I wrote this poem spur of the moment, as a very dear friend of mine recounted the many ways he loves his fiance. I am so honored to be a part of their story, and to my readers, I cannot honestly recount how deeply their story made me feel, for there are no words to…
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Between Two Mountains: A Poem
I never thought I’d be the silly writer Who would dare to utter the cliche ‘Your lips were the color of sky’. But here I am, And to say otherwise would be a lie. The sky tonight for perhaps a minute and a half Was the same color as the gunmetal chill Of your lips…
Read MoreFour Ways To Avoid The Trope Of The ‘Strong Female Character’
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about the role of women in literature and film from an article called “We’re Losing All Our Strong Female Characters To Trinity Syndrome”. Published last week by Tasha Robinson, the article primarily argues that screenwriters are providing cop-out “strong female characters” who appear at first glance to be…
Read MoreThe Trees Were Dying
it was just today looking out the window of my car that i saw the trees were dying crumpled into paper figures, a parody of their former selves wrenching, like crooked cursed fingers in the direction of the ground and i their killer. I knew this was no simple thing, like a barren grassless prairie…
Read MorePromised Evenings: A Poem
My heart curls around your fingertip like a slinking cat winding its tail around a corner pressing its bones against the edge aching for release. The cat will chase shadows in the alleys as will I seeking solace in moonlight catching shades like fireflies trapping them in jars wondering when they will materialize into the…
Read MoreAgents, Line Up Here! My Version Of A Query Letter
Dear Mr. or Ms. Agent, Hello! You probably don’t know me, but you’re about to. Biblically. Ha ha, get it? No? Your loss. Well. Moving on. My name is Suzanne J. K. Veronica Green Meyer, and I’m thrilled to announce that you’re one of many specially-selected agents who have been invited to fight for the right…
Read MoreCaptivate Your Reader In Three Easy Steps: Guest Post by Peter Samet
I’d like to welcome to The Z-Axis one Peter Samet, newly-published author of ZERO ECHO SHADOW PRIME. Peter’s compelling debut proves how well he knows how to tell a good story – here, he shares his insight into the keys to crafting a narrative, and how writers can capitalize on our human nature as storytellers. Why…
Read MoreWriting and Running: On Triumph And Sacrifice
Writing a book is like running a marathon. You start out feeling great. You’re flying. You’re not tired yet (not even a little bit!) and you fucking love what you’re doing. That’s the first few miles, the first few chapters, dominated by euphoria, the thrill of your story, the thrill of activity. Then you get…
Read MorePorous, Chapter Twelve: Waves On The River
This is the first chapter in the two-part ending to Section One of POROUS. Next Monday I’ll release the final chapter in the first section, and these two chapters are intended, really, to be one and the same. But I wanted this final scene to be long, and dramatic, and that didn’t really fit the…
Read MorePorous, Chapter Eleven: Dissipation
I stare out the windows at the cloudless blue sky, a rarity here in Oregon. I’m trying to avoid Dr. Chase’s eyes, searching for mine, inquisitive and demanding. I wish I were out there, floating in the deep blue, or perhaps drifting through Silas’ purple bubbles in his strange world, instead of cooped up in…
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