“It has been suggested that the purpose of stories—that is, the evolutionary advantage they confer—is in their ability to prepare us for threats and challenges we have yet to face. (Again, interestingly, the same has been suggested of dreams.)  It’s no wonder, then, that one of the most ubiquitous pieces of writing advice you are likely to encounter is to focus on conflict. Because not only does conflict get our attention, it can offer us tools with which to deal with difficulties in our own lives.”

This is one of the best articles I’ve read about writing in a long time; it went right into my bookmarks.  (And my humble opinion is that there is a lot of nebulous, touchy-feely bull$+I+ floating around the Internet about fiction and creativity.)

Thanks to Dagda Publishing for the link via their Facebook page today.

http://litreactor.com/columns/5-essential-brain-hacks-for-fiction

“The show is on the bubble. Hannibal simply does not have the ratings to be considered viable for an extended life on a network.”

IGN.com:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/13/nbc-on-the-struggle-to-get-a-main-stream-audience-for-hannibal?utm_campaign=fbposts&utm_source=facebook

Yeah, whatever.  I indeed am Crazy Cat Man.

Super Smart Art Girl just called me Crazy Cat GUY.  That sounds … cool or hip.  Or at least a moniker for someone under age 40.

Your daily hit of kitten pics is right here:

Thanks to RJ Summers (coolest Canadian ever) for sharing this.  Originally posted on the “Deep Abyss” Facebook page.

It’s cool to look at the “Deep Abyss” Facebook page.  BUT DON’T LOOK TOO HARD, BECAUSE IT ALSO LOOKS INTO YOU.

Hi!  You guys are AWESOME.

Anyway, yes — I have been googling the location of US military bases and oil reserves, as well as major east-west highways in the eastern United States.  It has been suggested to me that you guys keep track of google searches like that from time to time.

I am NOT one of the bad guys.  I PROMISE.  I am a science fiction writer trying to imagine a fictional future war.  I am trying to write the next novel in my book series.

PLEASE do not send me to Guantanamo Bay.  OR Room 101.

Please do not have Jack Bauer torture me for answers.  Yes, I now he is a fictional character on a television program.  But that Dude is so badass that I think he is actually capable of breaking the fourth wall, and invading our reality, using the superpowers of American pluck and just straight-up murdering everyone.

Oh!  I was perusing the ACLU website the other day only because I was making fun of those liberal clowns!  They say “Fourth Amendment;” I say “DORK Amendment!”  Hahahahaha!  You guys totally know where I’m coming from, amiright?!

Anyway, you guys are doing a GREAT JOB.  You guys are AWESOME.  Seriously.  Shine ON, you crazy diamonds!

Legally yours,

Eric Robert Nolan

That’s how I’ve been describing the four kittens that arrived via stork last night to the MamaCat that inhabits the parking lot behind my building.  Either that, or “TINYCATS!,” with all the exuberance of age six.

It’s been brought to my attention that I am gaining a reputation as Crazy Cat Man, but I don’t care.

Pictured below are MamaCat and three of my new friends.  The fourth is actually a little black cat (who presumably takes after his father).  I actually only discovered him about an hour ago, because he … hides in the shadows like the tiniest little ninja that ever was.

If I ever succeed in photographing the finger-length assassin, I will post it.

My buddy Russell Morgan had this to say on Facebook this morning:

“I decided to give mangoes a second chance. While these did taste better than the last one I had, it still tasted a bit like soap to me. Still not a major fan.”

I read “MAGPIES” and was wierded out.  I thought that maybe somewhere Heckle was mourning Jeckle.

Gonna call it “The Dorks of Perception.”