#365ways — Public Fediverse posts

Buck Moon

Last night’s moon looked just shy of full, and like a scoop of orange creamsicle ice cream in the sky. Tonight, if the weather gods align, we should be treated to the real thing, the full Buck Moon. 

July 2026 Full Buck Moon

It’s called that because it happens around the time male deer start sprouting antlers in preparation for fall. It’s also known as the Raspberry Moon, which suits me just fine!

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Buck Moon

Last night’s moon looked just shy of full, and like a scoop of orange creamsicle ice cream in the sky. Tonight, if the weather gods align, we should be treated to the real thing, the full Buck Moon. 

July 2026 Full Buck Moon

It’s called that because it happens around the time male deer start sprouting antlers in preparation for fall. It’s also known as the Raspberry Moon, which suits me just fine!

* * *

Happy Surprise

Ever had a day where your mind is cluttered and you’ve just spent hours wading through the news and it is both literally and figuratively cloudy, but then you look up to see a gorgeous little Monarch butterfly flutter by?

That’s me, today:)

Here’s to the many neighbors who have joined us in growing milkweed and other plants for these beauties, and to happy surprises!

* * *

Happy Surprise

Ever had a day where your mind is cluttered and you’ve just spent hours wading through the news and it is both literally and figuratively cloudy, but then you look up to see a gorgeous little Monarch butterfly flutter by?

That’s me, today:)

Here’s to the many neighbors who have joined us in growing milkweed and other plants for these beauties, and to happy surprises!

* * *

Cherish Your Gifts

I see no particular merit in the fact that I was an artist at the age of eleven. I was born with an ability, with music in me, that is all. No special credit was due me. The only credit we can claim is for the use we make of the talent we are given. That is why I urge young musicians: “Don’t be vain because you happen to have talent. You are not responsible for that; it was not of your doing. What you do with your talent is what matters. You must cherish this gift. Do not demean or waste what you have been given. Work — work constantly and nourish it.” — Pablo Casals, Spanish Catalan cellist and conductor

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Cherish Your Gifts

I see no particular merit in the fact that I was an artist at the age of eleven. I was born with an ability, with music in me, that is all. No special credit was due me. The only credit we can claim is for the use we make of the talent we are given. That is why I urge young musicians: “Don’t be vain because you happen to have talent. You are not responsible for that; it was not of your doing. What you do with your talent is what matters. You must cherish this gift. Do not demean or waste what you have been given. Work — work constantly and nourish it.” — Pablo Casals, Spanish Catalan cellist and conductor

* * *

Where Once Fell Soft Rain

This phrase popped into my mind after a cloudburst rolled through overhead. We’ve been having more of those in the past few of years, intense concentrations of Nature’s power blasting through an otherwise clear weather map. It makes me miss the grey skies of summer rain, and the gentle drops that encouraged growth rather than washing it away.

The phrase also sounded very familiar, and a quick check assured me that yes, it was a variant on the title of a Ray Bradbury short story. It’s not a cheerful story by any means, but it is classic Bradbury.

There Will Come Soft Rains (short story) – Wikipedia

I found the story available here, along with a lot of other classics from the likes of HG Wells to George MacDonald to Bradbury, Christie, Chesterton, Gilman, and many more. 

Library of Short Stories | Authors

Here’s hoping you find stories that encourage your growth as a writer.

Enjoy!

* * *

Where Once Fell Soft Rain

This phrase popped into my mind after a cloudburst rolled through overhead. We’ve been having more of those in the past few of years, intense concentrations of Nature’s power blasting through an otherwise clear weather map. It makes me miss the grey skies of summer rain, and the gentle drops that encouraged growth rather than washing it away.

The phrase also sounded very familiar, and a quick check assured me that yes, it was a variant on the title of a Ray Bradbury short story. It’s not a cheerful story by any means, but it is classic Bradbury.

There Will Come Soft Rains (short story) – Wikipedia

I found the story available here, along with a lot of other classics from the likes of HG Wells to George MacDonald to Bradbury, Christie, Chesterton, Gilman, and many more. 

Library of Short Stories | Authors

Here’s hoping you find stories that encourage your growth as a writer.

Enjoy!

* * *

Double the Fun!

A friend who knows I like rainbows and Star Wars sent this my way, and it is fascinating!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO8rOs05v48

In case you’ve ever wondered what difference two suns would make:)

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Double the Fun!

A friend who knows I like rainbows and Star Wars sent this my way, and it is fascinating!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO8rOs05v48

In case you’ve ever wondered what difference two suns would make:)

* * *

A Red Sun Rises

My trip to the mailbox this morning began peacefully enough, a quiet stroll through a slowly brightening day. Then I looked up. The sun hung in a hazy sky, its light filtered by particulates from fires in Quebec, leaving a visible disk that looked like a second moon. The smoke changed the usual morning light from bright yellow to a darker, ruddier hue. Very dramatic.

Today’s forecast? Thunderstorms, which brought to mind the old adage about skies and sailors. “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning.” It turns out to be based on atmospheric science, and while the logic doesn’t hold up everywhere all the time (and yes, smoke can interfere with its accuracy), it can be useful. 

Red Sky at Night: Is the Sailor’s Saying Really True?

The folklore lines up with two pieces of plain physics: how air moves and how light scatters. Low pressure pulls air together and lifts it, which builds clouds and brings rain. High pressure does the opposite. Air sinks and spreads out, which keeps the sky clear and traps dust and fine particles near the ground. Sailors learned the shorthand long before anyone measured a millibar: low pressure for foul weather, high pressure for fair.

Happily, forewarned is forearmed (to use another old adage). Now I wait, and watch for the coming storm.

A red sun rises.

* * *

A Red Sun Rises

My trip to the mailbox this morning began peacefully enough, a quiet stroll through a slowly brightening day. Then I looked up. The sun hung in a hazy sky, its light filtered by particulates from fires in Quebec, leaving a visible disk that looked like a second moon. The smoke changed the usual morning light from bright yellow to a darker, ruddier hue. Very dramatic.

Today’s forecast? Thunderstorms, which brought to mind the old adage about skies and sailors. “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning.” It turns out to be based on atmospheric science, and while the logic doesn’t hold up everywhere all the time (and yes, smoke can interfere with its accuracy), it can be useful. 

Red Sky at Night: Is the Sailor’s Saying Really True?

The folklore lines up with two pieces of plain physics: how air moves and how light scatters. Low pressure pulls air together and lifts it, which builds clouds and brings rain. High pressure does the opposite. Air sinks and spreads out, which keeps the sky clear and traps dust and fine particles near the ground. Sailors learned the shorthand long before anyone measured a millibar: low pressure for foul weather, high pressure for fair.

Happily, forewarned is forearmed (to use another old adage). Now I wait, and watch for the coming storm.

A red sun rises.

* * *

The Path to Good

The path to good runs through bad, and that goes for art forms we don’t even consider art forms, like friendship, parenthood, and citizenship. But the only thing that gets us better is practice. — Hank Green

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The Path to Good

The path to good runs through bad, and that goes for art forms we don’t even consider art forms, like friendship, parenthood, and citizenship. But the only thing that gets us better is practice. — Hank Green

* * *

Listen

“Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you.” — Parker J. Palmer

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Listen

“Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you.” — Parker J. Palmer

* * *

The 99%

Another fun astronomy fact today (and for many other days!).

99% of people on Earth will get sunlight at the same time this Wednesday

On July 8, at about 11:10 GMT, about 99 percent of the world experiences sunlight at the same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNjoNNqTTiM

That is pretty cool!

* * *

The 99%

Another fun astronomy fact today (and for many other days!).

99% of people on Earth will get sunlight at the same time this Wednesday

On July 8, at about 11:10 GMT, about 99 percent of the world experiences sunlight at the same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNjoNNqTTiM

That is pretty cool!

* * *

Hello Helios

Apologies for being ever so slightly behind the times on this, but we just (as in yesterday!) experienced aphelion. That’s right, on June 6th at 1:30pm EDT, the Earth and all of its inhabitants (that’s us!) were 152,087,775 kilometers or 94,502,962 miles away from our favorite life-giving ball of fire.

Perihelion and Aphelion 2026

The Earth orbits the Sun in an elliptical path, which means that there is one point on the path closest to the Sun and one point that is farthest away from the Sun.

And in case you were wondering: Aphelion: Earth is as far away from the sun as it ever gets. So why is it so hot?

(And on a related “really far away from the Sun” note, we just watched Project Hail Mary and thoroughly enjoyed it!) 

* * *

Hello Helios

Apologies for being ever so slightly behind the times on this, but we just (as in yesterday!) experienced aphelion. That’s right, on June 6th at 1:30pm EDT, the Earth and all of its inhabitants (that’s us!) were 152,087,775 kilometers or 94,502,962 miles away from our favorite life-giving ball of fire.

Perihelion and Aphelion 2026

The Earth orbits the Sun in an elliptical path, which means that there is one point on the path closest to the Sun and one point that is farthest away from the Sun.

And in case you were wondering: Aphelion: Earth is as far away from the sun as it ever gets. So why is it so hot?

(And on a related “really far away from the Sun” note, we just watched Project Hail Mary and thoroughly enjoyed it!) 

* * *

Our (Martian?) Future

Can you really survive on Mars? What science fiction gets wrong about off-world living | Space

Arnie said, “Get your ass to Mars”, but is it really a good idea? We asked the experts about our Martian future.

How likely is it that humanity will be able to live and thrive on Mars? Short answer, no. Longer answer? Still no! Doesn’t mean we can’t dream of new and exciting vistas in our future, though!

* * *

Our (Martian?) Future

Can you really survive on Mars? What science fiction gets wrong about off-world living | Space

Arnie said, “Get your ass to Mars”, but is it really a good idea? We asked the experts about our Martian future.

How likely is it that humanity will be able to live and thrive on Mars? Short answer, no. Longer answer? Still no! Doesn’t mean we can’t dream of new and exciting vistas in our future, though!

* * *

Stay On the Path

“To cultivate hope, people need three things, [Jamil Zaki, director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab] said: They first need to be able to envision a better future, either personally or collectively. Second, they need the willpower or motivation to move toward that future. And third, they must be able to chart “a path from where they are to where they want to be.” — Jamil Zaki, quoted in The Morning

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Stay On the Path

“To cultivate hope, people need three things, [Jamil Zaki, director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab] said: They first need to be able to envision a better future, either personally or collectively. Second, they need the willpower or motivation to move toward that future. And third, they must be able to chart “a path from where they are to where they want to be.” — Jamil Zaki, quoted in The Morning

* * *

Happy Questing!

I started two posts for today but neither have come together (yet!), so let me share a story from David Hankins (a fabulous and funny author from my Writers of the Future cohort!), with a bonus short from Lisa Para. 

Quest Tropes | Cast of Wonders: The audio for David’s story begins at 10m20s. Read the transcript or listen to the audio version, your choice!

The Last Quest of Corbin the Coward, by David Hankins

Corbin collapsed outside the dragon’s lair, acrid smoke wafting from his armor. He was getting too old for this. He’d never asked to be the gods’ favored champion.

Sunlit forests spread out below him, a peaceful world unaware and unconcerned that he’d almost been eaten. Twice.

Corbin drew a shuddering breath and wrenched a dragon tooth from his armor. Yet another pointless quest completed. What the hell did the gods want with a dragon tooth anyway?

No more. Corbin was done.

Enjoy!

* * *

Happy Questing!

I started two posts for today but neither have come together (yet!), so let me share a story from David Hankins (a fabulous and funny author from my Writers of the Future cohort!), with a bonus short from Lisa Para. 

Quest Tropes | Cast of Wonders: The audio for David’s story begins at 10m20s. Read the transcript or listen to the audio version, your choice!

The Last Quest of Corbin the Coward, by David Hankins

Corbin collapsed outside the dragon’s lair, acrid smoke wafting from his armor. He was getting too old for this. He’d never asked to be the gods’ favored champion.

Sunlit forests spread out below him, a peaceful world unaware and unconcerned that he’d almost been eaten. Twice.

Corbin drew a shuddering breath and wrenched a dragon tooth from his armor. Yet another pointless quest completed. What the hell did the gods want with a dragon tooth anyway?

No more. Corbin was done.

Enjoy!

* * *

Have Fun Exploring!

I have no idea what this “game” is supposed to be about but I love it.

Wiki Spy from Neal.fun

Check out all those images; so many interesting people, places, things, and ideas!

Hint: Hovering over an image will pop up a window with the title and source. If you want more info, click the image (a new round of related images will come up) and go to the top of the page. To right of the search field you’ll see a thumbnail of the image you clicked and (even further right) a “View on Wikipedia” link.

Have fun exploring!

* * *

Have Fun Exploring!

I have no idea what this “game” is supposed to be about but I love it.

Wiki Spy from Neal.fun

Check out all those images; so many interesting people, places, things, and ideas!

Hint: Hovering over an image will pop up a window with the title and source. If you want more info, click the image (a new round of related images will come up) and go to the top of the page. To right of the search field you’ll see a thumbnail of the image you clicked and (even further right) a “View on Wikipedia” link.

Have fun exploring!

* * *

Find Your Audience

“You’re trying to find your audience. And the way to find your audience is by being fully yourself in an engaging and interesting way.” — DongWon Song

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Find Your Audience

“You’re trying to find your audience. And the way to find your audience is by being fully yourself in an engaging and interesting way.” — DongWon Song

* * *

To Freedom!

Happy Juneteenth, everyone! If you’re interested in the history behind the holiday celebrating the effective end of legalized slavery in the United States, I’ve written about it before. 

This year, I’m marking the day with a biracial poem.

Half of me is glad

to be free. Half is glad I’m

not holding the chain.

Here’s to freedom, for us all.

* * *

To Freedom!

Happy Juneteenth, everyone! If you’re interested in the history behind the holiday celebrating the effective end of legalized slavery in the United States, I’ve written about it before. 

This year, I’m marking the day with a biracial poem.

Half of me is glad

to be free. Half is glad I’m

not holding the chain.

Here’s to freedom, for us all.

* * *

Let Yourself Chill

A storm rolled through today and now strong winds gust through the trees, making me more than usually aware of the weather. Which is why this bit of magic caught my eye.

Hypnotic Film Transforms Satellite Data Into Stunning Film

At first glance, Water World looks more like a painting than satellite imagery. Deep teal and silver clouds swirl slowly across a darkened sky, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. But every formation seen in the film genuinely existed above Earth, recorded in remarkable detail by a weather satellite orbiting roughly 22,000 miles above the equator.

The article goes into more detail on the how and the why, or you could just put the video onscreen and let yourself chill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTnJyARSqL4

* * *

Let Yourself Chill

A storm rolled through today and now strong winds gust through the trees, making me more than usually aware of the weather. Which is why this bit of magic caught my eye.

Hypnotic Film Transforms Satellite Data Into Stunning Film

At first glance, Water World looks more like a painting than satellite imagery. Deep teal and silver clouds swirl slowly across a darkened sky, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. But every formation seen in the film genuinely existed above Earth, recorded in remarkable detail by a weather satellite orbiting roughly 22,000 miles above the equator.

The article goes into more detail on the how and the why, or you could just put the video onscreen and let yourself chill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTnJyARSqL4

* * *

Gibson Riffs

William Gibson riffs on writing and the future

So I would recommend that people read a lot, and as broadly as possible, and then I would suggest that people write a lot. You have to have written a very good deal in order to become really good at it. And if you do it often enough and pay sufficient attention, you’re much more likely to get somewhere than if you don’t.

* * *

Gibson Riffs

William Gibson riffs on writing and the future

So I would recommend that people read a lot, and as broadly as possible, and then I would suggest that people write a lot. You have to have written a very good deal in order to become really good at it. And if you do it often enough and pay sufficient attention, you’re much more likely to get somewhere than if you don’t.

* * *

Let It Bloom

A relative of Irish descent reminded me that today is Bloomsday, or a day to celebrate the life and work of James Joyce. 

What is Bloomsday? – Bloomsday Festival

Bloomsday celebrates Thursday, 16th June 1904 — the day immortalised in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. The day is named after Leopold Bloom, one of the novel’s protagonists. The novel follows Bloom’s life and thoughts (as well as those of Stephen Dedalus and a host of other characters, real and fictional) from early in the morning to the twilight hours of the following day.

It may also be helpful for other writers to know that even Joyce worried about his work being forgotten.

No chance of that today!

* * *

Let It Bloom

A relative of Irish descent reminded me that today is Bloomsday, or a day to celebrate the life and work of James Joyce. 

What is Bloomsday? – Bloomsday Festival

Bloomsday celebrates Thursday, 16th June 1904 — the day immortalised in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. The day is named after Leopold Bloom, one of the novel’s protagonists. The novel follows Bloom’s life and thoughts (as well as those of Stephen Dedalus and a host of other characters, real and fictional) from early in the morning to the twilight hours of the following day.

It may also be helpful for other writers to know that even Joyce worried about his work being forgotten.

No chance of that today!

* * *

Advice, Unexpected

Some days the advice you need comes to you at just the right time, all unexpected.

Lorem Ipsum and Light Bulbs, Hank Green

You’ve probably heard the bowl story, or some version of it, but I’m going to tell it to you again. Some diabolical teacher split his ceramics students into two groups. One group was told to spend the entire semester making one perfect bowl. The other group was graded on sheer volume… just make as many bowls as you can, quality be damned.

At the end of the semester, the group that was told to just make a bunch of bowls made the better bowls.

This is a common idea in creative circles, but Hank’s version popped up in my inbox just when I needed to hear it. 

Maybe it will help you too?

* * *

Advice, Unexpected

Some days the advice you need comes to you at just the right time, all unexpected.

Lorem Ipsum and Light Bulbs, Hank Green

You’ve probably heard the bowl story, or some version of it, but I’m going to tell it to you again. Some diabolical teacher split his ceramics students into two groups. One group was told to spend the entire semester making one perfect bowl. The other group was graded on sheer volume… just make as many bowls as you can, quality be damned.

At the end of the semester, the group that was told to just make a bunch of bowls made the better bowls.

This is a common idea in creative circles, but Hank’s version popped up in my inbox just when I needed to hear it. 

Maybe it will help you too?

* * *

Story Ideas

It’s a classic question for writers: “Where do you get your ideas?” In my experience, they come from lots of sources, and certainly not the same places for everyone. Find what interests you and follow it. Think big, think small, think sideways.

And if you’re stuck or just looking for new inspiration, you could do worse than follow advice from one of the masters of the field.

“Make a list of ten things you hate and tear them down in a short story or poem. Make a list of ten things you love and celebrate them. When I wrote Fahrenheit 451 I hated book burners and I loved libraries. So there you are.” — Ray Bradbury

* * *

Story Ideas

It’s a classic question for writers: “Where do you get your ideas?” In my experience, they come from lots of sources, and certainly not the same places for everyone. Find what interests you and follow it. Think big, think small, think sideways.

And if you’re stuck or just looking for new inspiration, you could do worse than follow advice from one of the masters of the field.

“Make a list of ten things you hate and tear them down in a short story or poem. Make a list of ten things you love and celebrate them. When I wrote Fahrenheit 451 I hated book burners and I loved libraries. So there you are.” — Ray Bradbury

* * *

Imagined Endings

Perhaps you remember the “Dear Aliens” contest? Maybe you even submitted a story to be shared with our alien visitors? 

Mr Man and I have had a lot going on over the past few months so I did not get a story together, but I’m glad that many of you did. And now, the winners have been announced!

To Those Arriving Soon by MacEagon Voyce

“You’ll know by now that we humans fear the unknown, and that we fill that chasm with stories, imagining endings we have some agency over.”

See the full list for the top ten stories, and enjoy!

* * *

Imagined Endings

Perhaps you remember the “Dear Aliens” contest? Maybe you even submitted a story to be shared with our alien visitors? 

Mr Man and I have had a lot going on over the past few months so I did not get a story together, but I’m glad that many of you did. And now, the winners have been announced!

To Those Arriving Soon by MacEagon Voyce

“You’ll know by now that we humans fear the unknown, and that we fill that chasm with stories, imagining endings we have some agency over.”

See the full list for the top ten stories, and enjoy!

* * *

It Makes No Sense

A little Star Wars-based humor to get you through your day. Because:

“…my task is to try and make you smile despite the state of the world. I will not pretend the world doesn’t exist.” — Scott Lynch

“They Would Never Use the Death Star on Us”: Alderaan Residents Reflect on Their Support for the Empire as a Large Imperial Installation Enters the System

MODERATOR: In one or two words, finish this sentence: “I’m feeling ‘blank’ about the Empire these days, now that the galactic superweapon I willingly supported hovers overhead.”

* * *

It Makes No Sense

A little Star Wars-based humor to get you through your day. Because:

“…my task is to try and make you smile despite the state of the world. I will not pretend the world doesn’t exist.” — Scott Lynch

“They Would Never Use the Death Star on Us”: Alderaan Residents Reflect on Their Support for the Empire as a Large Imperial Installation Enters the System

MODERATOR: In one or two words, finish this sentence: “I’m feeling ‘blank’ about the Empire these days, now that the galactic superweapon I willingly supported hovers overhead.”

* * *

The 61st Annual Nebula Award Winners

This weekend, The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association presented the 61st annual Nebula Awards. If you saw the finalist roster I shared in March and thought, “Gosh, I wonder who will win?” well, wonder no more!

Just some of the winners of the Nebula awards for the best speculative fiction from 2025:

The Nebula Award for Novel

★ The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones (Saga; Titan UK) ★ 

The Nebula Award for Novella

★ The River Has Roots, by Amal El-Mohtar (Tordotcom; Arcadia) ★ 

The Nebula Award for Novelette

★ “Uncertain Sons”, by Thomas Ha (Uncertain Sons and Other Stories, Undertow Publications) ★

The Nebula Award for Short Story

★ “Laser Eyes Ain’t Everything”, by Effie Seiberg (Diabolical Plots 5/25) ★

For more, see the complete list of finalists and winners at SFFWorld!

* * *

The 61st Annual Nebula Award Winners

This weekend, The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association presented the 61st annual Nebula Awards. If you saw the finalist roster I shared in March and thought, “Gosh, I wonder who will win?” well, wonder no more!

Just some of the winners of the Nebula awards for the best speculative fiction from 2025:

The Nebula Award for Novel

★ The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones (Saga; Titan UK) ★ 

The Nebula Award for Novella

★ The River Has Roots, by Amal El-Mohtar (Tordotcom; Arcadia) ★ 

The Nebula Award for Novelette

★ “Uncertain Sons”, by Thomas Ha (Uncertain Sons and Other Stories, Undertow Publications) ★

The Nebula Award for Short Story

★ “Laser Eyes Ain’t Everything”, by Effie Seiberg (Diabolical Plots 5/25) ★

For more, see the complete list of finalists and winners at SFFWorld!

* * *

We’re Going Into the Woods!

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” ― John Muir

* * *

We’re Going Into the Woods!

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” ― John Muir

* * *

Becoming

“One is not born, but rather becomes, oneself.” — Simone de Beauvoir

* * *

Becoming

“One is not born, but rather becomes, oneself.” — Simone de Beauvoir

* * *

Getting the Sad Out

I try to keep things fairly light here, so when I write a piece that is… not that, I can end up in a bit of a bind. 

Do I share because that’s where I was on that particular day? I don’t, usually. For example, I recently wrote a drabble that has not even a sprinkling of humor to lighten the mood. That’s how it goes sometimes.

I’ve been writing less than I’d like, and what I do write is darker than I’d like. It’s easy to get distracted by the world. But that’s also our context right now, and what we need to get through in order to move on to the next better thing. 

It’s like football great Rosey Grier’s classic song, “It’s Alright to Cry”: 

“It’s all right to cry

Crying gets the sad out of you.” 

So today I’m going to share one of my darker drabbles, because what is art if not a reflection of the maker’s time and place? (But I’ll add an extra step to view in case this isn’t your thing right now. I get it!)

“I love you,” she would say as I ran outside. 

Determined, I searched for water, scrap metal or other goods extricated from the rubble. Fuel, usually the kind that used to be someone’s house. Food, always.

Anything to keep the family going. I learned that from my mother.

She stayed with my little brother. He stopped crying two days ago.

“Remember I love you,” she’d say, her eyes turned away from the morning sun. She watched our last pot simmer, making stew with whatever she could find.

Her hand could still grasp the wooden spoon. 

She had three fingers left.

Told you it was dark. But if that’s the rain, I think we’ve earned a rainbow!

* * *

Getting the Sad Out

I try to keep things fairly light here, so when I write a piece that is… not that, I can end up in a bit of a bind. 

Do I share because that’s where I was on that particular day? I don’t, usually. For example, I recently wrote a drabble that has not even a sprinkling of humor to lighten the mood. That’s how it goes sometimes.

I’ve been writing less than I’d like, and what I do write is darker than I’d like. It’s easy to get distracted by the world. But that’s also our context right now, and what we need to get through in order to move on to the next better thing. 

It’s like football great Rosey Grier’s classic song, “It’s Alright to Cry”: 

“It’s all right to cry

Crying gets the sad out of you.” 

So today I’m going to share one of my darker drabbles, because what is art if not a reflection of the maker’s time and place? (But I’ll add an extra step to view in case this isn’t your thing right now. I get it!)

“I love you,” she would say as I ran outside. 

Determined, I searched for water, scrap metal or other goods extricated from the rubble. Fuel, usually the kind that used to be someone’s house. Food, always.

Anything to keep the family going. I learned that from my mother.

She stayed with my little brother. He stopped crying two days ago.

“Remember I love you,” she’d say, her eyes turned away from the morning sun. She watched our last pot simmer, making stew with whatever she could find.

Her hand could still grasp the wooden spoon. 

She had three fingers left.

Told you it was dark. But if that’s the rain, I think we’ve earned a rainbow!

* * *

Breaking the Spell

A little free flash fiction from Ada Hoffmann, in Lightspeed Magazine.

Ten Unsent Letters to the Dark Lord

The conditions in Good Queen Frida’s dungeon are strangely adequate. I sit on a tiny cot between clean stone walls by torchlight. The guards come by with wholesome day-old bread and pure water. They ask if I am comfortable. I do not know if all the Good Queen’s prisoners are treated so well. If she really is as kind and fair as she makes herself out to be. Or if it is because they have found out, through some means, what happened at the very end.

* * *

Breaking the Spell

A little free flash fiction from Ada Hoffmann, in Lightspeed Magazine.

Ten Unsent Letters to the Dark Lord

The conditions in Good Queen Frida’s dungeon are strangely adequate. I sit on a tiny cot between clean stone walls by torchlight. The guards come by with wholesome day-old bread and pure water. They ask if I am comfortable. I do not know if all the Good Queen’s prisoners are treated so well. If she really is as kind and fair as she makes herself out to be. Or if it is because they have found out, through some means, what happened at the very end.

* * *

Another Thing About the Moon

If you missed yesterday’s blue moon, don’t worry, it will still look full tonight too. And as I should also have mentioned, it’s a micromoon (the opposite of a supermoon). The moon is at apogee, or as far from us as it can get. Right now, that’s about 251,000 miles away. 

Here’s a NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day showing the difference between a supermoon and a micromoon. It’s not nothing! 

If you have a chance to see the (almost) full moon tonight, count yourself lucky. The next blue micromoon won’t happen until 2053.

* * *

Another Thing About the Moon

If you missed yesterday’s blue moon, don’t worry, it will still look full tonight too. And as I should also have mentioned, it’s a micromoon (the opposite of a supermoon). The moon is at apogee, or as far from us as it can get. Right now, that’s about 251,000 miles away. 

Here’s a NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day showing the difference between a supermoon and a micromoon. It’s not nothing! 

If you have a chance to see the (almost) full moon tonight, count yourself lucky. The next blue micromoon won’t happen until 2053.

* * *

Every Story a New Perspective

“I think it’s important to remember that something that’s happening to you is not the only thing happening in the world. There’s always another story.” — Arundhati Roy

* * *

Every Story a New Perspective

“I think it’s important to remember that something that’s happening to you is not the only thing happening in the world. There’s always another story.” — Arundhati Roy

* * *