I've gotten feedback from some generous readers on stories I'm putting together. Asking for feedback triggers insecurity and guilt ("I'm sorry to bother you and you don't have to read it if you don't want to.") but oh, people's comments are incredibly helpful. The feedback isn't only helpful in the practical sense ("Thanks for catching …
Twin Peaks: The Return would've been perfect for 2020. Or maybe it would've been the end of me. It's hard to say. Except that I love the way Twin Peaks made me feel--absolutely bewildered and dazed. In real life, I like these feelings a whole lot less. Is this year a dream or a nightmare? …
When I started participating in Story-a-Day in 2010, I chose a theme. That had to be the best way to approach coming up with an idea every single day for a month. That first year, the theme was fairytales. I took famous objects (a red hood, a poisoned apple, a pair of dancing shoes), and …
I decided a while ago to self-publish a selection of short stories. They are almost ready. I'm working on a cover and pondering a release date. It is definitely scary to do. I tend to think of who will and who won't approve. I think about my own ability to promote it. There's a lot …
A couple of weeks ago at a Death Cafe, people talked about whether they were afraid of death and what it meant to live without that fear. I've been thinking about things people said. Keep in mind it's a room full of strangers trying to voice thoughtful perspectives on big questions in a short amount …
A while back, a friend and fellow writer, Tammy Breitweiser, brought llamas into my life, specially on Tuesdays. Did you know llamas are having a moment? Well, apparently they are, and while my heart will always belong to the unicorns, llamas are cool too. They must be. Just look at them! So, thanks to some …
Many of us often love waiting for that magic date or hour to set sail on a new adventure or making whatever change brewing in our minds. But I'm not waiting for the full moon or the New Year or any of that. I designate this moment magical enough. For a variety of reasons (that …
I had a fairytale published over at Enchanted Conversation. Click over to read, and read the other stories too. Leave a comment. Share. All those things help. They even made a cover for my story! Which was a pleasant surprise. In my excitement about having a story published and finding a nifty site to make …
I finished Story-a-Day May! I wrote every single day and ended up with probably 29 stories or scenes I can polish up or use somewhere. And even though I've ended up re-publishing my first novel on my own, that isn't what I want for the rest. Or I don't think it is. My dithering about …
Sometimes you have to change your plan. I tend to put a lot of thought into my plans, and can therefore be resistant to changing them. But the universe is going to do what the universe is going to do, plans be damned. My novel was published by the late, great Plum Tree Books/UK. This …
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 