Author Archives: John W. Howell
Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Pad
The machine waits patiently for me to pad over and touch the screen with my choice. Today feels like a Latte Macchiato. A touch of the button and here it comes. One sip and my caffeine-deprived brain reaches out to grab and chug the rest. Before that could happen, the doorbell expresses its familiar Westminster […]
Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News
Today’s Good News story comes from Yahoo News. Thanks to Noelle Granger for sending it to me. Companies announce game-changing plan to harvest drinking water from the ocean floor — here’s how it works by Yei Ling Ma Three companies are leveraging modern technology to reshape the future of commercial desalination, making the process cleaner, […]
Thursday – A little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste on Watch
© “So why the long face, Twiggy?” “Brother. You know I have a droop.” “Well, yeah, but I thought you looked worried.” “No. Everything is fine. Thought I would gaze out for a while.” “What’s out there?” “A couple of deer mooching carrots off Mom.” “I like the term mooching. You know I would be […]
An Invitation to a Creative Call
Author and blogger Michele Lee has been hosting a monthly Zoom meeting that has been unofficially called Creative Call. The time spent is unscripted and not bound by an agenda. It is simply a gathering of creative individuals discussing processes, challenges, and sometimes silly topics. In short, each person can talk about whatever they […]
Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste Have a Discussion
“Hey, Tempest. What are you doing?” “You know I was just getting ready to attack cheeseburger.” “You seem to have a pretty good grasp on the concept of attack.” “It’s the only way to handle cheeseburger.” “So what do you intend to do with cheeseburger?” “I thought maybe we could play tuggy with it.” “Tuggy […]
Guest Post – Andrew Joyce and His New Book – Wicked – The men of Wicked Tuna.
I am very pleased to welcome Andrew Joyce to Fiction Favorites. He has a new book and it look like it is going to be a good one. Here’s the blurb. The town of Gloucester—America’s first fishing village—has a rich history of “men who go down to the sea in ships.” From that tradition, […]
Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Language
Today, I randomly opened Eternal Road – The last stop to page 233. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “language.” That is our prompt Language by John W. Howell © 2025 “That is not the kind of language we use, young man.” “Sorry, Mum, but I’m […]
Top Ten Things Not to Do When Writing the Great American Novel
This list was authored by Marie Ann Bailey and me and posted on September 30, 2013. We hope it is still useful. Top Ten Things Not To Do When Writing the Great American Novel 10. If you are writing the Great American Novel, do not begin your manuscript with the words, “It was a […]
Views of the Neighborhood – Potpourri
Today, since it has been a quiet week here in Lakeway, we are doing a potpourri. We are catered by Hestia of Austin, and our entertainment is Jack Antonoff and Oscar the Grouch. Menu Smoked mushroom – mushroom tare, fermented turnip, Fresno chili Halibut – shiro dashi, beurre monte, corn, trout roe Red ranger chicken […]
Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Toe/Tow
Waiting for the perfect cup of coffee can try one’s patience. The red light blinking behind the eyes is a low caffeine warning, and it intensifies with each passing moment. The red warning is joined by the beating of the anvil with a sledgehammer feeling in the brain. The body is giving its last […]
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