Author: marylowd

I’m watching Underwater (2020), and it seems to have a monster that should interest me… but I’m barely paying attention.

Now, sure, I could TRY HARDER to pay attention, but I’m watching it for fun. And also, I’ve learned from being a slush reader to trust my instincts… Continue reading “Baseline Normality in Ocean Horror Movies”

Me: *time to write!*

My brain: *hmm. writing is hard. how to avoid it?*

Spouse: “Jeff Daniels has a kind of Bill Pullman vibe.” Continue reading “Bill Pullman Vibe”

I’m trying to work out a schedule for the book I’m writing, and my desire to finish the book soon is very much in conflict with my desire to not require myself to write very many words per day.

I’ve been kind of floundering with writing this book, and I think it’s partly because I thought I could rely on the same strategies as I used for the previous book in the trilogy, which I wrote last fall. Continue reading “Tricks and Gimmicks”

In a little over two weeks, Zooscape is going to announce that they’re raising their pay rate, with the goal of becoming a SFWA-qualifying market by the end of the year.

In order to afford the increase in pay, Zooscape will have to publish fewer stories. Continue reading “Zooscape Going Pro”

—green jello
—feral cat
—cauldron of bees
—swiss cheese
—babbling toddler
—easily distracted but stubborn dog
—evil sorcerer whispering from other dimension
—writer swearing they’ll never write again
—writer’s boss refusing to accept resignation letter

I wish I could have enjoyed The Mitchells vs. the Machines. It spoke directly to me in so many ways, mirroring little pieces of my own life and family.

But by midway through, I could barely stand seeing the dad onscreen. He treated Katie with such utter disregard and disrespect. Continue reading “The Dad in The Mitchells vs. the Machines”

The Mitchells vs. the Machines is mostly delightful, BUT

It should NOT be a minor daughter’s job to reach out to, connect with, and manage her father’s emotions.

Animated kid movies about boys don’t make their hero work 1% as hard to earn their dad’s respect. Continue reading “The Mitchells vs. the Machines”

That feeling when you’re trying to write and suddenly… scintillating scotoma time!

What is that, you ask?

Well, it’s related to migraines and looks like an upside down comma built from pulsating, cut-glass, fractal triangles, exactly in the middle of your field of vision. Continue reading “Scintillating Scotomas”

I can’t tell if the viewer is supposed to see Angel getting himself turned back into a vampire rather than being happy with Buffy as noble… but I can’t see it as anything other than weak, insecure, arrogant, & controlling.

He can’t stand being weaker than her & relying on her. Continue reading “When Buffy Visits Angel”

I want to talk about how much I love Teen Beach Movie & Teen Beach 2.

Yes, those are ridiculous titles. Yes, they’re squeaky clean Disney+ movies aimed at tweens.

BUT… Continue reading “The Greatness of Teen Beach Movie & Teen Beach 2”