Harmony Makes Good Life, But Not Good Fiction

Few people seek out conflict. Most of us, by nature, want to get along. We prefer our lives free of fighting, anger, and the kind of people who prevent us from reaching our goals. Except where fiction is concerned. Good fiction brims to the top with conflict. Nefarious characters lurk behind every corner, waiting to kick the protagonist’s puppy, steal his cupcakes, and shatter his every dream. New authors often err on the side of harmony – and not just where the villain is concerned. Mealymouthed protagonists refuse to defend their puppies. The supporting proves just that – an instrument

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This is what passes for breakfast conversation in my world

It’s been a while since the last installment of “Life Tips from Tesla,” in which I share my teenage son’s unusual view of the world at large. Last weekend Tesla and I went out for breakfast at a coffee shop we enjoy. I wanted bacon and eggs, as usual, but Tesla studied the menu to make his choice. After a couple of silent minutes, I noticed him staring at me across the table with a look that always precedes the Release of the Snarks. He cocked an eyebrow. “Vegetarian omelets?” I shrugged. “Most restaurants do have them.” “I bet they’re

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Adventures In the Land of Logic

Central Connecticut State University has released its annual list of the “Ten Most Literate Cities in America.” For the second year in a row, Washington D.C. tops the chart (and Sacramento receives a no-show, though San Francisco appears at #9). When I read the USA Today article reporting on the study, I immediately clicked through to the source to see how the investigation determined literacy. I envisioned data on library loans, book and e-book purchases, book reviews, locally-written blogs, and other information about how many books the residents of these cities actually read. Wrong. The study examined six factors to

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Writing Wednesday: Publishing Contract Termination

Welcome to another installment of Writing Wednesday, the blog’s weekly spotlight on publishing law. The information appearing in this post also appears on Twitter under the #PubLaw hashtag. Today’s topic: termination of publishing contracts. Generally speaking, publishing contracts have an indefinite term, and last until terminated in accordance with their terms “or by applicable law.” Contracts with an indefinite, ongoing term mean that the author is locked to the agreement in perpetuity unless the contract contains adequate termination provisions. The publisher generally reserves the right to terminate the contract at any time upon notice to the author, sometimes with a

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My, What a Lovely Platypus!

January 24, 2012 is official “Compliment Day” here in the USA. Studies show that it takes many compliments to make up for one negative comment, and personal experience (read: the mistakes I make on a daily basis) shows that we often focus too much on the problems and not enough on the blessings in our lives. So today, take a minute to give a compliment. Look closely at someone who crosses your path and find something nice to say. Offer some unexpected praise. Extra points if you do it with a smile. I’ll start it off: You have wonderful taste

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We Interrupt This Blog for 100 Birth Announcements

Those of you who read last week’s Seahorse Courtship post probably guessed that my little male, Ghillie, was pregnant. (Seahorses are one of the few species exhibiting true male pregnancies.) Note use of the past tense, “was.” Because this morning at 7:45am, this is what I saw: The video is 18 seconds, safe for work and kids, and shot on my iPad. I missed the first few babies (though you can see them in the video) because I looked away. You’ll see his mate, Ceti, swim through the frame at about 15 seconds in. You may also notice that she

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Thursday #PublishingLaw For Writers: Put it in Writing

*Note: this post was originally scheduled to appear on Wednesday, as part of the usual Writing Wednesday series, but was deferred to make way for yesterday’s SOPA/PIPA post. The accompanying tweets did go out yesterday, however, and can be located on Twitter by searching the #PubLaw hashtag. And now, on with the show. Today, we’re talking about the importance of writings. Many types of contracts can be verbal rather than written, but the general rule is that any contract which cannot be completed within one year must be in writing. There are other laws regulating written contracts too, and many

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SOPA, PIPA and Freedom of Expression

By now, you may have noticed that this site did not join the SOPA/PIPA protest blackout. It was a conscious decision, though not necessarily an easy one. I am a strong supporter of copyright and creators’ rights, both as an author and as an intellectual property attorney. I spend half my days protecting that which other people create, and the other half creating works I fully intend to protect on my own behalf. I believe that we need strong legislation to protect the rights of copyright holders, and equally strong protection for freedom of speech. I cannot, at this moment,

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And Now, A Romantic Interlude

Although originally acquired as a mate for my large male seahorse, Cygnus, the little female we named Ceti took a shine to the smaller male (Ghillie) instead. This wasn’t entirely accidental. Cygnus regarded the tank’s new additions as “buddies” to hitch his tail to. But Ghillie, despite his diminutive stature, started romancing the little female even before he finished growing his little brood pouch. Every time he saw her he changed from his usual black: (He’s already in transition there, as you can see from the whitish spaces between the black bits.) To colors that varied from peachy to grey

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In Honor of a Dream

I grew up in a world where Dr. Martin Luther King was already a hero. I grew up in a world where his dream was taught as my reality. I grew up with parents who did not need to teach me not to differentiate between people based upon the color of their skin – for them, as for me, it was character that counted. Many people were not and are not so fortunate. It disgusts me to see people still judge others by their nation of origin or the color of their skin. It angers me to learn that children

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