I'm posting the below giggle to emphasize a point. Many writers are a little phobic about whether or not their work is too similar to other stories already on the market. You can relax, because everything has already been done (probably). The difference is that YOUR story is not THEIR story, so keep working on … Continue reading Same characters, same plot?
Author: TJ Pontz
Winter, is this all you have?
24th December 1983, I was standing on an elevated subway platform with the wind chill around -82 F, because I had to get to work. I was bundled up like Ralphy in A Christmas Story. My skin didn't hurt though. I remember there was a deep pain in my bones that I felt as soon … Continue reading Winter, is this all you have?
A pause for something new
As a frustrated writer, I've often bemoaned the fact that there isn't any application that really tries to help writers. Sure there's Grammarly, but it may not help if you don't want to use an online tool for checking your work. What if you want to build your stories offline and upload them? What if … Continue reading A pause for something new
Say more, write less
I love TED videos. The co-founder of Axios and Politico, Jim VandeHei has been paying attention to why people don't read everything. We're trying to stay afloat in a sea of words bombarding us all day and the choices about what to pay attention to may be frustrating. In his TED talk he walks us … Continue reading Say more, write less
Podcast Licensing
Just a quick post that the podcast is released under the Creative Commons license, requiring attribution, non commercial and share alike restrictions. This does not apply elsewhere on this web site [tjpontz.com], only to the audio podcast. Podcast License
#GoWriteNow
I've been writing creatively for decades. Now that I'm semi-retired it seems easier to actually get it done. My problem isn't that I'm blocked creatively - I just find it difficult to finish projects. Anyway - I've started a podcast to talk through some of the things I've learned along the way. Struggling writers have … Continue reading #GoWriteNow
Moon
White eye of the gibbous moonin the eastspidering up silken strandsspun from high above Halo of silver mist among the heightsa shroud of winter's looming chillpushed to unseen ends by secret giant's bane Never blinking eye this winter's young eveUnbrokenBreathlessObservant Watching incipient mis-intentionscorrupting yon horizonbillowing driven snows
Get the Words Out!
The podcast is being unleashed this weekend. It's something I've been turning over in my mind for a few months, and the planets finally aligned for me enough to get the first two episodes launched. I'm focusing on the task of creation in the craft of writing. I'll be sharing my thoughts on creativity, characters, … Continue reading Get the Words Out!
I am the voice of RA
How many times have you been warned? How many times has your species been taught? We tried reason alone, and you advanced many great cultures, but those days of greatness have sunk beneath the waves of time. We left you alone because it seemed that your species was well in control of Earth. It was … Continue reading I am the voice of RA
What’s in a name?
One of the hardest things for me to do when I'm being creative is to name that thing which I have written into existence. Many times I search Google on prospective names, and most of the good ones always seem taken. Then we go through the mediocre and/or bizarre stuff, and I either can't spell … Continue reading What’s in a name?