writing life

Superheroes, Sanderson, and the Genre Spectrum

Brandon Sanderson is stepping into science fiction with Tailored Realities, and at the same time, I’ve been watching Daredevil: Reborn — a superhero story that feels a lot more like fantasy than you’d expect. It got me thinking: where do superhero stories fall in the speculative spectrum? Is sci-fi and fantasy really a spectrum at all? This week, I’m diving into how genre boundaries are shifting, and what that means for readers, writers, and masked vigilantes alike.

A Thanksgiving State of Mind

Thanksgiving comes twice a year when you straddle both sides of the border — one quieter, one a full-blown production. But whether it’s turkey, pasta, or chili dogs, the heart of it never changes. Gratitude isn’t about the meal or the decor. It’s about the people at your table — literal and metaphorical — and remembering how lucky we are to have them.

The Hazeldean Artisan Market—Wait, When?

Mark reflects on the strange physics of author life—writing about the Hazeldean Artisan Market before it happens, even though you’re reading about it after the fact. Between the smell of coffee, glitter-covered tables, and fellow creatives, he celebrates the timeless joy of connecting with readers and fellow artisans (and maybe bending the space-time continuum just a little).

The Perfect Life for an Author? It Looks Boring as Hell.

If you’re serious about writing — I mean serious-serious — then at some point you’re going to have to give things up. And not just a Netflix show or two. I mean real, soul-wrenching, this-or-that decisions.

I’ve made them. I gave up socializing. I gave up making clothes and jewelry. I took lower-paid jobs so I’d have the energy to write.

Writing takes time. And if your life is already full, then something else has to go. That’s the reality. You can’t wedge a writing career into the margins of a life that’s already packed.

The Truth About Writers’ Lives (It’s Not What You Think)

Most people think writers live glamorous lives — champagne book launches, exotic research trips, and endless hours of leisure to dream up stories. The truth is a lot less Parisian café and a lot more 4:30 a.m. alarm clocks, fourteen-hour workdays, and muttering at characters who won’t behave while the laundry piles up.

In this post, I pull back the curtain on what writers’ lives really look like, why the myths persist, and how those rosy assumptions can sometimes hurt more than help.

Help Me Decide What to Write Next

Mark’s got three thrilling projects fighting for attention in his brain—another Jacobine adventure, a high-octane Billings sequel, or a brand-new season of Credible Threat. He’s throwing the decision to readers: which story should he dive into next?

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