Monthly Archives: January 2012

Harmony Makes Good Life, But Not Good Fiction

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Susan Spann

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Scribbling | Comments Off

This is what passes for breakfast conversation in my world

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Susan Spann

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Running Amok | Comments Off

Adventures In the Land of Logic

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Susan Spann

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). … Continue reading →

Posted in What's That in the Web? | Comments Off

Writing Wednesday: Publishing Contract Termination

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Susan Spann

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in #PubLaw | Comments Off

My, What a Lovely Platypus!

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Susan Spann

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Anything for a Party | Comments Off

We Interrupt This Blog for 100 Birth Announcements

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Susan Spann

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Something's Fishy Here | 3 Comments

Thursday #PubLaw: Put it in Writing

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Susan Spann

*Note: this post was originally scheduled to appear on Wednesday, as part of the usual Writing Wednesday/#PubLaw 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in #PubLaw | Comments Off

SOPA, PIPA and Freedom of Expression

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Susan Spann

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Publishing Law | 3 Comments

And Now, A Romantic Interlude

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Susan Spann

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Something's Fishy Here | Comments Off

In Honor of a Dream

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Susan Spann

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Lessons Learned | Comments Off