I write sci-fi and other things too.

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The Breakout Room

This flash fiction (aka microfiction) started out as a journal entry inspired by Jack Grapes’s book on ‘Method Writing’. I cut most of the journal entry before the point where a “transformation line” massage suggested a possible story.

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What I’m Doing Now 2024-10

Updated on 2024-10-28 Monday from Tokyo, Japan Wearing a light fleece today; now I know summer’s behind us and winter’s on the way. (Alas, autumn’s getting squished between these two.) Here is a selection of October’s Now moments:

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Proctoring Lifeology 101

I wrote this method writing journal entry in a Campus pocket notebook with a Pentel Energel pen. Then I typed it up in Visual Studio Code and fixed a few things. The piece is called "Proctoring Lifeology 101" - a test we all get to take; even the truants are not spared ;-)

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Thinking about Rain

Years ago rain like this made me feel glad to be alive. I remember getting soaked to the skin coming home from school and then hanging my wet clothes to dry on a line in the scullery. Even a scolding from my mum didn't dampen my spirits. I was too happy dunking chocolate digestive biscuits into a mug of hot tea until the chocolate melted and I could lick it off while the fire in the hearth roared and crackled and sparks jumped onto the iron grate and smoldered for a few seconds.

#microfiction
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September Mourn

"My father loved September Morn," Sadako said, her voice almost a whisper. "He only went that day because someone called in sick."

#writing
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0016: Old is My Middle Name

Fiction writer job description: sit in a room and make things up. Here's a handwritten microfiction story inspired by the word "Old".

#microfiction#handwritten
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Four More Pages

And here I am again; four more pages.I like this early bird gets the worm way of working.If only I could do it full-time and make a good living out o...

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Breakfast of Champions

Take a bowl of delayed gratification sprinkled with the fruits of opportunities but handle carefully lest accomplishments spill over and some early bird ...

#poem#procrastination
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Monthly Now Update

Here's the YouTube version of my monthly 'what am I doing now' update. I post NOW updates to markmccluretoday.com/now (every month, usually on the 28t...

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Work's The Arch Enemy of Free Time

Ricardo Semler, the Brazilian sometime CEO of Semco and author of the bestselling Maverick, is a very unique businessman indeed.

#writing