Adrian's Feed

Blog feed from www.adrianlilly.com. The feed contains poetry, fiction and reviews of my novels.

[adrianlilly]

What Is It About Social Media That Brings Out People’s Worst?

Have you witnessed online #bullying?

The other day I was watching a video of a woman who shares her crafts projects. Full disclosure: I am the least craftsy person you will ever meet. A few years ago, I had the chance to travel the country for six months, and I collected items to put in a scrap book. Those items and the scrapbook are still in a crate. Unused. Of course, I didn’t blog about it either. Anyway, I like her videos…

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[adrianlilly]

Help! My Blog Has an identity Crisis

I'm back! I'm going to try to write weekly as a way to stay in touch.

For several years I have blogged on and off on this site. I think that blogging has always felt like an imposition—and to be successful at it, it can’t feel like a “job” or an “obligation” in a long list of other things you need to accomplish in a day. I think one of the things I struggled with was an identity for my blog. Was it a marketing vehicle for self-published books? Was it a place to…

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[adrianlilly]

Funny, you don't seem fake

Funny, you don’t seem fake

Creating a character that seems believable is tricky. One reader might read your character and feel like they made a new friend, and another might read the dialogue and think, No one talks like that. While you can’t make everyone happy all the time, you can take some steps to make your characters feel complex and well developed. Flat characters are characters that readers know little about, and…

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[adrianlilly]

This is not a political post: My Experience with the COVID-19 vaccine

This is not a political post: My Experience with the #COVID-19 #vaccine

This year I made a New Year’s resolution to post at least once per week. Not an easy feat for a person who has also stated how uneasy he is with sharing. (Not things like candy and cookies, things about myself. I’ll share my cookies.) So, I decided to break away and share my personal experience with the COVID-19 vaccine. As I work in healthcare, I am among the lucky ones who have already had…

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[adrianlilly]

fall with you

fall with you #poetry #poems

cliff walking next to you, next to death— the two things I love most with moonlight in your eyes is enough to make me weep fragrance of night, of churning sea lifts to me lingers with the scent of you embracing on tremulous rock, listening to it crumbling, and looking down at the stars shimmering on the ocean pools far below I pull you closer in case we fall, to have one last…

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[adrianlilly]

Wreckage

Wreckage #poetry A bitter little #poem for a cold Wednesday

Scattered bits, smoldering Broken, jagged edges —And the carnage? The carnage— In a moment of stillness, you think This is my life. And you wonder Why you survived at all.

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[adrianlilly]

Caisson Disease

Caisson Disease #poetry #violence

When I re-emerge, I bleed. Pressure- less atmosphere expands my cells. Underneath I feel the weight             I feel the hate Of all their words. When I re-emerge, I bleed. Pressure builds slowly, and you have comfort, you could boil             in an underwater vent and not know. When I re-emerge, I bleed. Pressure Crushes around on all sides, but I rather Feel pain than nothing at…

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[adrianlilly]

Writing Prompt: Neighbor War

#Writing Prompt: Neighbor War. Use this exercise to put your character in a new situation. #fiction

Living among people isn’t always easy for us as writers. People do plenty of rude things that irritate those of us trying to think. Here’s your chance to imagine your revenge. 🙂 The Writing Exercise Your character has tried to tactfully let a neighbor know that they have been rude (think: barking dog, spilled garbage, loud music). All of your character’s efforts have been in vain. How does…

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[adrianlilly]

#Writing Prompt: Cold-hearted

#Writing Prompt: Cold-hearted. What will your character do? #writing

It’s a been a long while since I’ve shared some writing prompts, so I thought I’d start them up again! I hope you enjoy this one. It’s a wintry evening. The temperature is dropping and your character is running late for an important meeting with a potential new client. If s/he lands this account, it will save the business! Walking along the street, your character sees a homeless person…

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[adrianlilly]

Being a private person in a very public world

Being a private person in a very public world -- managing social media and personal privacy

We all know those people. They blow up social media with a dozen selfies a day. They seem to broadcast every single thought that passes through their heads (unedited and unabridged). They turn their private lives into a public affair. And then there’s me. I blog irregularly, post on Facebook infrequently, tweet even less, and don’t even ask about other social media. I see things that other…

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[adrianlilly]

A Writer’s New Year's #Resolutions 2021

A Writer’s New Year's #Resolutions 2021 -- write every day and meet other #writers!

This year, I’m issuing myself a set of challenges, and I’ll see how I did at the end of the year! Write every day. Every writer knows that he’s supposed to do this, but we find a reason not to. Maybe you’re tired from work. Maybe you got a bad review. Maybe life is just hell. When these days happen (and they will) remember how much you love to write. Then do it. Even a few lines. Even if it…

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[adrianlilly]

These short horror films perfectly sum up 2020

These short horror films perfectly sum up 2020

The year that felt like it might never end is finally winding down. In review, these short horror films seem to perfectly capture the feeling of this dreadful year, despite the fact that not all were made this year. What do you think? Doe these films capture the sense of impending doom brought on by COVID-19? I hope you enjoy! Curve Yes, this year felt like this. Trying to hold on – on the…

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[adrianlilly]

Poetry in Every Moment

Poetry in Every Moment -- A writer's slanted view of the world finds poetry in the simple, the mundane, and even the horrible.

Writing is as much a compulsion as a career. People who write often feel so strongly compelled that they ache or feel empty when NOT writing regularly. Writers often see the world just a bit differently, too. Where everyone else sees falling snow, poets like Mary Oliver see stars in the dark trees. She presents the beauty of a simple moment. A turn of phrase can capture all the anguish of loss…

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[adrianlilly]

10 Songs about Murder

10 Songs about Murder -- tales of #horror set to music

Tales of horror don’t always have to arrive in paperback or on celluloid.  Yarns about murder are a long part of folk music tradition. The tradition continues with these 10 songs that depict murder—while vividly setting the scene. 10 King’s Highway Joe Henry’s 1992 album Short Man’s Room features the song “King’s Highway.” The location of the highway is never given, and several U.S. states,…

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[adrianlilly]

All Over Twist

All Over Twist Is a twist ending worth it in horror fiction?

In writing horror, is a twist ending worth it? Twist endings can be powerful, but are they always worth the cost? “Soylent Green is people!” “It’s in the water!” “I can see dead people…” You could easily site many examples were a big twist at the end makes a story memorable. But, on the other hand, how many times have you groaned over the “and they were dead all along” or “it was only a dream”…

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[adrianlilly]

Food Fright: Curated Short Horror Film Festival

Here's the horror lovers' #datenight plan! Food Fright: Curated Short #Horror Film Festival and snacks with #recipes

Many people out there enjoy horror movies. Many of those same people also like food. That’s why I’m presenting Food Fright. Think of it as the horror fan’s ultimate date night. I’ll pair a movie and a dinner plan, often including dessert. Heck, I might even suggest an accompanying cocktail. That’s a complete theme.

Curated Short Film Festival

Sometimes you just need to change things up. While…

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[adrianlilly]

A Halloween ghost tale

A Halloween ghost tale

Books to read this Halloween Would you believe a ghost who warned you about your parents? Seventeen-year-old Julie Collins has the perfect life. Until she learns her father has terminal cancer and her parents want to move from Chicago to a remote Victorian home in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Julie feels isolated and alone. Her new school is a one-room shack filled with odd classmates. Her…

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