Oh, Monday, I feel none of your promise /
and all of the life left to me lies bundled up /
in bed dreaming and believing /
in a Monday yet to be.
Monthly Archives: July 2014
Monday morning writing jokes: “Zombies, part 2”
Q.: What is the capital of the United States of Zombies?
A.: Brainerd, Minnesota.
//
Q: What’s the nickname of the United States of Zombies?
A: The Brain Drain.
//
Q.: What do you call a Zombie sink?
A.: A Brain Drain.
Filed under Monday morning writing joke
Charleston Daily Mail | Old friends reunite over “Star Trek” fan films
[Editor’s note: You could call this finding old friends through fictional characters. It’s interesting what storytelling can achieve.]
Charleston Daily Mail | Old friends reunite over “Star Trek” fan films.
Dale Morton was 43 years old when his childhood fantasy came true.
He walked through the red turbolift doors and found himself standing on the bridge of the USS Enterprise.
The screens were all lit up, the lights were all blinking and it was all Morton could do to keep his welling emotions under control.
There, in the middle, room was the command chair where Captain Kirk recorded so many of his famous captain’s logs.
“I’m standing in the place where Kirk usually stands. I’m standing in his point of view,” Morton said.
To his right was the station where Commander Spock dutifully monitored the spaceship’s shields.
A few steps over was the panel, where engineer Montgomery Scott would crank the ship’s engines until he was “giving her all she’s got, Captain.”
Morton wasn’t really aboard the Enterprise, obviously, but it was the closest possible thing.
– See more at: http://www.charlestondailymail.com/article/20140717/DM06/140719379/1420
Filed under Star Trek
Star Trek Data & Trek Helped Fan Feel More Comfortable in Her Own Skin
Star Trek Data & Trek Helped Fan Feel More Comfortable in Her Own Skin.
[Editor’s note: This article is an example of how a fictional character can help someone in real life.]
by Samantha Bell
All my life, I’ve had trouble relating to people. Social skills never came easily to me (and still don’t). As one could probably guess, this was frustrating, and left me many times in a state of helplessness – or worse yet, hopelessness. By my doctors, teachers, coaches and especially my peers, my differences were always perceived as something negative, something to be ashamed of, an ailment I needed to overcome before I could start my “real” life. For a while, they had me convinced. I was mad at myself and the world, and in my moments of despair, I was left wondering what I should, or even could, do.
Turns out, it was not a matter of what to do, but who could help. Despite all my efforts to fit in, I found myself drawn to Star Trek, which set me apart even more. I never imagined it would end up giving me the encouragement I needed to change my life. Star Trek is inspirational for many reasons: a utopian future, the advancement of science. But in my case, it was a single character who really moved me – everyone’s favorite android, Data.
At first, I saw him as just another alien life-form that I would watch,
Read the rest at: http://www.startrek.com/article/data-trek-helped-fan-feel-more-comfortable-in-her-own-skin
Filed under Star Trek
Paul Rogers – On the Road: Illustrated Scroll 7
Here is a novel turned into a graphic novel.
Paul Rogers – On the Road: Illustrated Scroll 6.
Paul Rogers – On the Road: Illustrated Scroll 7.
An example of the getting more mileage (pardon the pun) out of the same material. This was discussed in a blog post on July 7th: https://talltalestogo.wordpress.com/2014/07/02/7-things-every-twenty-first-century-writer-needs-to-do-phoenix-magazine/
Go to: http://drawger.com/paulrogers/index.php?article_id=14690 and http://drawger.com/paulrogers/index.php?article_id=14848
Filed under graphic novel
Rough Stuff: In Which I Discuss Being Accused of Having a Sordid Mind
Rough Stuff: In Which I Discuss Being Accused of Having a Sordid Mind.
This is probably one of those blogs I shouldn’t write, but impulsivity and I are old, old friends. (Remember that time I decided to wear only clothes from Wal-Mart for a year? Yeah.)
I get a lot of very generous feedback about my writing. Some of it in the form of reviews, some of it direct to my inbox. It’s the kind of feedback that keeps me going, writing the next book or story. It helps me put out the flames of self-doubt when they come shooting out of my brain, obliterating the words before they can take shape on the page. I won’t say that I can’t live without it, but it surely makes my work easier to put out there. You know. Welcoming arms and all.
I’ve never addressed a reviewer directly, and I won’t do it now. But there’s a thread that runs through some of the uglier criticism of my novels and stories that I think is worth mentioning and examining.
Vulgar is a word that’s commonly used. Lurid as well (though it was used in conjunction with entertainingly, which I rather liked). My favorite and most recent hint that all is not hunky dory in my world is the observation that I must have a sordid mind.
It does make me think. It makes me wonder if,
To read the rest of the essay: http://www.laurabenedict.com/rough-stuff-in-which-i-discuss-being-accused-of-having-a-sordid-mind/
Filed under Writers on writing
Photo finish Friday: “Women with weapons”
Anderson house at beginning.
Women with weapons.
O’ those tarts with tools.
Doin’ the Restoration Rumble
Beatin’ back the blighted blues.
A lonely hovel up on a hill —
A seven-year pain, a bitter pill
A rundown house but not a home
With little left except the loam.
But with hammer and with heart
They start saving by taking apart.
Battered boards go away
And neglect can no longer stay.
They build up by building back
Foundation first and clapboard cracks.
Sanding, shaping, mantel making
New kitchen for cookies baking.
Tiles being cut for fireplace.
Women with weapons.
O’ those tarts with tools.
Doin’ the Restoration Rumble
Beatin’ back the blighted blues.
New stairway up, new flooring down
New windows in against air and sound.
New doors in place, uplifted face:
Cabinets, tiles, and counter space.
TV crew comes round to tape
To share and show its change of state.
Hollow house brought back to life
Ending ugliness and all its strife.
Women with weapons.
O’ those tarts with tools.
Doin’ the Restoration Rumble
Beatin’ back the blighted blues.
Exterior and interior work.
[Editor’s note: so see more photos of work done on this house, go to https://www.facebook.com/The.Anderson.Project.ONK It’s amazing what women (and some men) with the right “weapons” can do to bring things back to life rather than take life away.]
Woman with caulking gun working on new window.
–Poem by David E. Booker; photos taken from Facebook page.
Filed under Photo Finish Friday, poetry by author
Haiku to you Thursday: “A suitor unworthy”
A suitor unworthy, /
the world has a greedy hand. /
Save your love for me.
Filed under Haiku to You Thursday, poetry by author
Writing tip Wednesday: “Contest — ‘Still'”
Source: http://www.stilljournal.net/contest.php
Contest deadline is August 31, 2014.
Contest Rules:
Submitted contest entries must be unpublished and should not have previously appeared in print or online in any form, including personal blogs and websites.
Simultaneous entries are accepted as long as you let us know if your submissions will be published elsewhere before the contest ends.
We accept ONLY electronic submissions and fee payment through Submittable.
The contest reading fee is $9 per entry, payable through Still’s Submittable account, which can be accessed below.
An entry is defined as:
one short story,
or one creative nonfiction piece,
or three poems.
Multiple submissions in multiple genres are acceptable as long as you pay a separate entry fee for each submission. Contest entry fees cannot be refunded under any circumstances.
Manuscripts should be typed in a standard 12-point font and should have numbered pages. Prose must be double spaced. Poetry should be single spaced. Prose entries must not exceed 6,500 words. Poetry entries should not exceed 80 lines per poem.
All contest entries are processed and read on a “blind” basis; therefore, your name or any other identifying information must not appear anywhere on the manuscript(s).
Submissions should be sent as a Word document, rich text file, or PDF file only.
Deadline is 11:59 p.m., August 31, 2014.
Winners will be notified by September 30, 2014. Winning entries and finalists will be announced publicly in Issue #16 Fall 2014, Still: The Journal.
All entries will be acknowledged.
Failure to follow any of the above guidelines will result in disqualification. No entry fees can be returned.
Inquiries or questions should be directed to contest@stilljournal.net
Contest Prizes:
Winners of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction receive $150 each and publication in Still: The Journal #16: Fall 2014. All other contest entries will be considered for possible publication. Previous first prize contest winners are ineligible to enter 2014 contests in the same genre but may submit to other genres.
Filed under Photo by author, writing tip, Writing Tip Wednesday, writing tips
cARtOONSDAY: “mORNING”
It was so rainy, the fish were out of their banks and looking to get into his.
Filed under cartoon by author, CarToonsday
Booker's Blog 