“I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death,” said Professor Snape at the first session of Harry Potter’s potion-making class, and then added, “If you aren’t as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.” I hope I was not a dunderhead last night, as I attendedContinue reading “The Subtle Science and Exact Art of Potion-Making”
Category Archives: SF & Fantasy
Still Going Postal
A few days ago I posted about the Month of Letters, also known as LetterMo. This is a challenge I undertake every year; it encourages participants to write and mail at least one letter or postcard per day (every day that the mail runs) during the month of February. It’s time for an update. SinceContinue reading “Still Going Postal”
60 Million and Counting
Yesterday morning at 5:17 EST, a Czech man named Tommy registered the 60 millionth Postcrossing postcard. The card came from Veronika in Belarus, and showed two cartoon characters. That’s it on the right. This milestone means that since the project began in 2005, Postcrossing members like me have received 60 million postcards from each other,Continue reading “60 Million and Counting”
Weird Holidays
I’ve begun using my new Bullet Journal, as described in an earlier post. I started it only a few days ago, and a lot of what I’m doing now is still aimed at getting the pages set up. But there is plenty of room for adding things that are just for fun. I do likeContinue reading “Weird Holidays”
Postcards From the World: Daenerys
My favorite of the Postcrossing postcards I’ve received this week comes from Russian Postcrosser Anna, who lives in a suburb of Moscow. (Don’t know what Postcrossing is? Check out this entry.) I love learning about the people who send me cards. Anna sings in a women’s choir and competes at international music festivals. She lovesContinue reading “Postcards From the World: Daenerys”
Magic Bullets
I’ve kept a journal for decades. I’m not as diligent about it in recent years, not since I started a blog, but I still find it useful to commit my thoughts, memories, and plans to paper, especially those that don’t need to be shared with the world. My journal has generally been a pretty standardContinue reading “Magic Bullets”
Best Books of 2020: Old Favorites
Happy New Year! I mentioned a few days ago that I completed my 2020 Reading Challenge on the Goodreads website. I’d set my goal at 130 books read during the year, and I reached that goal, with just a few days left in the year. I may still finish another book today, so the numberContinue reading “Best Books of 2020: Old Favorites”
Photo Friday: Turning Us Royal
My husband had wanted us to have a family portrait taken professionally this year. Then the pandemic struck, and that idea fell by the wayside. So for Christmas, I decided to remedy that lack. But I wanted to do it without actually meeting with a photographer. Then I saw an ad for TurnMeRoyal. This companyContinue reading “Photo Friday: Turning Us Royal”
Plot Your Novel: Day 5
Friday was the final day of the Plot Your Novel in Just Five Days challenge, which puts together all the pieces from the preceding four days. The title of the lesson: Proof the Route. Just a few of the issues discussed: What is the difference between suspense and tension? (Suspense is a function of story;Continue reading “Plot Your Novel: Day 5”
Plot Your Novel: Day 2
Today, the second day of the Plot Your Novel in Just Five Days challenge, is subtitled Researching the Route. Yesterday I had to formulate the Story Question, External Goal, and Internal Motivation for my main character. Today I had to consider what the character needs to do or have happen in order to meet herContinue reading “Plot Your Novel: Day 2”
