When GOOD Magazine asked me to pitch a sci-fi story for their Human Possibility issue last summer, I knew instantly that that I wanted to write about how the evolution of existing technology might change the fabric of our existence. What would “love,” that most basic of emotions, look like 100 years from now, especially if we had the tools to transcend our biology?
If your resolution this year is to write more, the challenge is twofold. Cultivating a daily practice takes discipline, while the search for inspiration can feel time-consuming and fruitless. Figment, a digital community for young fiction writers, is tackling both impediments with its new "Daily Themes" newsletter. Every morning between January 2 and March 30 Figment will hit subscribers' inboxes with a different writing prompt, reminding aspiring writers to put their thoughts into words every day and giving them fresh guidelines to get started.
Do you live in a college town? If so, chances are you're a big reader. Retail giant Amazon has announced its list of the "Top 20 Most Well-Read Cities in America." They tracked purchases of magazines, newspapers, books, and e-books since January 1 for cities with more than 100,000 residents. While Cambridge, Massachusetts, home of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is number one, the rest of the list is dominated by big college towns.
