about a monster terrorizing the countryside. Instead, it’s a deeply philosophical novel that grapples with what it means to be human. Victor Frankenstein’s creation, often mistakenly referred to as "Frankenstein," is not a mindless beast but a sentient being with emotions, intelligence, and a desperate desire for acceptance.

The real tragedy of the story lies in how Victor abandons his creation, leaving him to navigate a hostile world alone. The creature’s descent into violence is not inherent but a response to rejection and suffering, raising questions about society’s role in shaping individuals.

The True Villain of the Story

One of the most misunderstood aspects of 'Frankenstein' is the identity of its villain. Many assume the creature is the antagonist, but a closer reading suggests otherwise. Victor Frankenstein, driven by unchecked ambition, creates life without considering the consequences.

Victor’s failure to take responsibility for his actions is the true source of the story’s tragedy. His abandonment of the creature sets a chain of events in motion, leading to suffering for everyone involved. Shelley uses Victor’s flawed character to critique the dangers of hubris and the ethical dilemmas of scientific progress.

A Critique of Scientific Ambition

Written during a time of rapid scientific discovery, 'Frankenstein' reflects growing anxieties about the limits of human knowledge. Victor’s experiments push the boundaries of life and death, but his lack of foresight and moral consideration leads to disastrous consequences.

Shelley’s novel is not an indictment of science itself but a warning against pursuing knowledge without responsibility. The story remains relevant today as we grapple with ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and other technological advancements.

Read the full article: https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/books/features/the-classic-novel-youve-been-misunderstanding-all-along-article-117423296

New Imprint Falstaff Dread Launches with killer historical vampire novel!

Falstaff has a new imprint. Ready for the next generation in horror? Read the killer historical vampire novel. 

Ten years ago, Ezekiel escaped one evil, only to watch helplessly as an even more ancient evil in the form of a vampire ripped his wife from his grasp.

Ezekiel’s hunt began in the ashes of his former life.

Now, the Civil War burns through the American South, and Ezekiel cuts his own swath of destruction, battling man and monster alike. Two unlikely allies join him in his quest: Will, a member of the Union's Ambulance Corp, and Kate, a young Confederate sympathizer. The jaded, world-weary hunter doesn't know if his wife is alive or dead, just that revenge is a dish best served bloody red.

Available from Falstaff Books.

CS McKinney and the Off-Putting Aspects of Life

Writing stories about the unspoken and sometimes off-putting aspects of dating, romance, and life is CS McKinney's passion. With each book, he envisiosn the stories that feel familiar or connect with the reader on a certain level. By taking on the tough topics, he hopes to inspire others to find a life of love and happiness without having to make the same mistakes as the book characters.

When he's not writing, he enjoys competing in triathlons, playing music, and hiking.

Tell us a bit about your most recent work.

No Wrong, Just Write, is my latest publication. I decided to take a detour from writing novels to compile a step-by-step guide of how I write, publish and promote books. Many people have asked questions about my process, and in an effort to share this knowledge efficiently, I wanted to breakdown my thoughts into an easy-to-follow system.

What are the themes and subjects you tend to revisit in your work?

Romance and Mystery are my favorite genres to write. Inside of those areas, I find myself revisiting first loves and taboo topics the most.

Motivational Monday: Dig Down

[Link] On Dames and Dark Cities

by Christa Faust

They called me a femme fatale in the media, back when that Jesse Black fiasco went down. Most people have no idea what it really means. Most people think it means badass with tits, but that’s not it at all. A real femme fatale is a villain, and I always thought of myself as a hero. At least I tried to be.

Turned out they were right.

That’s the opening of my new novel THE GET OFF. It’s the last in the Angel Dare series and represents the end of an era. For her and for me. Telling her story has been a significant and transformative part of my life for more than a decade. It’s the thing that defined me, the thing that I was and am the most proud of.

It’s also in the rearview mirror now. Which leaves me feeling a little bit melancholy but also very excited to see what kinda trouble I can get into next.

By some cosmic coincidence, the theme of this year’s Noir City Festival is “femmes who made Film Noir fatale.” It’s a dynamite lineup of flicks that highlight the genre’s top actresses, many of whom are also featured in the new, expanded edition of Dark City Dames by Eddie Muller.

Read the full article: https://buttondown.com/christafaust/archive/on-dames-and-dark-cities/

Taylorverse Books releases Sean Taylor's first poetry-only collection -- WHEN WE HAD NO FLAG!

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlanta, GA -- Taylorverse Books releases Sean Taylor's first poetry-only collection -- WHEN WE HAD NO FLAG!

​While the book contains mostly new poems from 2004 and 2005, it also collects several of his poems going all the way back to 1994. All poetry collected in the book has a certain, specific attitude summed up by the opening quotes from the book:

“The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude.”
—George Orwell

“All poets, all writers are political. They either maintain the status quo, or they say, ‘Something’s wrong, let’s change it for the better.’”
—Sonia Sanchez

“All stories are political; they involve power that has structural underpinnings and material consequences.”
—Judy Rohrer

"Make no mistake," says Taylor, "these are politically charged poems. There's no way around them. While they may contain the language of pop culture and religion, all these poems work together make a statement."

With references as varied as Bob Dylan, Langston Hughes, Rita Hayworth, and Mae West (among others), this collection has been a long time coming. 

"Sometimes you can't help but stop and write because the world forces you to have something to say, something you feel is important. WHEN WE HAD NO FLAG is that something for me," says Taylor.

​

​Sean Taylor writes short stories, novellas, novels, graphic novels, and comic books (yes, Virginia, there is a difference between comic books and graphic novels, just like there's a difference between a short story and a novel). In his writing life, he has directed the “lives” of zombies, superheroes, goddesses, dominatrices, Bad Girls, pulp heroes, and yes, even frogs, for such diverse bosses as IDW Publishing, Gene Simmons, and The Oxygen Network. Visit him online at www.thetaylorverse.com and www.badgirlsgoodguys.com.

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