Journal – Page 4 – John Murzycki, Author

September 28, 2020September 29, 2020

When Bots Go Bad

Monsters take many different forms. If you’ve read Elthea’s Realm and Elthea’s Gambit, you’ll understand the suffering caused by the Bots in my novels. In case you’re not familiar, the Bots I write about are not benign software programs operating mundane tasks.

In my books, the Bots kill without remorse. They are evil creatures that came to life from today’s computer viruses. We all understand the problems when a virus infects one of our tech devices. Now, imagine that destructive force as a living, breathing entity with magical powers.

I’ve taken what already exists in our world and turned it into something more deadly in my stories. During my time as a corporate marketing manager, I had frequently considered how technology could evolve in beneficial ways for civilizations or become disastrous to all.

August 29, 2020August 31, 2020

The Power of Story

Thanks for taking the time to read my latest journal article. Much of my day now involves writing my next book, and I’m often surprised I haven’t posted in a few weeks.

Today, I reminisce about the power of story, and why I craft the novels I do.

Let me tell you what drove me to become a writer and storyteller. I wasn’t always this way. But even as a child, the love of books was part of my nature.

July 22, 2020

A Summertime Update

The above picture was taken in my backyard, where the flowers are looking fabulous. As for my writing, I am nearly done editing my third novel, Elthea’s Paradox.

This one has taken me longer than the others. Yet, as a good friend explained, “Once published, nobody will compliment you on how rapidly you finished it. Every book is judged on its quality.”

Editing can be both exciting and frustrating. Exciting because this is the point where I massage the storyline to make it shine and easier to read. No reader wants to trip over sentences throughout a book, and this is where I polish those rough edges. It’s frustrating because, well, good writing is hard. I can spend hours reworking a short passage over and over again.

June 16, 2020June 17, 2020

Global Events Can Spark Your Imagination

If you feel like the world has been spinning out of control during these past few months, you’re not alone.

First, we faced the coronavirus and then witnessed the massive protests for racial equality. We haven’t even begun the ruckus that’s sure to unfold as we approach the presidential election here in the U.S.

I’m a news junkie, so I tend to pay attention to events taking place in the world. I try to tune out the noise when it becomes too much by concentrating on my writing. But the evening news has a way of capturing my attention.

In some ways, science fiction and fantasy writers are lucky. We draw upon events in the world as fodder for our plots. We use them to stimulate our imagination, asking what-if questions. And often, we come up with some pretty creative results. So, in a way, I’m really doing research by clicking on that Apple News app while I work.

May 5, 2020

The Language of a Pandemic

Words define us and explain the events of our generation. Such is the case with the current Coronavirus.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary recently added the word COVID-19. It took one month from conception to formal recognition, the fastest in the company’s nearly 200-year history. This wasn’t the only new word included in the dictionary because of the virus.

Usually, new words are added only after years of generally accepted use. But now, practically overnight, an entirely new vocabulary has developed.

Life may never be the same because of the virus, and that goes for our language. Here are some of the newest additions to our lexicon.

April 2, 2020April 2, 2020

The Fear of COVID-19

I considered writing something else in this blog post — anything except what’s on everyone’s mind these days. It can be overwhelming listening to the barrage of news, statistics, and commentary about the virus that has spread across the globe.

Right now, however, any other subject feels trivial. We’ve been upended by a small bit of chemistry too tiny to be seen. We are fighting a faceless, unseen enemy intent on destroying us. I’ve read too many science fiction novels where this story doesn’t end well for humanity.

March 3, 2020

The Storyteller in Each of Us

At a recent Writers’ Club meeting, a member complimented me on my skill at storytelling.

I had to think about it. Me? I might call myself a writer, author, indie publisher, or editor. But storyteller?

Best-selling authors receive accolades all the time that are something like, “A brilliant book by a skillful writer.” That’s the praise most authors would be delighted to see or hear. Most of the people who write books probably prefer the title of writer or author.

But the comment about being a storyteller stuck with me.

February 4, 2020

My Daily Writing Routine

Here’s a photo of Missy, my loyal dog, and a writing companion. Her breed is a Havanese, and we brought her home nearly a year ago.

My life hasn’t been the same since.

I initially hoped that Missy would help me write faster by planting herself on my lap while I was at my desk, forcing me to keep at my task. But alas, the opposite has typically been the case.

She’d much rather play. She will often coax me into chasing her around the house or in the backyard as she tries to keep one of her toys away from me. And if that fails, she’ll find some trouble to get into, like chewing on a slipper or sneaker I’ve left on the floor.

November 25, 2019November 25, 2019

A Thankful Post

With the holidays upon us, my message for this journal post is a simple one. I offer you my appreciation and gratitude. You make it possible for me to continue my dream of writing.

I’ve discovered that a writer’s life is not always an easy path to follow. It can be a daunting profession, putting words onto a blank page, knowing others will eventually judge the quality and worthiness of the books I write.

September 5, 2019

Great Books by Super Authors

I will often decide to read a new book based on someone’s recommendation. If you’re the same, read this post.

Because of my writing experience, I’ve become friends with a group of remarkable authors. You might not be familiar with their books, but be prepared for great reading in a variety of genres, both in fiction and non-fiction.

I highly recommend these authors and their books because of the flair they have for telling a story, or in the case of non-fiction, explaining a place and activity.