Time for more fun with real physics!
In my most recent novella, I talk about a laser in use by Luca's group in an interferometer. Initially, I just wrote "The best measurements they had suggested that the beam might be expected to increase in size by one percent over a hundred meters, a fairly difficult feat, considering the diffraction limit at that wavelength," but damn it, I can do better than that, so let's go!
Just finished the first draft of a cosmic horror novella I've been working on the past while. I had an idea I liked, thought it would make a good short story, and I was 6000 words in when I realized it was going to be significantly longer than I originally thought. The full story comes out at a little under 20000 words.
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| "The Outlanders" image prompt from Iron Age Media |
The item at auction was floundering. Bidding had been contentious up to one hundred thousand, but now it had slowed and the auctioneer was surveying the crowd. No one seemed willing to go over two hundred thousand. The auctioneer slammed the gavel once, twice, but then a voice rang out, clear and confident over the rest of the grumbling crowd.
“Ten million.” The tangled thrum of voices vanished in an instant. The auctioneer blinked, failing to hide his shock for a second before he acknowledged the bid.
“I have ten million,” he murmured, a twinge of disbelief clear in his voice. “Do I have eleven?”
There were no further bids. The sound of the gavel rang out with finality.
A couple of weeks ago, I was wandering around my local library, and saw a book by Arthur C. Clarke! "My goodness," I thought to myself, "I've read the first two Rama books, and I think the second Odyssey book (or had I only seen the first two movies?), and they were great! Let's check it out!
Just pushed through a mild bit of writer's block in the last few days. I had what I thought was an interesting seed idea for a little story, and it's actually looking like it's going to be longer than I thought. I think that story's up over 7000 words now in just a few days of work.
Also making some more progress on the first draft of the novel, so that's good too.
I think it was an extended brainstorming session that helped get me moving again. Never underestimate the value of clearing out your mind and writing down a bunch of stuff that's occupying your attention. Also, it's been a little cooler, which helps.
Flash fiction is an excellent writing exercise, but it's a very different animal from longer-form writing. In the last two months, I joined a writing forum that has monthly flash fiction competitions, and my first idea was a great idea (well, I thought so...) but it was just too much for flash fiction!
Let me explain: if you're limited to 650 words--and I mean a hard limit--you had better make sure you restrict the action in your story to a small enough list that you can still add some descriptive words and all that good stuff.
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| "The Pixie" Image prompt from IronAge Media |
This prompt was a nice change in tone, and made me think of a warm, light comedy. Without further ado:
Thwack. Isabella was jarred awake by the ugly sound. She rose from her bed and flitted over to her door, her wings shaking loose a night's worth of scales. There was no one at the door, she confirmed as she peered through the little window.
