Pleased to announce that Sam Hidaka, editor over at the Universe Annex has selected another of my stories for publication. “Paper Baby” is a contemporary fantasy about the power of a mother’s love. The story (free to read) can be found here: http://www.grantvillegazette.com/articles/Paper_Baby

Penumbra is the speculative fiction eZine of the Musa Publishing group. These gals were a pleasure to work with, and I’m pleased that they accepted my historical fantasy story for their Native American folklore issue. Issues of this mag can be purchased here: http://penumbra.musapublishing.com/issues.php

Even at midday this time of year, the sun hangs just a few degrees above the horizon. The light slants in to the room of the house like it’s evening all day, and I can’t seem to find a happy ending–or frankly, even a shiny mood–for anything I write. Don’t get me wrong, I like dark fiction as much as I like anything, but I’d really like to crank out something light to balance all the creepy dead things that have been materializing on my hard drive.

Here’s to the upcoming solstice and a turning of the wheel. And a whole new year for happy endings.

Just thumbing through the news feed on my phone, I came across this article from Wired magazine:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/need-to-create-get-a-constraint/

For me, the most difficult part of writing is that initial idea, the glimmer of a notion that burbles up from the depths. Without it, there is no story. Everything else, in my opinion, can be learned.

So the challenge is, how can you improve the rate and quality of ideas? Because all of mine come as “eureka” moments, things that my subconscious just tosses over the fence from time to time, it seems there’s no formula for improvement.

Certainly, when I write daily, the words come more easily, but I think the ideas do, too. That must be because the subconscious is exercised by any creative use. I also seem to generate more ideas when I give my inner mind more time to relax. A walk in the woods. The final minutes of a yoga practice, spent lying on the floor thinking of nothing.

But I’ve also noticed that more ideas come when there is a constraint or a set of constraints. My writing group poses monthly Challenges, prompts and guidelines for an informal contest. This almost never fails to give me an idea, and thus a story, even when the prompt and guidelines are set by me.

So the next time your muse is in hiding, think about setting yourself some parameters. Write a story that must use a color as a central element. Compose a piece where your character must travel to an environment that is unfamiliar to him or her (and possibly, you). Perhaps it won’t be your best idea, but it may keep you writing through a dry spell.

A few nights ago, the full moon rose just before my daughter’s bedtime. Though it was well below freezing, we bundled up and stepped outside. She waited patiently while I shoveled the drift that forms on top of our porch and front stairs.

Finally, we stomped down the stairs and walked out from beneath the pines. Our shadows stretched long across the glittering snow. Moon shadows. We held our breath, silent together.