A Waist Is a Terrible Thing to Fake (and My Self-Esteem Hack That Actually Works)

/ Tracy Cooper-Posey

Ever felt that gut-punch of inadequacy scrolling past yet another impossibly slender model? I’ve spent years battling that feeling—until I stumbled upon a dead-simple image hack that flipped the script on photoshopped perfection. This post dives into the body distortion we’re fed daily, and the oddly calming trick that helped me reclaim a little peace (and joy in fashion again).

When “The Last of Us” Kills Off Your Soul

/ Contemporary Fantasy, Dystopian Fantasy, Fantasy, Taylen Carver

I adored Season 1 of The Last of Us—not because it echoed the game (I’ve never dared touch the game), but because it gave us that rare, aching dynamic: a broken man given one last chance to do right, and a broken girl who just might live through it. Then Season 2 came along and killed Joel with a golf club. In Episode 2. And just like that, the show lost its soul.

How to Stop Procrastinating (Without Spending 4.5 Hours To Do It)

/ Tracy Cooper-Posey

Mark Manson recently released a 4.5-hour video on how to stop procrastinating—which sounds like a great way to procrastinate for 4.5 hours. At The Productive Indie Fiction Writer, we’ve tackled this beast from every angle. This post pulls together some greatest hits, a few uncomfortably true quotes, and a flexible mindset to help you find your way around the monster.

Who Should Control Space?

/ Cameron Cooper

Who should control space? As satellites multiply and commercial players crowd low Earth orbit, the old question of ownership gives way to something trickier: governance. From traffic control to peacekeeping, enforcing rules in orbit isn’t just hard—it may be impossible in the traditional sense. But if no one can own space, does anyone have the right—or responsibility—to police it? This post explores the real-world state of space management, the challenges of enforcement, and how science fiction—from Star Cops to The Ptolemy Lane Tales—offers unexpected insight into the future of orbital order.

The Streaming No: Why Epic Fantasy Shows Are Dying Mid-Quest (And Why Books Still Win)

/ Fantasy, Taylen Carver

Ah, “high production costs.” The new “it’s not you, it’s me” of the streaming world.

First it was Andor, quietly sliced from five seasons to two. Now it’s The Wheel of Time, which spun valiantly for three seasons on Prime Video before the thread was abruptly severed—despite critical acclaim and a devout fanbase. “Too expensive,” they say. “Too complex.” As if they didn’t know, going in, that adapting a sprawling 14-book fantasy epic might require some…commitment?

Your Genre is Killing You — Here’s How to Break Up With It

/ Tracy Cooper-Posey

There’s a question that haunts a lot of indie fiction writers, particularly after the third burned-out book in a series they don’t even want to read anymore:

Am I selling out if I quit this genre and write what I actually want to write?

Short answer: No, you’re not selling out. You’re probably saving your sanity.

Longer answer? Let’s get into it.

6 Novelists Who Started In the Pulps…Or Are Still There

/ Cameron Cooper, Science Fiction, Thrillers

Why am I talking about pulp fiction? (No, not the movie — which got its name from Tarantino’s inspiration for the story.)

Two reasons: Classic SF got its start in the pulp magazines. And my Ptolemy Lane Tales series was my nod to classic hardcore pulp fiction.

Classic pulp stories are often decried for their simplicity and dependence upon erotic elements to move copies.  The criticism overlooks one of the primary functions of pulp stories:  They were written to entertain.

And my god, they did that in spades.

At their peak of popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, the most successful pulps could sell up to one million copies per issue. In 1934, Frank Gruber (writer) said there were some 150 pulp titles.*

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