Reshaping Reality

July 6, 2021

My Open Letter to City Designers

I originally wrote this email for the Des Moines City Council. For the past year, I’ve adjusted the verbiage to reflect what I’ve heard in their City Council Meetings with the Public. I also adjust the bullet points and actions I (and others) wish to see them take. Otherwise, most of the letters are verbatim Continue reading

activism, Author, disability, Race, transgender

ableism, access, accessibility, Accessible Cities, disability, disability justice, Disability Pride, Fight Ableism, Homelessness, No More Ableism
July 6, 2014

Book Review: Grass by Sheri Tepper

Grass by Sheri Tepper is a fascinating science fiction book. Here is the blurb on the back of the book: Here is a novel as original as the breathtaking, unspoiled world for which it is named, a place where all appears to be in idyllic balance. Generations ago, humans fled to the cosmic anomaly known Continue reading

Aliens, Reviews, Science, World Building, Writing

aliens, book reviews, culture, grass, political intrigue, religion, sheri tepper
June 29, 2014

Des Moines Art Festival

Every year in June, the Des Moines Art Festival takes over the downtown area with hundreds of artists from all over America (the US and Canada). Over a thousand artists apply every year, but only around 130 to 150 make it into the stalls that surround Sculpture Park in Downtown Des Moines. Because of the Continue reading

Art, Author, Blogging

art, art festival, des moines art festival
June 15, 2014

World build: Maps

Whenever you open a fantasy book and sometimes a science fiction novel, you may notice a map at the front of the text. There you can peruse the look of the world, and plot out the routes of the protagonists (and maybe the villains too) as you read through their journeys. How are these maps Continue reading

World Building, Writing

cartography, city maps, geographical maps, map, map projections, map-making, maps, topographical maps, zone maps
June 3, 2014

Thoughts on Philosophy within Worldbuilding

When I develop a culture for my world, I often will take a step back and consider the philosophies that may develop within that culture. The environment in which the culture develops will play a factor since it is integrally linked to how the culture survives and how it passes on its survival techniques to Continue reading

Characters, World Building, Writing

philosophy
May 27, 2014

How Society Views Women Influences People

This is a round-up of articles concerning the terrible and horrifying massacre by Elliot Rodgers. #YesAllWomen What Is It About Men That They’re Committing These Horrible Massacres? I don’t ever talk about this because it’s Super Hard by Jess Fink More Thoughts on what Happened by Kate #YesAllWomen: I will not be Silent by Teresa Continue reading

Feminism

feminism, masculinity, tragedy, yesallwomen
May 26, 2014

The Birth of a Story

On Wednesday nights, I play Guild Wars 2 with a dear friend of mine. As we play, our conversation may shift from the game to deep topics about our lives, our writing projects, our thoughts on reality and why things are the way they are. One night I spoke to her about my Audir and Continue reading

Author, Characters, Writing

Characters
May 15, 2014

My Writing Process

Author Update: I am preparing for a move, but will be restarting this journal with a weekly entry as of today. Whenever I sit down to write, I start with the image of the main cast of characters, then I place my fingers on the keyboard and type. I form the setting and characters’ Continue reading

Author, Writing

my writing process, story formation, theme, writing, writing process
April 24, 2014

April News

For the last two weeks, I’ve driven more than 700 miles. This is exhausting. I will have to add another 165 miles to that number (actually, probably more like 330 miles since I’ll have to drive back eventually) on Sunday. My car seems to be handling this sudden stress fairly well, but it is an Continue reading

Author, Blogging
April 20, 2014

National Poetry Month Day 20

Poetry often takes a personal turn for me. I find it therapeutic, and it digs deep into my consciousness. Overturning words and thoughts that I may not otherwise express, but it never quite comes out the way I hope it would. I always want it to be more than it is. To explore more than Continue reading

Author, Poetry, Writing

national poetry month
April 18, 2014

National Poetry Month: Day 17

I’ve been driving a lot lately in order to go to job interviews. Here’s a poem for this week: Rumbling roar of my car Transient rattling wheels Snap of fingers, Music gurgling from grimy speakers On and on and on farms, fields, forests, Dangling thoughts and particles of bugs splattered on windshield On and on Continue reading

Writing

national poetry month