I did a thing

Mar. 10th, 2026 10:49 pm
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[personal profile] cornerofmadness
I sent in my two panel ideas to the Gettysburg Steampunk Festival. I wasn't going to go but when it didn't pan out with the Louisville panels. Trying for a little fun in a world on fire.

Today mom and I went out to meet my younger cousin for her birthday and went off to Trader Joe's. I wish I had one closer to me. Mine is 90 miles off in Columbus. Even here the closet one is about 35 minutes away. Picked up some cool things.

The writing zoom went well tonight too.


So for fannish 50 I have something from [personal profile] kitarella_imagines

i. Look at your last 10** fics.

ii. Make a list of their first lines of dialogue, with any necessary description. No cheating, I mean don't go through your fics looking for the best line of dialogue.

iii. Post them and we'll see if we can guess what the story will be about from the dialogue.

Kitarella also mentioned it's okay to go back further than the last 10 if the opening dialogue isn't that interesting.

Feel free to play along

here's mine )

Took a day off

Mar. 9th, 2026 08:57 pm
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[personal profile] cornerofmadness
Just did laundry and finished my short story, steampunk 'day at the races' as a try for something in Louisville. Is it my best work? no. Will I have tons of competition? Some but who knows. Could use eyes on it.

I'm mostly here to do Music Monday and Women's history. Yes I missed saying something International Women's Day (I was beat) so today have the woman who started off my sabbatical research, someone I met in college and carried her story with me all these years Elizabeth Blackwell

As for music Monday, on the drive here the last radio station I go to (the one I listen to in this area) was having an International Women's Day fest by playing women artists (and mentioning iheartradio's women's history station) and in the next 1 1/2 hours they played 3 songs by women. 3...

So we can do better. THis monday I 'm taking a break from the list and let's just share songs written by, performed by women (however you care to define it)

Women of Song )

Writerly Ways

Mar. 8th, 2026 08:22 pm
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[personal profile] cornerofmadness
Made it to PA. Forgot my damn onion sets for the parents. Guess I'll be growing onions... And I didn't even bid at [community profile] fandomtrumpshate didn't realize it was that fast and I'm slightly salty about that. We didn't even get half a weekend to deal with this. Yes there were other days but jobs are a thing and so is time. Oh well. Oddly I don't really care that much. I can whip my money to charities on my own and there is always next year. Hope all my friends who DID manage to manage their time better than me got good requests and got the ones you were bidding on.

I have no thoughts for the writing side of things but I do have Ezio's character sheet done. Been noodling it (and letting it show me where the world building needs to happen) Ezio wasn't meant to be a central character but at this point I see 2 overarching story arcs and his is one. We meet him almost immediately after one of his dancers is murdered. I'd love opinions on this if you have time.

Meet Ezio Zucca )


Open Calls

The Best Noir Sci-Fi-Horror of 2026 Mixing speculative fiction and police or military stories

The Gren-Wode Stories based in the world and legends of Robin Hood

Savagery on the Salty Seas, Volume 1. Maritime-themed horror has a high word count

Solar Punk Magazine April 2026 Window Works that stir readers with themes of defiance, change, and achievement

Otherside April 2026 Window Speculative fiction, poetry, and nonfiction by self-identified members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

Stone’s Throw April 2026 Window SCHOOLS OUT (FOREVER)

Ten Manuscript Publishers Open to Submissions in March 2026

45 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for March 2026



From Around the web

The Official Manuscript Wish List Website a wishlist from agents

Putting in the Work (from the woman who runs that author zoom I go to)

The Opening Mystery: Creating Curiosity before the Inciting Incident

Keep the audience engaged as you keep secrets.

Five Quick Ways to Level Up Your Manuscript

How to Write a Gripping Psychological Thriller

Embodied Writing: How to Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Story

How to Get and Keep Amazon Reviews Without Getting Banned

Goals, Conflicts, & Stakes: Why Plots Need All Three

Authors Guild Expands “Human Authored” Certification Program to All U.S. Authors

3 Common Mistakes Committed by Self-Published Novelists

nothing from Betty this week. I wasn't the only one with a con this weekend.

Froggie

Mar. 7th, 2026 11:27 pm
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[personal profile] cornerofmadness
My day started off perfectly with a massive charlie horse in my bad leg about 20 minutes before the alarm. The sartorius and the rectus femoris from the feel of it and it lasted about 15 minutes. I get them sometimes like that in the bad leg. It has ached like a toothache all day, which is exactly what you want when you'll be standing a chunk of the day and otherwise driving around.

Stuffed down the same boring free breakfast every hotel serves and head out. It started at 930. I got there 950 and got one of the last parking spots. Let me say this geeky stuff is so hot now. In the last five years, at least in my area, either you get there when the door opens or you might as well stay home. The line was insane and they said if you don't have a ticket come over to this door...one with no line. None of us moved. Surely that couldn't be right. They called us over again and this time I ran. We, the unprepared, got in WAY faster than those with tickets. ha.

You could barely move inside the place it was THAT crowded. There were five rows of vendors and then some all around this conference center. It was impressive as hell. I attended all the talks well most of them. It was bizarre, the whole day.

So James Willis (google Weird Willis) did two talks. I've mentioned him before. He comes to my library often. The first one was delayed a half hour because of the line to get in. It was all about the Loveland Frogman and chasing down the legend and where parts of it came from. His second talk was disrupted by the fire alarm. So out we all go. Turns out the dancers' dance routine had a fog machine. The detection system did not like this. So now I'm outside in the rain. Fun. When we got back in he continued the talk about various weird things.

I learned something from that talk the New Straitsville Mine Fire It predates the Centralia fire and is still burning and moonshiners used it to hide the evidence of the stills working because of the smoke. I'm like yep there's a story in this for me. They have a moonshine festival but it's memorial day weekend and I'm never around then.

Other talks included repitalian cryptids and all the weird crap in Wisconsin. I didn't know the stories about Lake Superior. I never could afford to go there when I lived in WI.

And the last one on Filipino aswang creatures but the tech kept failing which was a shame because he was a comic book artist who had illustrated his whole talk.

There were too many vendors to keep track of. I got some over priced coffee/tea and jewelry I don't need but wanted. Overpaid (by far) on a Squonk tote but a) like an idiot I forgot mine b) it was too damn cute.

I was super excited to find out that the Cinicinnati Shakespeare company is doing pericles as a space opera next month. I want to go. I could have gotten 50% o ff but forgot to scan the code. eh probably would have to have bought them immediately and I can't do that. I have other things going on so I need to check the calendar but I need to see this.

I came home right past the hotel I was at so I pulled off to find food and didn't want to drive down to that same strip mall. I opted to Taziki right across the hotel so I could jump right back on 71. Wrong choice. It was like the greek version of Chipolte. Passable but disappointing. Instead of the shaved gyro meat it was strips of lamb chunks, woefully underseasoned and tough.

Had to stop at the truck stop I usually do coming back from the renn fest. (there is only ONE rest stop in the entire 100 mile trip and that's 10 miles outside of Jackson. super helpful. The diner that looked like it was out of a 70's montegomery wards is now an IHOP (had I known I could have eaten there) and I fuel up on coffee at the truck stop which was...free? Really? I scampered off. I got lucky, the rain was only there for the last 10 miles of the trip.

Over all a nice day.

here are some pictures )
cornerofmadness: (Giles let this be a lesson)
[personal profile] cornerofmadness
The day started with a nightmare. I dreamed I was in my dad's workshop in his basement screaming at him that no one liked him and he was crying. Mom was yelling at me why did you do this and I said he was hitting my SiL and I lost it (to be clear he would never do that).

I go to work shocked everyone actually showed up except a few trapped by flooding (ah spring). It was going well...and then I got two emails (I wasn't even going to look at them but I needed to get any late submissions of work due today) about more cheating. And it IS more, in a different class. One has only heard about the girls bragging about it and doesn't want in trouble and the other came to speak to me since she was on campus and she said the same thing they're bragging about it. She doesn't know the student's name but from her description I know exactly who it is (another athlete)

Since I didn't catch them and there's no proof, I can't kick it up the chain. I DID tell the dean and I plan on talking to the heads of their departments to get some help. Not saying a word to them, just making them all put their phones in a box. They get them back at the end of the exam. No warning. Let's see what happens then. And other one hasn't been to lab...ever. Just has excuses and asks to make them up. Guess that's going away.

So now I'm an hour late getting home. Then the GI track says yeah you ain't leaving the bathroom. Once that fit was pitched I started getting ready and my sugar crashes out. Eye roll. Rocket tried to get in the bedroom and hide. FINALLY I'm out of the house. It's now after 230 and I haven't had lunch.

I have to go to Jackson to get a book from the library before it's sent back so I'll go to Sonic's. Get there. It's 240 and there are NINE cars in line. I nope out, stop for KFC and then go to Tim Horton's, the new one and this is the third time the guys on the window can't figure out a drink order (caramel machiatto, it's your standard fing menu) so I might be done with this place.

In the mean time the gas station's are changing their prices by 50 cents so I get my library book, race back across town to where they haven't got that message yet. Off I go. It's now 3 pm. I was supposed to BE here by now.

Luckily it was an easy drive and this Best Western has been recently redone. It's nice, clean...and the bathroom is an afterthought. You come in the door and immediately is a curtain pretending an alcove is the closet (at least there's a half dozen hangers not that I need them for 1 day) and the bathroom is SO small the toilet and tub nearly touch and the sink is in another part of the room outside the bathroom door.... BUT it has a fridge and microwave which the last two expensive hotels I've stayed at did not manage to have.

Everyone and their grandma is in the pool. Glad I didn't plan on that but this place is...well let's just say I love living in the country but I DO miss having options. I had researched, as I always do, best places to eat and planned to go to Dolsot Bistro as there is NO Korean food within 60 miles of me. I get to the strip mall and in it side by side is Korean, Chinese, Boba place, Indian place, juice joint and Phoenican/middle east food and a huge stand alone Mexican place. WOW. AND in the 2 miles from my hotel to hear it was nothing but food and strip malls including three other Korean places and a Greek place right across the street.

I got some goonmandu (fried dumplings that were amazing) and tofu doenjang dolsot (fine cut tofu, basically a sweetish red miso, veggies and a lightly fried egg on the rice. man crispy rice is a different, tastier experience (yes I'm not meant to have rice but...this is once in like 2 years for me as far as Korean food goes). Also they had a sliver of their pancakes on the kimchi tray and man I wish that app wasn't the price of dinner or I'd gotten that. It was amazing.

In theory I get breakfast free here and they have the daily specials written out. Every day is the same thing....ha. If it sucks we share a parking lot with the Waffle House.

And if something goes sideways with the festival I'll just drop down to Cincinnati and do fun stuff.


I did write something.

Title: She’s on the Ball
<
Summary: Angel has lost track of his belongings. At least Niffty knows what’s going on.

Rating: teen

Notes:Written for the allbingo prompt of scrapbooking and for [personal profile] spikesgirl58’s six words challenge. The words were Song, Finger, Unhealthy, Righteous, School, & Optimize and was inspired by Sarajayechan’s three sentence ficathon’s prompt of Hazbin Hotel, Niffty /& anyone, sometimes they forget that for all her chaotic murders she's the most organized housekeeper this side of the Pride Ring but I didn’t share it there because it was less Niffty than I think was wanted, gifting it here anyhow.

Story above or under here )

Fannish 50 recs


Starsky's Flowers Starsky & Hutch

but turn it does The Murderbot Diaries

The Art of Selling Yourself Profitably Hazbin Hotel

Persistence Torchwood

Strikethrough Hazbin Hotel

Escape to the Beta Site Stargate Atlantis

Downward Spiral The Owl House

Letting Hope In Hazbin Hotel

Topless Hazbin Hotel

Episode 4: Right Here, Where I Don’t Belong UglyDolls

Born To Be Wild. 逆転裁判 | Gyakuten Saiban | Ace Attorney

Endings And Beginnings Torchwood

Watching The Professionals

listen carefully to the sound of your loneliness Helluva Boss

Gently Growing Together Inspector George Gently

The Truth Exposed. Stargate Atlantis

you were beautiful back then, but so lonely Hazbin Hotel

God Sends Meat And The Devils Send Cooks Hazbin Hotel

There's No Aftercare in Hell Hazbin Hotel

in heaven an angel is nobody in particular Hazbin Hotel

How to stop a heart

Mar. 5th, 2026 11:33 pm
cornerofmadness: (Default)
[personal profile] cornerofmadness
have an EKG and then have someone from the clinic calls you to talk about it. Since they almost never call you for a normal, I'm like OMG I'm dying. No, my doctor was just exercising caution. the EKG is 'mostly normal' but there was no more details. They posted the strip in a blurry pic to my portal. I'm assuming they mean the tachycardia. I'll see the new cardiologist in a couple weeks so we shall see.

No one came to micro today. I'll point out spring break doesn't start until Monday. out of 40 students I had 10. And being the bitch I am I had a test in anatomy today (found out there's one tomorrow for my ultrasound students) most of the sports teams were gone and someone cheated on the exam. I didn't catch them (it's hard I'm in a hole in an auditorium and even if I walk up and down the steps, I take steps SO slowly they have warning so what's the point. Another pissed off student turned them in. I'm saying nothing but I know how they're cheating and next test, without warning, I'm taking all that away. (i.e. every phone must be placed on MY table)

I wish I could stay over near Cinci for more than 24 hours tomorrow. there is SO MUCH food Restaurants of every kind. I'm thinking Korean. Oooo the choices.

Currently/Last February 2026

Mar. 5th, 2026 10:15 am
spiralicious: Cereal Killer Mask (Default)
[personal profile] spiralicious
Currently/Last lists are the last and/or current answer to the categories for a given time period, in this case a month.

In the text box, I've a blank html coded version of the list, including categories I didn't use this month.

February 2026
Making: Lists, so many lists

Watching: Stargate Atlantis s1

Reading: My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Listening: The Click reacting to r/LookAtMyHalo & "When You Where Young" by The Killers

Eating: ravioli bake

Drinking: Thaiwala Brown Sugar Tea Latte

Loving: how supportive fiber group is & we didn't miss cookie day at the bank (and they were cookies I like) & Jack & Daniel banter & the duck and sushi videos Vexed keeps sending me & Bat-Robin art

Hating: how much extra my anxiety is getting poked

Wanting: a coherent game plan

Thinking: in my physical journal, my last February entry is just "FUCK" repeatedly, in all caps for three lines of the paper. So, that.

Planning: dementia friendly/cognitive exercise crafts, book club talking points, making time for things I'd like to learn from Mom, cleaning out my phone, treats for chicken care (the treats are for me, not the chickens), talking points for the discussion panel in May

Wishing: for a (at home) spa day

Puzzle Books: Beetlejuice Word Search & Coloring (I am down to just coloring pages now), Penny Press Variety Puzzles & Games Feb 2026 issue, Bendon Word Search Puzzle Book Volume 1

Wearing: grey cargo sweatpants, dark blue "Sorry I can't. I have plans with my couch." T-shirt, red Bobby Singer as Hello Kitty "hello idjits" hoodie, the usual jewelry (right post earring, left second lobe hole large ring, left first lobe hole skeleton hand dangle, tight as I can get nose hoop)

Needing: sleep and a meal plan

Enjoying: making more time to spend with Jelly Bean

Wondering: if I overshared after last book club

Playing: Subeta (Survival- annual event)

Trying: to take things one dumpster fire at a time

Cooking: Ramen

Calling: Vexed Wench

Texting: one of the Niblets

Crafting: still knitting the cable blanket & group collage event

Going: Zombie escape room & housesitting

Hoping (For): the new housesitting gig to have a smart TV with the YouTube app and a big shower

Celebrating: Jelly Bean & my spectacular escape room solve

Smelling: Old Spice Dark Knight shampoo I've been using as hand soap (description is black cherry & nightfall)

Thanking: still trying to do all the post holiday thank yous

Considering: how to schedule some "get shit done" days. One at home alone, one for errands around town, and possibly one for errands further afield.

Finishing: The Snowflake challenge, though slowly

Starting: packing


Currently/Last January 2026

Mar. 5th, 2026 08:53 am
spiralicious: Cereal Killer Mask (Default)
[personal profile] spiralicious
Currently/Last lists are the last and/or current answer to the categories for a given time period, in this case a month.

In the text box, I've a blank html coded version of the list, including categories I didn't use this month.

January 2026
Making: cable Knit blanket/book themed miniature reading nook diorama

Watching: Brokenwood Mysteries s11

Reading: Moominpappa's Memoirs by Tove Jansson

Listening: Oz_ (of Oz Media & Oz's Vault) react to r/BestOf & "Meet Me in the Woods" by Lord Huron

Eating: Gordon Ramsey's shepard's pie frozen meal

Drinking: leftover Rockstar energy drink

Loving: Friday Fiber Group

Hating: It's a long list. Have you seen the news?

Wanting: a new mattress

Planning: a zombie escape room outing

Wishing: that the backordered tax forms would show up

Puzzle Books: Brain Fun Picture Puzzles, Beetlejuice Word Search & Coloring (Thunder Bay Press), Penny Press Variety Puzzles and Games February 2026 issue, Word Search Puzzle Book Volume 1 (Bendon)

Weathering: more grief than usual

Wearing: fitted grey sweatpants, black Dirty Space Groove t-shirt, brown & white plaid over-shirt

Needing: a hug & uninterrupted time to catch up

Enjoying: discount Arizona teas

Playing: Subeta (Snowtapult)

Trying: to fight the anxiety demons

Cooking: a fried egg

Calling: Vexed Wench

Texting: Jelly Bean

Going: a new book club

Feeling: anxious

Celebrating: I might get a break from my normal Monday schedule.

Smelling: Batiste Dry Shampoo (Blush)

Thanking: Everyone for their holiday gifts & wishes

Considering: What to do about Mom's birthday



Varying Threat Levels

Mar. 4th, 2026 11:26 pm
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[personal profile] cornerofmadness
So the police and fire dept show up IN my office today. Where's the gas leak?

Me....it was someone with gasoline on their shoes.

Cop/FD - you are KIDDING?

Me - don't I wish.

What happened someone showed up to class reeking so the prof moved them to my lab because it was empty and had windows (class rooms do not) some student apparently texted a parent who heard gas leak and phoned it in to the fire department...

Cop leaves muttering and now I have to write this up...


meanwhile a coworker's wife's h.s. was put on lockdown and then evacutated. he's not sure why. And yesterday they played bomb threats on the radio hoping someone knows the voice as someone keeps calling them in to a local high school.

I did go to get my EKG done. I wasn't sure. They said you could just walk in no schedulling required and damned if i didn't. nothing in the portal yet

Went to yoga but I really hurt now. I can half ass the seated/standing stuff but the stuff on my knees beyond cat or cow is killing me. My knee made such a lough cracking sound everyone looked. I'm like nope not doing that one. I may give it up entirely if water aerobic goes off. we went from 14 to 5 sign ups and we're not even started. sigh


FINALLY got my hotel (again) for the Loveland Frogman Festival on Saturday. I'm so busy I feel guilty for going but I plan to have fun, buy shit I don't need and see friends



What I Just Finished Reading:

Check Please sticks and scones - It wasn't as good as book one, tried to cover too much with no depth (like Jack goes from joining the team to winning the cup without much in between) and the fact that Jack is drawn like he's 40 (he's 22-24 I think) and Bittle is drawn looking 14 instead of 21 made it...uncomfortable

gave back the Y man without reading

Between the Shades of Grey - way too dark to be enjoyable for me


What I am Currently Reading:

Got these on interlibrary loan - With Friends Like These, The Snow Child, At Death's Dough and Violet Thistlewaite is not a villain any more so I'm trying to bull thru all four at once (because that makes sense)

The Final Problem - mystery set in the 60s welcome to the name dropping hour


What I Plan to Read Next: La Grand Familia, and Luna Park history

I know the planets are in retrograde

Mar. 3rd, 2026 10:51 pm
cornerofmadness: (Default)
[personal profile] cornerofmadness
but damn today was something. I woke up 40 minutes before the alarm. Got 2 miles from work and realized I had forgotten my phone on the charger. Because of the multifactorial verification I can't get into my work email or the online teaching stuff.

I can't turn around as I was giving a test in the morning. The entire handicapped parking lot was full (we have asked parents of CCP kids to STOP fucking parking there to wait but no one enforces this) so I have to park up the hill.

So after the test I run home (I'm only 10 miles away) Also today was SO much warmer than yesterday I don't even care I had to run home. I changed shirts. Go back. Students were supposed to show up today but didn't (but at least I got stuff graded).

I still can't get anything done at work and more and more is getting added on us and then the dean in charge of this is gone effective today. What happened? No clue.

I get to CVS and the line is so long I eat my KFC sandwich in line and wasn't halfway thru it (but I was out of both meds so I had to get them)

I'm not bringing you any new Fannish 50 today but I'm really looking forward to being able to share some of the open calls later this week. I am lining up stories in my head. I'm thrilled to finally have things that might fit some of these open calls.

It's women's history month so I hope to highlight a woman a day, oh probably not every day but I'll try.


So while this is niche for Pittsburgh, it's our women of WWII which with the way Trump and Hesgeth are ripping out military women's history, I think it's important to share it so those fucks can't succeed. You can see it here.

I wish I didn't know

Mar. 2nd, 2026 11:29 pm
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[personal profile] cornerofmadness
I've been looking at what's been going on at Ohio U for things to do and relax at. Somehow even though it's linked to the literature festival ongoing there, it was never mentioned on their site. Tomorrow LeVar Burton is at OU. OMFG. It's FREE first come first serve b ut that's the rub. I wish there were tickets (even free) because it's an hour drive with nightmare parking so I am not sure I want to go out (into the icy rain) drive 40 miles, park, walk blocks only to find out it's sold out. Sigh.

How did I find out? I was telling the new admin assistant about the Irish Storyteller at the library next week (I can't go) and he's like so did you hear about LeVar? Sigh. If I had known earlier, I could have had local friends get us seats. Ah well

Today was the rescheduled writers group zoom. It was very productive.

And now I need to hurriedly submit one more story. It's about time. It took me until March to submit anything.

It's music monday 30 weeks of music. This week's prompt is 16 a song that calms you down Share your faves too.

I didn't have time to really think this one thru so I went with an old standard )





here's the whole prompt list

It's under here )

Writerly Ways

Mar. 1st, 2026 11:28 pm
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[personal profile] cornerofmadness
I'm beginning to wonder what is wrong with me. I thought my Overlook story was formatted. It wasn't. I thought This Little Piggy story had a good ending (a story I have sent out in the past) and it literally trails off. I thought my test for tuesday was done and I just needed to clean it up. I was wrong. Is this part of worsening ADHD? Is this part of the depression? Me being overworked? I am falling further and further behind and I don't like any part of it.

But let's set that aside for now. I wanted to talk about writing monsters. I want to take my story Sharp Little Teeth and expand it into a novella. I think there is something in i t worth saving. It's a bit long for most open calls and at the end of the day, the ending is rushed just to fit it under 8k. There is enough to it to develop to three times its size. A gay mobster in 1947, his lavender marriage to a lady doctor, their forced exile from Boston to Las Vegas, some monster killing people building the new casino experiment.

I need to do more research into Vegas (collecting books now) but that's not my issue. I have used folklore to create the monster. I didn't find any colonizer monsters that fit what I needed, just some big foot knock offs. there is something in Paiute lore that does work and that's what I went for at the time (with only weeks to do this)

I did have the Native American character come up with how to get rid of them but still it feels like it's toeing the line of white savior and mystic native tokenism. I don't want either of those things obviously. So I was thinking I can use the thing from legend but it's not that. It's not the crybaby water things either. While they're working it out, more die.

But that means I have to make a monster. I know I want to keep the small child-like stature of them and of course the titular sharp little teeth but where do I go from there? I don't know yet but I need to think abou that. Might be time look at desert animals and go from there.


Open Calls




Vacations From Hell
Short horror stories about vacations


Hawthorn & Ash 2026 Window 100 and 500 word fantasy, speculative fiction, and horror stories

Sley House Times March 2026 Window

Untitled Folk Horror Anthology Folk horror of all types, preferring a twist on a known folk or fairy tale, but not required


From Around the World

How to Become a Professional Writer With Joanna Penn

How to Make Your Dark Event Pay Off

Should You Tie Up Loose Ends in Your Story—or Leave Them Open?

What Is Cozy Horror?


From Betty


How to Fix a Boring Sex Scene (honestly I think most sex scenes are boring)


Seven Tricks to Improve Your Minions

Must Romance Always Include a Breakup?

Narrative Distance

Using Contradictions to Create Masterful Microtension – Part 3

10 Editing Mistakes First-Time Authors Make (That Could Cost You Readers)

WITS Team Showcase - Jenny Hansen

How to Write Great Taglines in Seven Steps

Self-Editing Pop Quiz Redux

Why Readers Read

Mistakes Were Made

What Does a Character’s Fear of Change Look Like

8 Tips for Writing an Unreliable Narrator

Why Identity Is the Key to Character Development: How True vs. False Identity Shapes Every Story

The Complete Guide to Self-Editing for Writers, Part 4: Final Revisions and Beta Reader Feedback

7 Writing Mistakes That Hurt Your Story (and How to Avoid “Literary Leftovers”)



Who Are You? Part Two

Common Mistakes New Writers Make and How to Fix Them



March's Bingo

Mar. 1st, 2026 07:09 pm
cornerofmadness: (writing king 2)
[personal profile] cornerofmadness
[community profile] allbingo's craft fest month


Knitting Needles Writing Lacking Storage Colored Pencils Picnic Basket
Calligraphy Ribbon Embroidery Painting Tangles
Warm Knitted Sweater Small Spaces FREE SPACE Patchwork Time
Scrapbooking Tension Rope Drawing Ceramic Mug
Jewelry Yarn Velvet Sewing Laptop

Taking my shot

Feb. 28th, 2026 11:52 pm
cornerofmadness: (Default)
[personal profile] cornerofmadness
So along the lines of you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, I'm sending in my Overlook story in a few minutes as soon as the submission form opens. I had thought I'd titled and formatted this and had a cover letter.

I didn't.

I searched everywhere but all I had was the edited copy but nothing else.

Huh. Mentally breaking the lenten promise of not talking bad about myself.

So no science saturday today because I had to spend hours, formatting, title conjuring (which I hate and I was SURE I had a title for this and that ELD had liked it but neither of us remembered what that was) and making the cover letter.

Weirder, the online places I saved for this no longer had links to the form. To the open call yes but only as a secondary source. I KNOW I had the link to the main source. I did finally find it googling around but damn. It's like this is cursed.

I know I don't have much of a shot not with all the big name horror in this thing already but there is a tiny chance and I'm taking my shot. Say a little wish for luck for me. thanks


Otherwise today was...disappointing because it was beautiful and I wanted to hike and had no one to go with so I didn't (to be fair to myself it would have been insanely crowded) Heck even Jackson was so crowded I had to cut thru housing plans just to keep moving to where I needed to be.

Mom sensed I was depressed today (and funnily enough she had sent me a witches ball set in Weirton this coming October)

Also had a weird dream that my former coworker L was yelling at me for not picking up my phone and I said it was off and I didn't realize it. Why? Your mother keeps calling me. Your father is in a coma. Mom doesn't have L's number and dad is fine just fyi. Thanks for more nightmares brain

Five Years today

Feb. 27th, 2026 08:58 pm
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[personal profile] cornerofmadness
Five years ago today I fell. I nearly lost my leg. I was in the hospital/care home for months. It was horrible. Care homes are awful. It seemed like I'd be there forever. But there was still hope.

I taught my classes online from my bed. I helped interview for a new professor from that same bed.

And I had THIS community. You made that time better by checking in with me. You sent me gifts. You sent me stories. The Prodigal Son community made this most amazing art out of one of my stories and I took it back and forth to the hospital every time I had to return for more surgeries because I was afraid the care home would lose it and it was precious to me (It's in my office on top of the file cabinet today).

I'm not sure you know how much you meant to me as I learned to walk again. As I went through all this pain (If you want a visual, go look at the pictures Lindsey Vonn has been posting of her leg and external fixator, my leg looked exactly like that). And I feel sad that one of my biggest supporters, [personal profile] spikedluv isn't here to read this. But so many others did so much and more, especially [personal profile] evil_little_dog. It meant everything and I appreciate all of you. Thank you.

I'm doing good. I hike when I can. I'm not in terrible pain for the most part but the leg is weak and the nerve pain I do have is not fun. But I'm here. This is not stopping me.

And today I realized that not only is it a bad day for me two of my favorite celebrities died on the 27th, Leonard Nimoy and Mister Rogers.

In better news...

Tried the new coffee shop in Point Pleasant. this one isn't near the mothman centric stuff. There is one there that I go to that is...okay. I'd love to say let me watch your shop for a weekend and you go to a coffee conference because even McDonalds gets more adventuresome than you. This one had a great menu but too many cold drinks (especially for winter) I liked it but it's out of the way. A student found me there. figures.

AND the on-campus Mennonite coffee shop has mushroom coffee. I was afraid to know how much it was and they named the mixed drink with it the muddy puddle....


Came home to the news of someone I went to school with losing everything when some monster burned ALL of his beehives (he makes his living with the wax/honey etc), 60 hives, tens of thousands of bees, all gone. People suck.

Sigh.


But I did write and since I'm not ready for it to be on AO3 as it's part of a longer work, I'm just putting it here. Wrote it for [personal profile] spikesgirl58's 6 word challenge.

story under here )


Fannish 50 recs


Claimed Torchwood

No Time To Spare FAKE

10 Seconds Hazbin Hotel comic

Going to Visit Uncle Mer Stargate SG-1/Stargate Atlantis

The Healing Power of Touch Stargate Atlantis

Suited Torchwood


Good Boy Hazbin Hotel

Points Given, Points Taken Hazbin Hotel


Three Times The Trouble Hazbin Hotel

the greatest adventure (what lies ahead) Merlin

Punishment Torchwood

Oh Boy, You're Too Young To Burn (It'll be alright) Hazbin Hotel

A Guard on my Heart - Universe Explanations The Owl House

Letting Hope In Hazbin Hotel

God Sends Meat And The Devils Send Cooks Hazbin Hotel

There's No Aftercare in Hell Hazbin Hotel

Color Palette 9-1-1

Status Quo Hazbin Hotel

and, sometimes, she actually puts down her phone Hazbin Hotel

Down To Earth Hazbin Hotel

Confidence Is Sexy Hazbin Hotel

If A World Was Ending, You'd Come Over, Right?
Doctor Who

the arrows point in a circle, and it never ends Hazbin Hotel

our forever fall RWBY

Renewed Liaison Les liaisons dangereuses | Dangerous Liaisons - Choderlos de Laclos

There My Heart Forever Lies The Jacobite Trilogy | The Flight of the Heron Series

in the darkness with you 镇魂 | Guardian

Audio Quality Hazbin Hotel


Feverish The Professionals

with bells and brays
陈情令 | The Untamed (TV) / 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù

The Good (?) Doctor Teen Wolf

Your Perfect Doll Hazbin Hotel

The Truth Exposed Stargate Atlantis

That went better than expected

Feb. 26th, 2026 11:30 pm
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[personal profile] cornerofmadness
My building at work is collapsing on one side not only are we working to fix that we hope to have money to renno some of the labs. It was a 2 hour meeting with the architect today and that was hopeful plus they teased the idea of other money for equipment and brought up the virtual cadaver table. I have the paperwork for those but they're 100K so let's fix the building first.

I thought my writer's zoom was today but no one was there. Wondering why. Sad I didn't get that. Did I just do it by myself? you know I didn't.

I forgot to share my books yesterday so here are Feb's reads


Cooking with Monsters fantasy LGBT graphic novel

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires Urban Fantasy

Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation dystopic near future SF

When the Moon Hits Your Eye near future SF

Heavy Vinyl Complete Collection LGBT graphic novel

Rebecca Gothic classic

Dark Life YA near future SF

Went to Yoga

Feb. 25th, 2026 11:16 pm
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[personal profile] cornerofmadness
Did have to give up on doing a lot of the ones with me on my knees and I have made good on my committment to not talk bad about myself during it. I just sat down and did other things or simply waited. Not great but I can only do what I can do.

Also I am not good at this but I try

I met with the football coaches who promised to make the new football team take our classes seriously or else. After the last (which was the first) semester these brand new coaches have their work cut out for them because it was brutal and in 20 years here I've never seen so much entitlement (and see one team make an entire college hate them so fast)



What I Just Finished Reading:

Dark Life - YA book set under the ocean. the world building needed beefed up but over all enjoyable


Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - Not what I was expecting. I don't think it deserves the hype but I didn't think it was awful

This Is How You Lose the Time War - All of SF authors wrote glowing reviews. I thought it was weird for the sake of being weird but I did get into it a little


What I am Currently Reading:

Zombie Day Care - getting painful but at least it's short


The Final Problem - mystery set in the 60s (no progress because I couldn't get the netgalley app to download. FINALLY did and so far it's not freezing up_


Between the Shades of Grey - not sure I'll make it thru this. NOT the right time mentally to read about a government hauling off families for talking bad about the government and slamming them in prison.

Check Please sticks and scones - had to find one for my favorite winter olympic sport. Okay that is NOT hockey but that's what the library had and the first book was cute.

Y the Last man omnibus - not as good as I remember it

What I Plan to Read Next: La Grand Familia, and Luna Park history
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