A Bunch of Reasons Why Writing Is Not (Always) a Frolic in the Flowers

Depicted: A realistic reproduction of a serious writer at work.

I am writing this spontaneous article because I have noticed a certain idea appearing with rapid frequency in writing circles.
The idea is that writing depends on talent and is just a bunch of fun. Write whatever you can and enjoy yourself! You said you didn't want to go to college and/or get a job that might involve monotonous, hard work? Perfect! Just become a writer! Surely you can think of something to write, and if you can't, just resort to fantasy or romance. Kids just eat that junk up nowadays! Just think of all the great advantages there are to becoming a writer: you'll be famous, you'll be rich, and most importantly, you won't have to learn anything or work ever again! Hooray!

Bah, humbug. Enough frivolity. Let's be Frank about this.

Judging a Cover By Its Book: The Scarlet Plague

In my previous Impressions, I took a look at Jack London's often-overlooked dystopian novella, The Scarlet Plague. To my surprise, a quick Google Image Search showed me that stand-alone editions of London's sci-fi short are definitely in abundance, and with each edition comes a cover different from the last one. However, because the version that I have can barely be considered a cover, I am going to judge three different covers that I haven't personally seen or bought. Two of them will be rather good, and one will be meh. The story you know already from the Impressions review,  so there is nothing more to be said: let's get cracking!

5 Internet Gadgets That Every Writer Can (and Should) Use

The Internet did not only revolutionize the way we do our banking, the way we communicate and the way we advertise, but it has also effected a significant change in the world of literature: writers, everywhere, can help each other out on forums, can conduct research for a book that would otherwise require extensive visits to the local library, or can take advantage of the new gadgets and programs that have emerged online.

Today, I will take a look at five gadgets that I have found particularly invaluable to the services of a writer. And if you're a budding writer who is just getting his or her bearings in the wide field of fiction, you can consider this list a solid recommendation for what can assist you to blossom into a full-fledged writer :)

Judging The Scarlet Plague by Its Cover

I was going to make a "Judging a Cover by Its Book" of The Scarlet Plague, but the one that I have looks like this:

*Sigh*

Mine was printed in Germany by Amazon Distribution, in case Amazon's typical "Click to LOOK INSIDE!" sign didn't already tip you off.

Impressions - The Scarlet Plague

"It was in the summer of 2013 that the Plague came. I was twenty-seven years old, and well do I remember it."

 The Scarlet Plague is a novella written by the American author Jack London in 1912. We all know (at least, all of us Americans know) that London was an influential, classic author whose many well-known novels, novellas and short stories taking place in the times of the Gold Rush and often involving Native Americans, wildlife and intrusive capitalist society played a great part in inspiring many of America's most famous writers, from Hemingway to Steinbeck to Kerouac.  It is therefore somewhat surprising to discover that the socialist, journalist travel-writer actually wrote, of all things, post-apocalyptic science fiction, of which one notable example is titled The Scarlet Plague.