Writing Mercenary

I have a new idea for a novel, so once Fortunes is done, I am hoping to get that plotted. Names are not easy to come up with, but I started devising a new set. In order to come up with a new world, I'll be picking up some history books in eras I don't … Continue reading New Ideas/Old Ideas →

First, a big thanks to all my supportive friends! Here’s my first ever author newsletter. Couldn’t have done it without you! Don't forget to add diana@writingmercenary.com to your safe list so you don't miss a single issue!  Summer's just about over already, and what a busy season it was. Virtually, over the last several months, … Continue reading Newsletter Launch! →

2020 has been a really mixed bag for everyone. The one thing I've noticed it that it's given me new awareness of how important creativity is. Imagination and stories are helping us to explore options, see what the future could be (good and bad), and helping us to grapple with the big questions. I've been … Continue reading Visions →

Recently, a number of events have convinced me that speculative fiction writers must embrace change, no matter how painful. Change is inevitable, and it's foolish to act as if everything is set in stone. Indeed, if we are to be true to ourselves as speculative fiction (SF/fantasy) writers, we NEED to ask the perennial question … Continue reading The Future IS Change…Or, Not More Of The Same →

For most people, New Year's doesn't start until January. As an educator, September feels like a new year. Somehow, though, I've got a third beginning: July. Let me explain. July 2013, faced with great difficulties, after a very long hiatus, I returned to writing. July 2015, my hard work paid off and I traveled to … Continue reading Happy New…July? →

So, another year ending, and time to review. My plans for 2018 were (achieved goals struck through): Complete the MFA thesis novel (military fantasy) by February 1. (August 15, but still done!) Complete my craft essay by February 12. (Done.) Develop a paper into an academic article and send it out to the appropriate journals. … Continue reading Year In Review →

Sometimes, decisions have to be made. Saying no to one thing means saying yes to something else. It is a hard decision when both are really good, plus there's the sunk-cost fallacy to factor in. (Tuition dollars, time spent, etc.) My dilemma was simple: get the Ph.D.? After all, for eight years as an adjunct … Continue reading Yes or No? Stay or Go? →

Piles of papers vie for my attention right now. Digital files also compete on any given day. Some are for the day job, some are for graduate school work and the novel. Four and a half weeks from now, I pick up my regalia. Five weeks out, I go to the Futurescapes workshop. In six … Continue reading Dreams, Deadlines and Diplomas…. →

I am so happy. December 5th, 2016 is a special day---it was the day I first had a short story published! "Satyrday Night Special" is live at Teleport Magazine. It feels good to have a publication credit to my name. Dreams do come true! I began writing in 2013 to make reality palatable---hiding in my … Continue reading Breakthrough →