Have you ever set a problem aside to let the "creative juices" soak in, or maybe switched projects halfway through to let an idea "marinate"? Or maybe you've simply given up on an idea, only to have an "aha moment" hours later in the middle of a completely unrelated task? Whether you realized it or … Continue reading The Shower Principle: Strange Ways to Boost Creativity
Review: Supernova
Review of the third entry in Marissa Meyer's Renegades trilogy
Odds & Ends 1/6-1/12
The name of the game this week was productivity. It's a new year and I wanted to hit the ground running, and I think I did alright. I got in and cleaned my apartment now that all the holiday festivities are over and my Christmas decorations are put away, I did some grocery shopping, re-organized … Continue reading Odds & Ends 1/6-1/12
Review: Little Women
Does Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel top what's come before?
2020: A Reading Preview
Last December, I gave a preview of what books I hoped to read in the coming year and other reading-related goals. Looking back, I did pretty well in going after those goals. In 2019, I pushed my genre habits a little bit further with mysteries like The Silent Patient and historical fiction like the Poldark series. For 2020, … Continue reading 2020: A Reading Preview
What’s in a [Character] Name?
Character names can be tricky. They're one of the first details that introduce readers to your world and what they can expect from your story. They need to be grounded in that world, wherever it may be, unique enough so that you don't get mixed up with any other well-known names, fictional or real, but … Continue reading What’s in a [Character] Name?
Odds & Ends 11/24-12/01
It's December 1st and I am almost ready for Christmas! I've been gradually getting my decorations out the past week or so, and after a happy Thanksgiving spent with family, I got the job finished. I also managed to get the last of my Christmas shopping taken care of today (though nothing is wrapped yet) … Continue reading Odds & Ends 11/24-12/01
Review: Poldark Finale
And so, with one final nail-biting adventure, Poldark came to an end last Sunday night. The show has been a favorite among my family since it first started airing on PBS in 2015, and the finale did not disappoint. Actually, my one complaint regarding the finale is that it was not properly set up by the … Continue reading Review: Poldark Finale
Baked Salmon in Maple Marinade
I was inspired to concoct this recipe by a Martha Stewart pin for 3 ingredient marinades; the one in particular that caught my eye listed maple, dijon mustard, and thyme. It was described as a maple marinade and, as I do like sweeter flavors, I thought this sounded right up my alley. The fact that … Continue reading Baked Salmon in Maple Marinade
Odds & Ends 10/7-11/2
Well, I think it's safe to say that October got away from me. I'd like to say I wasn't posting because I was on such an intense writing streak that I couldn't possibly tear myself away from the project, or because I was so busy doing fabulously exciting things, but alas, that was not the … Continue reading Odds & Ends 10/7-11/2
Review: The Kingdom
Review of The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg
Odds & Ends 9/23-9/29
This week's been a quiet one. I've been doing lots of research—which, when you're writing fantasy isn't so much looking information up as it is thinking long and hard to work out and invent obscure but still accurate world details. I completely understand why J.K. Rowling keeps coming out with Wizarding World content; I can't … Continue reading Odds & Ends 9/23-9/29
Christian Douglass Writes 