Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 29
November 12, 2019
OK Boomer?
You’d think someone who wrote a novel that discusses inter-generational tensions would be happy “OK Boomer” is the latest cultural meme. But this type of generational sniping isn’t new. In fact, it even happens within generations. How do I know? Because even though I can be classified as a Baby Boomer, I’m not fully part […]
October 31, 2019
The language of health
As I mentioned in my last post, I’m working on my weight per doctor’s orders. In addition to paying more attention to my eating, exercise, and weight, I’m also paying attention to the language surrounding these efforts. Our words form our thoughts, and our thoughts determine our actions. So let’s take a look at what […]
October 23, 2019
One month to go
My novel Amiga will be released by Black Rose Writing on November 27, 2019. I have been describing my publishing journey in a series of posts. This is the eleventh of the series. When I wrote about the ticking clock, the Amiga release date seemed far away. Now, it’s next month. How does a writer deal with a […]
October 8, 2019
The first thing I ever wrote on an Amiga
My novel Amiga will be released by Black Rose Writing on November 27, 2019. I have been describing my publishing journey in a series of posts. This is the tenth of the series. As I was preparing for Indie Author Day and a video interview, I came across some old personal journals. One of them is the […]
October 2, 2019
Out of your hands
My novel Amiga will be released by Black Rose Writing on November 27, 2019. I have been describing my publishing journey in a series of posts. This is the ninth of the series. October is special month for us. My wife is counting the days to her birthday. Our granddaughter has already picked out her Halloween costume. […]
September 25, 2019
It’s time to change your mind
The day I had told you about had arrived. I know all that happened was an impeachment inquiry was opened. It doesn’t mean there will be articles of impeachment, or those articles will pass the House, or there will be a trial in the Senate, or that trial would lead to a conviction. I’ve lived […]
September 12, 2019
Fiction and economics
Let’s talk about money and fiction. Not the money you hope to make from your fiction, but how finance fits into your story. What role does economics play in your plot? How much money do your characters have? How do they earn or obtain it? How do they spend it? How much do they save? […]
September 4, 2019
Vaporware no more
My novel Amiga will be released by Black Rose Writing on November 27, 2019. I have been describing my publishing journey in a series of posts. This is the eighth of the series. First, a lesson about computer industry terminology. Vaporware refers to hardware or software that has been announced but does not ship. A famous example […]
August 25, 2019
The art of cognitive dissonance
The year 1982 was an awful one for me–as well as many around the world. A persistent recession, terrorist attacks, the Tylenol scare, the growing fear of nuclear war, an actual war in the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas, and a funk only Michael Jackson’s Thriller could shake. In a year-end edition of a newsmagazine, a columnist admitted […]
August 17, 2019
The perils and value of fame
Recently, I was involved in a Twitter discussion about writers who prefer obscurity and fear popularity. It got me thinking about fame and if it has any value. In today’s world, we can wind up being famous whether we like it or not. We have no privacy, so our slightest slipup can go viral. Tragedy […]
