J L Wilson

9 Apr 2025

Just FYI, I don't follow many people. I add them to lists I've created. That gives me a chance to dip in & out & see posts from people I might miss if I follow a gazillion people because I only check social media maybe 30 minutes a day, if that.

Back from an overnight getaway. When I woke at 3 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep, I focused on my WIP and solved a big plot problem. Go, me! Now, nap...

Well, I'm back from my brainstorming trip & have a solid idea for a new mystery, a good take on the covers for my series, & also developed some plot ideas during the 6 hour drive THROUGH POURING RAIN AND CONSTRUCTION WHILE YELLING WTF PEOPLE, DRIVE! I'm fine. Everything's fine. Time for wine.

I only watch network TV when I travel and boy, it really sucks. Commercials! Politics! Drugs! OMG who can watch it?

I will be taking off tomorrow to brainstorm with friends on how to murder people, also gambling, drinking, & having a good time with my tribe. The Spousal Unit remains at home to have his own kind of partying (loud music, beer, late nights, & movies I don't want to watch). A perfect marriage.

In the "Weird Times" category I've always applied for my own copyright (whether w/ publisher or self-pub) & always submitted digital copies of the work. Now I was pinged on a submission from March (!) & told by copyright.gov to submit a paper copy of my book, that digital isn't good enough.

After submitting 40 digital books, why now? I replied & was told that "it doesn't matter what was done in the past, the best available version is the print version so shut up & send a copy to us". So I'm betting my submission from August will be rejected, too. We'll see!

I've been flailing a bit on my recent WIP so today I decided to just sit down and THINK about it. Lo and behold, I know what to do to make it go forward (maybe, I hope). I also am narrowing down the cover designs for the series of books (15) I want to publish next year. A Good Day. #amwriting

This is just my somewhat random reminder that I write books, I am writing a book as we speak, I will have another book out next year (not sure which one), I have a series I'll release next year, and here are my current books: books2read.com/rl/JLWilsonR...

I skim the local newspaper every morning & I swear, every morning I read Dear Abby & say "WTAF" out loud. These people can't be real, can they? Somebody writes these missives for DA, right? Some are just unbelievable. Please tell me there aren't that many gullible people in the world.

October! This begins my annual reading of "A Night in the Lonesome October" by Roger Zelazny. I have the tapes and a Walkman, so will either listen or read a chapter a day. The tapes are AWESOME because it's the author's narration. Tradition!

What a great idea. And what a graphic representation.

womensartbluesky.bsky.social@womensartbluesky.bsky.social

While listening to council meetings in Montreal, local mayor Sue Montgomery decided to knit in red when men spoke and in green when women spoke, when similar numbers of both attended. Day 1 results.... #WomensArt

Yes we saw trolls today! I highly recommend a visit if there some near you. Just do a search for Dambo Trolls!

I'm trying an experiment with this WIP. I write in chapters & I usually write ~5K words/chapter. I'm trying shorter chapters, like 2200-2500 words. I've noticed other authors doing this & I like the idea of more breaks in action. I can get a whole chapter done in one sitting. #writingcommunity

youtube.comThomas Dambo: TROLLMAKER (Artist Studio Tour)YouTube video by Exploredinary

22 Sept

I have plans to go to a Troll Site this weekend; I know of a few in this vicinity, so it's on my List of Fall Activites. This guy has a lot of fun. Just sayin'... www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfjm...

21 Sept

I don't know if it is unique to BlueSky or just how I interact w/ it, but most authors I find here write (1) horror or (2) SciFi and, honestly, I have NEVER run across many of these authors before. It has vastly expanded my reading lists. I normally find mystery & romance authors, so...unusual.

22 Sept

And now because many of you commented, I am finding other authors and people to add to my various lists. Yay!

18 Sept

On a forum where I lurk, I see people asking about software used to track drafts. I don't use any writing software except Word & One Note (to note characters, book timelines, etc.) I've never seen a need for Scrivener or any other helpers. Authors? What do you use? #writingcommunity

15 Sept

I am thinking about LLMs/AI today & remembering the courses I took LONG ago & programming in Ada (don't get me started, it was my 6th programming language & almost killed me, seriously). Yes, I think it's possible an LLM could decimate the human population. Mostly by accident.

15 Sept

By that I mean not maliciously. By perceiving humans as a threat to it (as originally defined by humans & then perhaps the threat is modified by another LLM created by an LLM). I think that's where the danger lies. Don't let an LLM modify its programming or create a new system. Hinder growth.

15 Sept

And, as I understand it, much of the data verification is outsourced, so is it verified? Are there third-party watchdogs which are not LLMs? Is there a chance for malicious coding being returned? I need a Tracy Kidder kind of book to get to the soul of this new machine.

The good thing about being mildly ill (a cold) is that I felt good about taking a day off. Now, today, I'm not 100%, so I *should* rest, but a little voice is like 'dude, come on, you're wasting time, do something useful today, that book won't write itself' and I find myself longing for sniffles.

A comment by another author made me realize that there are many authors who are considered essential to a genre whom I just don't read. I've tried to read the Right Books in the Genre, but I just don't get why those authors have been canonized. More power to them, but they're not for me.

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I've always been an author, just not a published one until recently, so maybe that's it? I have tried to read The Next Big Thing & often give up after 2 or 3 chapters because I know what's going to happen & the author isn't pulling me into the story. There's no curiosity about what will happen.

Something to consider as I plot my next book, I think. Yes, some things will be obvious but how will they take place? What obstacles will be in the way? The authors I like to read are good at surprising me, the reader. I need to keep that in mind as I craft my stories.

I think content choice is such an individual thing that fluctuates over time with our own experiences. I've tried to re-read old favorites and, nope, the thrill isn't there (except for Rebecca. Yep. Still a classic. Still much to learn from the author).

And I realized that maybe that's what is going on with me. I'm an author and I read books as an author, not as a reader. I can pick out the typos and plot problems. I can see how the author is managing me, the reader.

11 Sept

I remember my mother saying that the WTC 9/11 attacks are the Pearl Harbor of my generation and you know, I think she's right. She always knew where she was on 12/7 when she heard the news and I sure know where I was on 9/11. Both days resonated for similar reasons. Everything changed.

10 Sept

a somewhat regular reminder that I write books (40 published so far), mostly mysteries but some paranormals and time travel books, and they're all here if you want to look at them. books2read.com/rl/JLWilsonR...

10 Sept

I usually write at least one book a year because I enjoy writing and am always challenged by it. I'm currently working on what I think will be a four-book series, maybe five. And working with a cover artist on covers for the 15 books I want to start publishing next year. So, yeah, busy!

9 Sept

1/ I'm listening to "In the Garden of Beasts" by Eric Larson. It's about Nazi Germany in the 1930s and how it was perceived by Americans who lived there. It's very eye-opening. I always wondered "how could they let this happen", but the book shows how. Historical context is so critical.

9 Sept

2/ The Depression, drought, clashes with neighboring states, the Versailles Treaty all played into it as well as a pervasive desire to find a scapegoat. One little chip at a time. There are so many parallels to our world today. It's sobering. Worrying.

9 Sept

3/ I'm in the Elder Category so I won't see the end result of what is happening (long-term) but by understanding what happened then I can get a sense of what might happen in the near future. I can't believe I'm still protesting this crap (going on 50 years), but protest I will.

2 Sept

I know this is a terrible cliche, but we got together with long-time friends yesterday and got caught up on all the medical tests we've had lately. There is something strangely comforting about comparing angiogram, colonoscopy, and dental woes. And knowing we all got passing grades? Priceless.

28 Aug

@blongley.bsky.social or @marystrand.bsky.social -- post a picture if you see it!

Ghostly Bree@mostlybree.kitrocha.com

If anyone at the MN State Fair wanders by a giant whistle sculpture in the Fine Art section, please @ me pics!!! I wish I could see it in the wild.

FYI, I survived the heart test and even got a mediocre lunch out of the deal, followed by ice cream courtesy of the Spousal Unit who manfully sat through all the medical nonsense with me. I have an arm sling, massive bruise, and tiredness to show for it all, but hey, I'm not whining (much).

OMG. Tim Curry and Dolly Parton going through the pearly gates. Can you imagine?

1/ I am going to the hospital today for what is touted as a 'routine heart procedure' but, you know, it's my heart which is kinda important so I'm a bit concerned. The hardest part is no water from now for a few hours & I have sticky notes everywhere reminding me because I'm a big water drinker.

2/ I'm sure all will be well. A friend of mine with heart issues said it's pretty routine and he's had it done to him at least once, so I'm not too worried. Okay, yeah, I am, but health care is all about trust, isn't it? I'll report back later (she said optimistically).

jayellwilson.blogspot.comJ L Wilson

20 Aug

This is my weekly reminder that I write books, I have books in many genres, I love writing books, & I am currently working on a new four-book series. My newsletters & other misc. are here: jayellwilson.blogspot.com All the books are here: books2read.com/rl/JLWilsonR...

17 Aug

Happy birthday to my 43rd book and my second book out this year. I had a great deal of fun writing and researching this book because (1) I had a chance to reread one of my favorite Shakespeare plays and (2) I had to do a bunch of Scotland research. Double win for me! books2read.com/b/mZRx1p

ifnotforthem.comIntroducing the documentary series If Not For ThemAn epic story of the forgotten women who changed the world through the love of their sport

14 Aug

If you are interested in the history of women in sports (especially basketball), check this out. I know the folks who are putting together this documentary and it's so fascinating to see all the details and stories they've found and documented. ifnotforthem.com

10 Aug

I am 99.9% set up on the new tablet. Surprisingly not too bad to do, even moving from iOS to Android. A couple of glitches (this is an older tablet so a couple of apps might not work). Otherwise, should be okay. I'll wait a month or so to be sure before recycling my old tech.

10 Aug

On the iOS vs. Android front: I had to use both OS while working in Tech Land, so I'm familiar enough with how things work. iOS does some things better, Android does others better. So it goes. I've been around tech since floppy disks so I can figure out just about any workaround needed.

9 Aug

My old iPad is acting up, so I figured I'd buy something new. But the Spousal Unit (who is a computer savant but a Luddite in regards to mobile tech) has a very expensive Android tablet that he pushed on me ("take it. I hate it") (this is the man who never turns on his phone)

9 Aug

The SU *always* buys the most expensive piece of tech, his reasoning being "it must be good if it's pricy" and yeah, this one has Extra Features which I had to turn off in order to use it like a tablet for games and email and other non-Extra uses. Took me some time to figure that out.

9 Aug

Now to go through the task of transferring game IDs from iOS to Android. I am certain this will involve sacrifices to some remote entity which I have not yet identified. I will chip away at it over the next few days & then decide whether to turn in my iPad (which I can get $ for). Wish me luck.