Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 12

When your child turns 30

Once, no sentence made me feel older than “I’m a 30-year-old.” Now, I can say, “I’m the father of a 30-year-old.” My daughter is now old enough to have nostalgia. Fall Out Boy can do a version of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” that covers events in her lifetime. She can reminisce about things like […]Related posts:Don’t know whether to laugh or cry OK Boomer? When your younger brother turns 50…

OceanGate Titan and the limits of empathy

Social media had plenty of laughs at the expense of the five wealthy passengers on the OceanGate Titan. I haven’t heard this many sick jokes about a disaster since Challenger. I’ve also had a few things to say about it, like almost everyone on TikTok. But isn’t it wrong to make light of someone’s death? And I’m […]Related posts:In defense of TikTok TikTok and the danger of hubris “The only game in town”

How to write about the past

Several of my novels describe past decades. Amiga includes scenes in the 1980s, and my upcoming Christina’s Portrait describes high school in the late 1970s. Here are several things I’ve learned about using the past in fiction. Your audience shouldn’t need to know about the time period to enjoy the work. You don’t have to […]Related posts:An Amiga of my own 60 quotes about 60 things I’ve learned in 60 years Tips on writing in first-person

TikTok and the danger of hubris

TikTok has become my preferred social media platform. I appreciate the interactiveness of video, the ease of adding content, the engagement I’m getting, and the BookTok community I’m happy to be a part of. Like all social media, TikTok has its share of problems and drama. It also shows one of the biggest dangers of […]Related posts:My Eat Like a Writer Interview In defense of TikTok The story behind the tweet

Writing the book that scares you

When I finished my edits for Christina’s Portrait, I tweeted the following. I feel my book is ready for the world, but I'm not sure if the world is ready for my book. #WritingCommunity — Matthew Arnold Stern (@maswriter) May 19, 2023 Frankly, I’m not sure if I’m ready for this book. This was a […]Related posts:Beta for Christina’s Portrait 45 things I learned about writing My Eat Like a Writer Interview

“How to be Optimistic when Everything Seems So Hopeless”

In junior high, my friends and I made a “magazine” with a bunch of our cartoons stapled into booklet form in the style of our beloved National Lampoon. It was something I didn’t continue in high school, mostly because I got serious about writing and getting my work published in actual magazines. But late in my […]Related posts:Why high school matters 60 quotes about 60 things I’ve learned in 60 years Sixty things I learned at Reseda High School

Bridging the empathy gap

In the aftermath of yet another horrific mass shooting, I’ve seen calls on social media to post the gory photos of the crime scene. There is one from the shooting at the Allen, Texas outlet mall that has been floating around Twitter, along with the graphic descriptions of how one child was found. Proponents of […]Related posts:Lessons from 2018: Five things I learned Memento mori #NoPublicity

What the oil crisis taught me about driving an electric vehicle

When I was a high school senior in 1979, I hopped in my (still new to me) 1974 Ford Mustang II, with my first driver license in my wallet, and pulled into a long line at the gas station. As I sat there hoping they still had gasoline when I got to the pump and […]Related posts:The worst cars I’ve ever owned What a Prius can teach you about change Made in the USA

How to use beta reader feedback

I’m a big believer in beta readers. A developmental editor is a good investment if you have the budget. But it helps to get honest feedback from readers. The more feedback, the better. That’s why I paid for a three beta reader package from Entrada Publishing for Christina’s Portrait. The feedback I got from the […]Related posts:Beta for Christina’s Portrait What makes a great review The gift of feedback

Old tech, new tech

Last weekend was significant. I spoke at the Commodore Los Angeles Super Show in Burbank, and it was my first long drive with our new Chevrolet Bolt EUV. The connection for me was more than the vehicle and destination. It was the connection between old tech and new tech. Electric vehicles currently represent the ultimate […]