Personal Tics – It’s the Little Things that Make a Character

Someone very kindly shared this picture with me. I admit, I hadn’t noticed the above similarity before, though I did notice Steve would hold his belt in an interesting manner on occasion. Having it pointed out that this is something Bucky would do and that Steve is imitating him, however, does make sense. Why? It …

Bulletin: Introducing Postcards from Mars!

Ahem. Introducing for your enjoyment, Postcards from Mars! Each of the 50 word stories herein has a tale inspired by a piece of art that is also included in the collection. MidJourney and other art AI bots are producing fruit in multiple ways, and this anthology is one exhibit of how artists are adapting to …

More Reading Suggestions

Remember that guest post by Foxfier, readers? It inspired three more from yours truly, which you can read here, here, and here. Today, I thought I would list a few of my other favorite books, as there are many and we could all use some good entertainment these days. With the Christmas season past, it …

Romantic Relationships – A Speculative Commentary

Last week we discussed love among characters. This ranged from brotherly love (philia), or the affection between friends who are or can be as close as brothers, to romantic love. I was not able to express all my thoughts on romantic pairings last week and thus this post will contain those ideas. Previously, we discussed …

Reposted: Vampirism and Other Afflictions

A thought-provoking reflection from Monalisa Foster, readers: Vampirism and Other Afflictions If you’ve been alive for more than a few decades, you’ve probably noticed that people change as they age. Executive brain function takes place in the pre-frontal cortex, a region of the brain that reaches maturity (stops changing) around the age of 25-26. If …

Reposted: The Stories That Guide Us

A piece worth contemplating, readers: THE STORIES THAT GUIDE US We humans are a talking breed. Language and story are inextricably mixed, and it seems clear that the stories we tell eachother around the campfire—the narratives of our lives and imagination—are what define us as moral and ethical beings. Life provides us with various types …

Reposted: How to Structure Stories With Multiple Main Characters?

Take a look at this piece by K.M. Weiland, readers! How to Structure Stories With Multiple Main Characters? One of the most common questions I’m asked is how to structure stories with multiple main characters. If you have two (or more) characters who are equally important to the story and receive equal POV time, how …

How to Write A Dragon

At least, this video offers some good advice on how one can mold the dragons in their own universe, if they so desire. Click the link to hear the ideas yourselves, readers! 'Draconology' Explained | Dragon Biology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXlTO0dti3k

Reposted: The Same Story Told Ten Thousand Times

Check out Mr. Kai Wai Cheah's latest article, readers: The Same Story Told Ten Thousand Times I’m thinking of a story. Can you guess what it is? It is the story of a young man who is whisked away into a parallel world. There he suddenly acquires a set of rare and overpowered special abilities …

Reposted: Low to High

Rats. Readers, I planned to have another Writerly Sound Bites prepared for today, but that didn't pan out. In lieu of that, I highly recommend reading Mr. J.D. Cowan's post linked below. His article is informative and very on point; if you are a writer or wish to be one, this piece will be of …