Today is “Hug An Australian Day.” Australians, identify yourselves so you can be embraced. (Robena)

Today is National Garlic Day. Garlic is delicious, non-fattening, and very very good for you. How often does that happen? Roll in it.

Note: This post has been updated with suggestions from the comments after the first day.

I’m finally getting that oft-talked about writing book together, and I’m working on a plan of organization now so I can take the ten tons of text that I already have, edit it and add to it and generally get this done. (That’s probably a good two years of work right there.) Below is the first draft of my proposal for the book. I emphasize: FIRST DRAFT. So what I need to know is what you would like in a writing book that isn’t specified below, along with whatever you don’t like about this plan. Critique please . . .
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So I’m still not organized enough to do a real post, but since Argh has been empty since, uh, Saturday? I thought I’d check in with a Random post. Do not expect coherence, this is just Stuff. Continue reading →

There will be a short delay in the Leverage post; my allergies kicked in, and the only medication that’s keeping me breathing is also keeping me sleeping. Yes, I tried Claritin; doesn’t do a thing for me. Back when I figure out how to stay awake.

April is National Welding Month. Just in case you were looking for a hobby. Or a new career.

I was never very good at science. You have to have some focus to do well there, and I was always getting lost in color and shape and story and wandering off. But I can pay attention for four minutes, one of the many reasons I like Ze Frank’s True Facts You Tube series.

Here, watch this one on chameleons. (SpitTake Alert: Do not drink anything while you watch.)

Or if you’d rather, here’s one on the mantis shrimp:

Or this one on the katydid, which is really a conversation between the katydid and evolution. There’s some swearing.

The one on the fruit bat is excellent but dirty (I have a thing for fruit bats because of Pratchett). The one on the land snail is downright pornographic. Okay, most of them are borderline perv. Oh, watch the one about owls. That’s a good one.

Science. Yeah.

Robena asked:

I remember that you wrote about negative and positive goals some years ago, but I forget what you said. Can you explain why Courtney wanting to keep her job is a negative goal? I’m thinking it might be why my current protagonist story isn’t exciting me.

The push in your story comes from your protagonist going after her or his goal. Continue reading →

Kelly asked about “Cold Hearts,” so here’s an update that shows how I work from idea to story. Sort of. Not really there yet. (I know I talked about this already in the Questionable: Turning an Idea Into a Plot, so think of this as an example of that. Kinda.)
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