#scriptsky Who are your top 3 favorite filmmakers? Who are you most inspired by as a storyteller? For me it's: Alex Garland Christopher Nolan Denis Villeneuve

Let's all keep writing! #scripsky #booksky

Snow is so frozen in Maryland that our Border Collie Bodhi is refusing to do his business. Why else would I put grass- aerating cleats on my boots and dig a little spot in the snow for him to go? So far he's not appreciating my efforts but at some point he's got to go.

Every creative project I work on, whether it's a book, computer game code, or in this case, my new website, I have difficulty knowing when to stop tweaking. The problem is every tweak really does make it better, if even by only 0.001% Obviously I need to find a new project before my head explodes.

A reminder to be yourself no matter what others think.😂

Website welcome page.

I've been reading one novel that's written third person past tense, and anther written first person present tense. Now I don't know if I'm coming or going.🤪

First person versus third person POV: What do you prefer to write? What do you prefer to read? And why?

Well this sucks. I've been using the excuse; "I have to redesign my author website" for the past month and now it's finished, And tweaked. And error-free. And literally the best website I have ever created. I guess now I need to focus on whether or not there's a secret episode 9 of #StrangerThings.🤪

Post the OPENING LINE of your latest book or script: Here's Rogue Wave: Deep below the surface of an alien ocean, a massive ten-story-tall structure loomed in the silent depths, its mottled outer hull ravaged by time and corrosion. #writing #writerslife

A perfect day for #writing. Drinking a cappuccino in my new writer's coffee mug (contains opening lines from several dozen classic sci-fi books) with the cat looking on. Now all I need to do is actually write something. 😭

My daughter and I just watched the season 5 and series finale of Stranger Things, and both agreed it was perfect. Wouldn't change a thing. 👍👍

Life is too short to not have fun.

Left or Right?

Submitted to #theGreyList Novum (feature screenplay) Logline: As the last descendants of Earth struggle to survive in an aging undersea colony, a troubled young cargo-sub captain joins forces with an untested crew to destroy a weapon that threatens the human race.

Submitted to #theGreyList Rogue Wave (feature screenplay) Logline: In the depths of an alien ocean, a young submarine mechanic must battle ruthless pirates, legendary monsters, and his own troubled past to salvage an ancient relic that could be the key to humanity’s future.

On Thanksgiving, I'm thankful not only for friends and family but for the chance to meet fellow writers and other creatives on this platform. Hope you all have a great rest of the year and really successful 2026.

I hope new authors understand that lack of book sales has more to do with lack of visibility than lack of talent as a writer.

It can't be a coincidence that every single time I decide to leave Kindle Unlimited and go wide with my books, I suddenly start getting massive page reads. The algorithms are trying to lure me back. Sorry, not going to work this time.

An interview with some random scientists-turned-author who happens to look like me. boldjourney.com/joseph-rheas...

I grew up reading classic sci-fi novellas (books about 150-250 pages long) which is the prose equivalent to a 2-hr feature film. That's probably why I started writing them (my Novum series is 5 novellas). They're easy to adapt into screenplays, which I've done twice. Write what you love to read.

Hey #booksky people, what are you currently reading? I'm reading:

I was looking forward to "going wide" again with my 8 books, then discovered that my Kindle Unlimited agreement auto-renewed without my knowledge a few weeks ago, so I have to wait until mid January. I know, much bigger issues in the world, but still a hassle. #booksky

If outlining is considered writing, and outlining in your head is the same as outlining on paper, then I am "writing" every waking hour this year. 👍😆😫😭

Hey #writers. What are you reading?

As I first said, #TronAres blew me away with its visuals and sound, but I wish they’d gone deeper with Ares and his Pinocchio-like arc. At under 2 hours, there was room for more character work—maybe Eve on love, prompting Ares to evolve. Still loved it and highly recommend.

Saw #TronAres in IMAX today and loved it. Absolutely recommend it!

I'm rewatching "The Amazing Spider-Man" right now and just realized the actor who plays Jimmy Olsen in the new James Gunn Superman (Skyler Gisondo) played Gwen Stacy's little brother in the 2012 film. Small multiverse!

I was listening to one of my older books today, and heard "overhead" instead of what it should say, "overheard." While it's a tiny typo I could easily ignore, of course I had to update the Kindle, paperback, and hardback editions. All because of a missing r. I'm not obsessed. You're obsessed.

Just noticed this: why is Amazon using AI to summarize my book description? I have a perfectly good description written and I can write my own short summary if asked. It's not that what they wrote is incorrect, LLMs are good at summarizing. It's just that it should be in my words. MY words.

My sales this week appear to be flipping me off. Am I alone?

Fellow writers, let's talk shop: do you outline every detail before writing the first word (plotter), or dive right in and trust that the story will show you the way (pantser)? I’m curious which camp you’re in, and how your method has worked for you.

Bought two new (used) hardcover books today, both by my favorite little-known author, Ted Mooney, who sadly passed away in 2022. He only wrote four novels in his long career and these are the only two I haven't read yet. Cheers to those who leave behind a legacy.🥂

I am giving away free Kindle copies of my newest sci-fi novella "Rogue Wave" in hopes of getting some reviews. It is perhaps the only book you'll read that was adapted from an unproduced FEATURE FILM SCRIPT. Still hoping for the film, but for now, here's the story. www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQJNJRXM

Something new tomorrow. That is my post...

One of my favorite quotes (image by me)

Weird that I actually don't remember making this video, but it works as the book is free right now (really needs a cool sound track though!) youtube.com/shorts/lS7mm...

Seeing that more people than I imagined are now downloading the first book in my sci-fi series, Novum: Genesis, for free, I should have done this with my new book, Rogue Wave, just to see if it would help me get reviews. Genesis already has over 300 so it doesn't need the push. Maybe next time. 🤔

Authors: do you only "write what you know" as the old adage recommends, or tackle uncharted waters. That's an accidental pun because I was going to say that I'm an ocean scientist and my Novum series takes place beneath the surface of an alien ocean. So I literally wrote what I knew. 😉

On the subject of world creation, does anyone else build 3D models of things in the world? This is the dining area of the salvage vessel Rogue Wave from my Novum series.

I don't like giving away my hard work, but since it's Labor Day in the US, I've made an exception. Novum: Genesis, the first novella in my dystopian undersea saga is free right now worldwide on Amazon. US link below: www.amazon.com/dp/B00E0NVLK...

One could argue that since my Novum series takes place beneath the surface of an alien OCEAN, this much blue is justified, but opinions vary. 😂 Does anyone else have cover regrets?

Someone asked why I only write novellas. Truth is, my first book was a 450-page novel, but I realized I prefer the pacing of films (I used to write screenplays). My Novum series is 5 connected novellas, basically a 10-hour streaming series. Question: do you prefer long epics or fast-paced stories?

My favorite book, "Easy Travel to Other Planets" is by a writer few have heard of; Ted Mooney. He wrote just 4 novels and passed away quietly in 2022. It made me wonder if any readers will remember us by our stories, long after we're gone, even if we're not famous. www.nytimes.com/2022/04/01/b...

What’s the first book you remember absolutely "wrecking" you emotionally? Mine was the the last page of "Easy Travel to Other Planets" by Ted Mooney. I literally threw the book across the room, only later realizing it was the only way that story could end. Looking for more scared readers.😭

Do short-term Kindle ebook giveaways work any more, at least in terms of getting some reviews? Asking for an author. With a new book. In need of reviews. Yeah, that's me.🤪

Is today really only Monday? 😭 Time for a fiction escape. 🥹 Reading or writing. Either works. 👍

This is why I keep writing stories in my NOVUM universe (5 books so far with 2 more prequels on the way) variety.com/2025/film/ne...

Lord Huron performed on stage at Merriweather Post Pavilion (Maryland) last night to a packed crowd. Incredible music and amazing visual effects -- I've honestly never experienced anything like it. Go see them live if you can, and check out their new album, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1