Joseph Carrabis's Blog, page 74

Enjoying a Little Opie Butt

I wrote in The Bluebirds of Keith Jarrett about The Wild seeming not to signal its children to move on. Four days later, our area looked like this:   Needless to say, migratables had migrated quickly. Our hope is we provided fuel for their flights. Meanwhile, two days after WinterMan walked through our backyard, an … Continue reading "Enjoying a Little Opie Butt"

Writing and Reading Rhythms

  I mention writing and reading rhythms in Toing and Froing Again Parts 2 and 3 and mentioned in other posts readers often tell me my writing pulls them along, that reading my work is effortless because it flows. First reader and critique group comments are often along the lines of “These lines flow so … Continue reading "Writing and Reading Rhythms"

The Alibi – Chapter 2

The Alibi is presenting me with several learning opportunities. I wrote about Toing and Froing in Parts 1, 2 and 3. Today big learning is plotting (I’ll no doubt write about it later when I’ve learned enough worth sharing). The individual chapters are short. Or at least shortish. To me, anyway, yet they seem to … Continue reading "The Alibi – Chapter 2"

The Bluebirds of Keith Jarrett

Early Jan 2022 we saw bluebirds at our feeders. Genuine bluebirds. What’s fascinating about this is they should have migrated by now. Whatever signals The Wild gives its children it is time to move, it wasn’t given this year. At least not for these bluebirds. Which, of course, causes us multiple levels of concern. Most … Continue reading "The Bluebirds of Keith Jarrett"

Toing and Froing Again, Part 3

This is the final post in this Toing and Froing arc. The genesis of this arc came from my fouling up The Alibi chapter 3 (my current work in progress. Toing and Froing occurs when the writer/author has their characters move around or do things for no real story purpose; there’s no character development, no … Continue reading "Toing and Froing Again, Part 3"

The Alibi – Backstory and Chapter 1

I finished editing The Book of the Wounded Healers in early July (2022). After taking a few days off, I went through my files to find my next project. One short story, The Brick and originally written in Jan 2020, was close enough to finished I couldn’t figure out why I hadn’t already sent it … Continue reading "The Alibi – Backstory and Chapter 1"

Great Opening Lines – and Why! (July 2022’s Great Opening Lines)

I wrote in Great Opening Lines – and Why! (Part 3 – Some Great Opening Lines) that I’d share more great opening lines as I found them. My last entry in this category was May 2022’s Great Opening Lines – and Why! (May 2022’s Great Opening Lines) which covered James Tiptree, Jr.’s The Milk of … Continue reading "Great Opening Lines – and Why! (July 2022’s Great Opening Lines)"

New Year’s Eve Kits

How do you celebrate the judeo-christian, western mindset New Year? I’m sorry. Did my prejudices show there? There are so many new years. Christian/western, Hebrew, Chinese, Souix, Mayan, Tcetzwtl, Celtic, calendrical, meteorologic, astronomic, … Take your pick, really. Us, we tend to celebrate the “natural” ones. What are the “natural” ones, you ask? And when … Continue reading "New Year’s Eve Kits"

Gel, Ink, and Rollerball – Genetics

I wrote in Principles about my interview with Katie Koestner and Claire Kaplan. That interview is live at Gel, Ink, and Rollerball. For people who want to know the source material for The Augmented Man, The Settlement, Recovery Triptych, and much more of my work, here’s your chance. I’m posting several excerpts over the coming … Continue reading "Gel, Ink, and Rollerball – Genetics"

Gel, Ink, and Rollerball – You’re not a monster

I wrote in Principles about my interview with Katie Koestner and Claire Kaplan. That interview is live at Gel, Ink, and Rollerball. For people who want to know the source material for The Augmented Man, The Settlement, Recovery Triptych, and much more of my work, here’s your chance. I’m posting several excerpts over the coming … Continue reading "Gel, Ink, and Rollerball – You’re not a monster"