The Girdle of Melian

ear-end writing review! I've done this post rather sporadically since the first year I began blogging (2007!), first in 2010 (the year of the houseparties in Cherry Hill and Istanbul), then in 2012 , 2013 , 2014 , and 2015 . Finally, I recapped my goals for 2015 , which carried over into 2016. From the 2010 post, I also came across this post-apocalyptic story idea I wrote in 2010, based on a dream. I'd forgotten all about this one! "I had a dream about a brand new story, which I might not even start writing for at least a few months [ha ha ha!], so here is the synopsis version: Following a nuclear incident, with few people left on the globe, a group of scientists get together in a specific place and create a dome in which to safely house the remaining humans in that area. Many of them die while working on the dome, until only two brothers are left. One becomes the evil dictator of life within the dome, while the other, because he has a young daughter, lies low and...

nsecure writer's support group day -- the first in the new year! Today's  question:  What writing rule do you wish you’d never heard? There are many supposed rules that I don't think are useful; "write what you know" is a particularly pointless piece of advice. If everyone followed it, there'd be no historical fiction, hardly any suspense, certainly no paranormal, and no science fiction! I think all writing advice is best read with only half an eye. It's good to know that it's out there when you'd like some guidance on a specific point. It's nice to have a starting block when you're first beginning to explore the writing path. And it's good to have something to rail against when you are well-advanced on that path and looking to carve your own walkway. Yet for the most part it's a waste of the time you could be spending on writing. On telling a story. On keeping your readers enthralled. On reading all the good fiction and aut...

oast for Tolkien's birthday! On 3 January, it's time for the annual toast to The Professor . "All you need to do is stand, raise a glass of your choice of drink (not necessarily alcoholic), and say the words “The Professor” before taking a sip (or swig, if that’s more appropriate for your drink). Sit and enjoy the rest of your drink." "To celebrate Tolkien’s twelfthty-fifth (125th) birthday on 3 January 2017, the Tolkien Society invites all Tolkien fans to raise a toast to the Professor. Let everyone know what you’ll be drinking and where in the comments below , and share your pictures on social media using #TolkienBirthdayToast." I'll be having a sip of Talisker, and maybe some Swiss Highland Whisky! Back in November, I had a chance to visit the J. R. R. Tolkien in Staffordshire exhibition at its stop in Stafford: "Description: The exhibition focuses on the time Tolkien spent in Staffordshire during the First World War. Visitors w...