Barbara Fradkin's Blog, page 6

Creepypasta and more

 by Sybil JohnsonToday it’s random thoughts day for me. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a writer or if everyone has random thoughts throughout the day. I pretty much have them when I’m driving or walking or watching TV or reading a book or.... Something catches my attention and I feel the need to look it up or make a note. Sometimes I get stories out of them, sometimes I just find them

Colorado Book Awards

 By Charlotte HingerThe Colorado Book Awards event was held Saturday, July 26. I was thrilled that Mary's Place was a finalist for the Historical Novel award. First place went to All Our Yesterdays, by Joel H. Morris. It's about Lady MacBeth and I'm eager to read it.I was delighted to learn that an anthology, Ramas Y Raices, written by Type M's very own Mario Acevedo was also a finalist. It

Alert the physicists!

 Michael ChandosAlert the physicists! Time has changed. For me, at least. When I was a kid, sometimes time dragged by. Now, with me over 70, time flies by.  WHY?When I graduated from college, I was in the Air Force. I traveled. Started a family. Bought cars and a house. Took the equivalent of online schools. Started a Masters program. But I still found time to write.Strictly an amateur,

I'll Take Mine With a Twist

 Since good writers copy and great writer steal*, I'm always looking for good ideas to lift from other authors. Not plagiarism, of course. Heaven forfend! But when a piece of writing catches my eye, surprises and delights me, I want to know: How'd he do that? Because I want my books to surprise and delight as well.I shall readily admit that I do the same thing when I see a good

Are we headed for self-destruction?

 Once more I have managed to miss my last Type M post day, so this time I decided that no matter how busy the summer is and how tired I am by the end of the day, I wouldn't miss my next Wednesday post.  This one will be brief. As a child psychologist, I have posted before about my concern about the erosion of basic thinking skills as we rely more and more heavily on technology. This is

Bearing Fruit – On Your Own Terms

by Catherine DiltsI picked my first tomatoSaturday. Colorado backyard gardeners compare their efforts to other regions attheir emotional peril. Seeing bountiful harvests on social media can bedistressing. I have to remind myself, we have a short season, and harshweather.I’m celebrating my modestsuccesses. I’ve been harvesting lettuce, zucchini and green beans. Thesnapdragons are finally

Ten Commandments for Mystery Writers?

 By Thomas KiesThe first thing I write on the blackboard when I start teaching a creative writing class is “There Are No Rules”.But in reality, there are…more or less.  While waiting to meet someone for a meeting in a coffee shop (he was fifteen minutes late), I was scrolling on my phone like every other patron in that place, and I tripped over the Ten Commandments for writing detective

The Bedrock of the Publishing Industry

When it comes to books, we writers like to interview other writers, editors, literary agents, publicists, but how often do we pick the brains of those representing the bedrock of the publishing industry? Without whom, the entire enterprise would collapse? Who am I talking about? Readers! Or rather in this case, one particular reader, my neighbor Eric Knoll.He and his wife Kathy (and their two

A Story Idea Developing in Real Time

As Recorded on a Facebook Postby Shelley BurbankOne of the perennial questions readers ask authors is, "Where do you get your ideas?"Well, the other day I accidentally recorded the exact moment when an idea--starting with a story title--occurred to me. Here's how it went: In past months, I've tried to wean myself off of Facebook and Instagram and had some success. However, as I'm in the

Moral Rights

 by Sybil JohnsonNot long ago Penny Publications sold AQMM, EQMM, FS&F, Analog and Asimov’s to the new consortium Must Read Magazines. The staff remains the same and supposedly it’s business as usual for these magazines.You can read more about it here.There has been discussion on SMFS (Short Mystery Fiction Society) about changes to the contracts when they buy stories, in particular