• What Writers Can Learn From “Jingle Bells”

    I suspect most people in the United States are familiar with the Christmas Carol “Jingle Bells.”  In fact, it, no doubt, is one of the most familiar carols ever in […]

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  • Has Evolution Shot Itself In The Foot?

    Evolution is a wonderful thing.  We humans wouldn’t be here without it.  Life on Earth started around two billion years ago and through thick and thin, through disasters that several […]

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  • The Metric System

    When is the United States going to move completely to the metric system?  You know, meters instead of yards or feet, kilograms instead of pounds, grams instead of ounces, liters […]

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  • The Novel And Killing Your Darlings

    Those of you who read this blog on any regular basis (both of you) may remember that I’ve written several science fiction novels, and that I’ve been trying for a […]

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  • The Titanic–Update and Commentary

    Did you know the Titanic is slowly disappearing?  It’s been over a hundred years since the Titanic, steaming at over 20 knots in the dark in fog in a known […]

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  • What Should Science Fiction Do?

    I’m a science fiction writer.  While only a very few people have read any of my works, (mainly editors and critique group members), I do have wide-ranging opinions on the […]

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  • All The People

    One of the most interesting words in the English language is “people.”  It can have several meanings.  My dictionary (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition) has several definitions, leading with “human […]

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  • Where Do All The Writers Go?

    I’ve been an aspiring writer of fiction (largely science fiction novels) for over twenty years now, and have yet to publish a book-length work.  I have published a few short […]

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  • Keep The Action Going – Part II

    A few days ago I was exercising in the fitness facility at the apartment complex where I live, and turned on one of the TVs installed there.  I scanned the […]

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  • The Summer of 2019

    Well, the summer of 2019 is upon us and many things have slowed down.  People take vacations and try to get away from the hubbub of daily life.  Schools are […]

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  • The “Was” That Was

    Every now and then I run across, or am asked about, the admonition that new writers learn, to limit the use of “to be” verbs in their writing.  Instead of […]

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  • Keep The Action Going

    Lately I’ve been watching reruns of the TV crime drama “Major Crimes.”  I like the action as the detectives of the Major Crimes unit solve the case.  The show is […]

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