Steven M. Moore's Blog, page 137
February 3, 2016
An iconoclast examines fiction writing – lesson five of five…
[Many readers of this blog are familiar with my unconventional and acerbic opinions about the writing business—see the posts archived in the “Writing” category of this blog. I recently saw something about SkillShare, so I thought maybe it was time to distill some of those ideas into a short course on fiction writing for would-be authors. You’re in luck. A perusal of that site’s offerings about writing didn’t impress me at all. So, here’s my short and unconventional course—and it’s free!
Actua...
February 2, 2016
“All the News that’s Fit to Print”…
Conservatives read the Wall Street Journal, progressives the NY Times—that’s an old cliché that doesn’t have much basis in fact. Progressives also read the Journal—one had to be stupid not to do so in the events leading up to and during the 2008-2009 financial implosion, even if it was just to see how much money your IRA or 401(k) was losing (or the money wonks were stealing, depending on your interpretation). Today’s markets bring similar woes, thanks to China’s imploding economy and its dec...
February 1, 2016
Monday words of wisdom…
Late for a date with fate? Leave people alive. Don’t text and drive!
In libris libertas….
January 29, 2016
News and Notices from the Writing Trenches #110…
[Sorry, this is a wee bit verbose, but it’s been awhile. I was busy getting the manuscript for Rogue Planet (see below) ready to send to beta-readers. Cherry pick those items that grab your attention first. You can always come back to this newsletter later—they’re all in the archive.]
Item. Wise words? I’ve started a new series of posts titled “Monday Words of Wisdom”—words of advice, a bit of humor, forced rhymes, whatever you want to call them. Why bother? The number one reason is that peop...
January 28, 2016
An incorrect view of creativity…
In his op-ed article on creativity in the NY Times, Prof. Adam Grant, management and psych professor at the Wharton School of UPenn, says step one to creativity is to procrastinate. “Creativity takes time. So I’m trying not to make progress toward my goal.” I think that’s BS, and I’m hoping I’m not alone. The first part depends on your definition of creativity, of course. Presumably, this prof, who’s trying to sell his book, Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, is using a business d...
January 27, 2016
An iconoclast examines fiction writing – lesson four of five…
[Many readers of this blog are familiar with my unconventional and acerbic opinions about the writing business—see the posts archived in the “Writing” category of this blog. I recently saw something about SkillShare, so I thought maybe it was time to distill some of those ideas into a short course on fiction writing for would-be authors. You’re in luck. A perusal of that site’s offerings about writing didn’t impress me at all. So, here’s my short and unconventional course—and it’s free!
Actua...
January 26, 2016
The problem with secret societies…
“Diversity is America’s super power.”—Will Smith
As a boy, my friends and I had a “secret club” where we could be boys (grossing each other out with bugs and snails, practicing fart noises or having burp contests, and talking about those strange creatures called girls). Sometimes that childhood club only has one member, but that one kid can let his imagination roll. (I’m being sexist, but I never observed this among girls until junior high when they created their cliques.) These secret societ...
January 25, 2016
Monday words of wisdom…
Those in the know can deal with snow, but move with care with black ice there.
January 22, 2016
Movie Reviews #23…
[One flop and one surprise today—not bad for Hollywood. The first review contains my second published poem! You should boycott the Oscars. Chris Rock will be the only black face on stage. The Golden Globes are much more honest about assessing films and actors. I wonder if Hillary Clinton will have anything to say about that—she’s married to the “first black president,” after all!]
Joy. David O. Russell, dir & screenplay. Summary: A major flop about a mop turns you sour wastin’ star power. I c...
January 21, 2016
An iconoclast examines fiction writing: lesson three of five…
[Many readers of this blog are familiar with my unconventional and acerbic opinions about the writing business—see the posts archived in the “Writing” category of this blog. I recently saw something about SkillShare, so I thought maybe it was time to distill some of those ideas into a short course on fiction writing for would-be authors. You’re in luck. A perusal of that site’s offerings about writing didn’t impress me at all. So, here’s my short and unconventional course—and it’s free!
Actua...
