In this month’s issue:
Welcome | JROBERTCLARK.COM Primer | Paid Content Update | Writing Projects | Making Stuff | Social Media | The Goods
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Welcome to the May edition of the SciFiMonthly newsletter. Check out the new branding! I made several changes both here and throughout my website. Take a closer look.
It's hard to believe I've been officially at this for over three months. I'm in a comfortable groove now – writing, making, and sharing via my blog and newsletter. I'm also learning a great deal about web design, social media, and content creation/management. All this translates into quality, accessible stories for you.
Enjoying what I write and make? Please spread the word about Science-Fiction-Create.
Now for some news and updates. Do read through to the end - I have some new recommendations in "The Goods" that I know you'll enjoy.
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My content and how I share it has evolved in these last few months. With anything that grows organically, things can get a little confusing. Recognizing this, I wanted to share how my website and support services integrate.
First, a note on branding Yep, I am building a brand. Sounds corporate, doesn't it? That much I don't like. But the truth is brands are important for maintaining user confidence, building loyalty.
You, as a consumer, need to know what to expect from me. And I, as a writer and maker, need to create fun and stimulating content to earn your loyalty. My brand is central to this, providing a consistent and recognizable style and voice. Above all, my brand should spell quality. Am I there? Not hardly. But I am well on my way, thanks again to supporters like you.
The elements of my brand, as of now
Who I am: J Robert Clark – Writer. Maker. Scientist.
Brand name: J ROBERT CLARK - Science. Fiction. Create.
Alternate brand names: JROBERTCLARK.COM or Science-Fiction-Create
Tag line: Exploring the art and science of science fiction.
Social media: @SciFiCreate
Blog: The Science-Fiction-Create Blog
Newsletter: SciFiMonthly and SciFiNews
Favicon/Logo: "JRC" in orange with black background
Downloads: Notes from The Lab – a Science-Fiction-Create Publication (coming this month – see below!)
On the web
The main hub This of course is my website, JROBERTCLARK.COM. Here you will find most of my content as well as relevant info such as my bio, examples of my writing, and maker projects. This newsletter and my blog are both found here. Also, important links to contact me and to sign up for my content are found on my site. Anyone new to J ROBERT CLARK can go to my website to learn almost all there is to know about me and what I do.
Subscriber Services I manage my email lists, signups and most paid content using JROBERTCLARK.SUBSTACK.COM. Substack is a subscriber service that connects creatives with audiences like you. I use Substack because it takes the guesswork out of managing subscriptions. As a content consumer, you can trust Substack to protect your information. All direct-to-email content and duplicate content archives are accessible here. Paid subscription posts and stories are all on Substack.
Social media I manage most all my social media accounts using @SciFiCreate. I'm currently on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, all under this name. And I'm on LinkedIn under JROBERTCLARK. Of these, I've been most successful on Twitter, building a following here while enjoying the community. I post news on all four and plan to work on building community in each as time allows.
Other stuff I’ve recently started a Medium page using my social media name @SciFiCreate. Much like Substack, Medium is a powerful tool to share creative content. I've only begun to dabble here, simply re-posted a couple of my more popular stories as a test. Not sure how this fits into all I do yet, but I will continue to explore options. Lastly, I am using Buy Me A Coffee as an added way for patrons to support my work. It's a wonderful tool for colleagues, friends, and readers to say thank you by making a one-time payment. This virtual "cup of coffee" is a pat on the back and an easy gesture to make. Thanks to my friends who've already "bought me a cup."
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It's always hard talking about money. And it's even harder right now when so many are struggling. But I like everyone else have to make a living somehow. Fortunately, Substack's explanation saves me the burden of arguing this myself:
- "We believe that writers, bloggers, thinkers, and creatives of every background should be able to pursue their curiosity, generating income directly from their own audiences and on their own terms…Readers win, too. By opting into direct relationships with writers, we can be more selective with how we consume information, honing in on the ideas, people, and places we find most meaningful." ~substack.com*
Now, let me be clear that I am still committed to writing free weekly stories. This newsletter and other updates remain free. So is my blog. I am creating things that are important to share, no matter what. As for giving stuff away, I still do that too. All of it. If you like my content but are on a limited budget (e.g., a student or retired), let me know. I'm more than happy to share complete access to my content with anyone, not just those who can afford it.
That said, if you can pay, please do upgrade your membership now. Check out all the extras you get with a paid subscription here. I'm adding new content weekly, so don't miss out on all there is available at JROBERTCLARK.COM.
One final note on paid subscriptions: As an introductory offer, I am making my SciFi Insider membership available at $100. As a SciFi Insider, you get lifetime free access to my online content. That's right; for the price of a two-year membership, you get a lifetime subscription. Help me get this SciFi rocket off the ground by becoming a SciFi Insider. This offer expires on June 1st, so please don't delay. The countdown has begun!
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Non-Fiction I have honed my blog to be about science and science fiction. One of my favorite topics is writing about how science fiction makes me feel. I find a lot of hope in these stories, even the darker ones. They remind me that the future holds promise. Of course, there's loads of peril down the road, and sci-fi highlights that well. But this genre, even at its darkest, can be a warning and not a premonition. There's time still to get things right, and science fiction at its best highlights this. I like this view and will expand on it in upcoming posts.
I also have been writing more about my life and experiences. My recent paid subscriber story on "black boxes" is a good example. Cracking open complex "mysteries" and learning how these work is a passion of mine. What I often learn is things are less complicated than they appear. And even when they are involved, there are still manageable ways to understand them. My upcoming paper series "Notes from The Lab" explores black box topics in depth.
In these occasional downloadable PDFs, I dig into black boxes to explain how stuff works. Subjects will include everything from science to writing to art. Some will be how to's where I guide readers through the process of making or doing something fun. Others will be informative, unpacking thick subjects in manageable and understandable ways. Annual subscribers/SciFi Insiders will have complete access to the full list of these offerings.
Fiction Speaking of fiction, the quest to write my own fiction continues. My two projects – "Somewhere East of Barstow" and "The Botanist" have both changed since I started. I've refined my taste and style in these last three months, and it has altered my writing in surprising ways.
"Barstow" was shaping up to be a pretty dark trilogy owing to my fascination with dystopian themes. But our current pandemic has left me with an altered perspective. Don't get me wrong; I still love the dark and bleak. But I am finding an opportunity to establish my voice in these first stories. And my voice is shaping up to be more optimistic than I expected.
"The Botanist," as you might recall, is a fictional horror story set on an unnamed tropical island. This story remains the same, only making it darker. Very dark. But it's that delicious kind of dark full of just deserts and all that. Stay tuned – release date sooner than later.
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Finally, I've released my second portfolio page on my website. Here I detail making a custom Arduino microcontroller board. While this sounds pretty nerdy – and it is – the outcome turned out surprisingly elegant. Instead of a printed circuit board, I tied together the components using intricate wiring. The result was far more aesthetically pleasing than I expected. I am pleased to showcase this little piece of working art. Check it out here.
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The big news with social media this last month was the launch of The Twilight Zone Watch Parties. The first one was a great success, and I look forward to the next parties on May 6th and May 13th. We are watching episodes 29, 30, and 31 on the same date and time they aired in 1960. I'm not only a sci-fi fan but also a big fan of history and nostalgia – so this checks all the boxes for me. I hope you will join us for the next parties, details here.
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Each month I share a few of my likes as a fan of science, sci-fi, horror, and art.
Books Unstoppable – Harnessing Science to Change the World by Bill Nye. 2015. Available from St. Martin's Griffins, Publishing. "Unstoppable is what you get when you melt down Bill Nye the Science Guy and turn him into a book. Containing rich scientific insights on ourselves, our society, and our world, the book is a must-read for anybody who needs to be scientifically literate in the 21st century. And that's of course, everybody." ―Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ph.D., Astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History. Why I like it: Dr. Tyson sums it up well, but I'll reiterate here – this book spells out in plain English why science literacy is vital. We need concrete ways to sort through the noise to focus on facts that will save us from ourselves. If you need a reason why look to our current pandemic. Facts save lives. Science saves lives. As much as I love science fiction, my heart and mind are always rooted in science fact. Bill Nye does a better job than anyone in sharing this timely and urgent message. Read this book and do as Bill Nye asks of us: Embrace science. Solve problems. Make things. Change the world.
Podcasts/YouTube Monster Movie Happy Hour - online horror reviews and entertainment by David Geister, Mary Challman, and Scott Chesebrough. From their website: "The Monster Movie Happy Hour (Dave, Mary, and Scott) are just three folks from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, sharing life's greatest gifts - Cocktails & Horror Films! Why I like it: Dave, Mary, and Scott are three professional history buffs who love horror. They share their unique brand of reviews, cocktail recommendations, and humor via their podcast and YouTube channel. The trio is currently creating the pre-party drink/food recommendations for The Twilight Zone Watch Parties. You can see them in action for our upcoming party Wednesday night. And do check out their other stuff too. Dave is an amazing historical painter, Scott is a monster enthusiast and model builder, and Mary is raising a lamb in her home during the quarantine. I'm sure there's a lot more going on with these smart horror fans. Visit their website here.
Maker stuff Heathkit - DIY electronics kits. From their website: "We are product fanatics. Our goal is to improve your life by helping you build the complex products you use daily. You'll learn how they work, and be able to fix and change them yourself. We design great products, you can be pleased to own, and proud you made." Why I like it: Heathkit conjures up serious nostalgia for me. But mostly, I like the philosophy of making and fixing my electronics. Heathkit perfected the DIY electronics kit back in the day. This company had its heyday in the 1960s when kit building was an affordable way to get electronics. Many do-it-yourselfers constructed their own home electronics using Heathkit. Today, the HeathKit Company is a rebirth of the old company that folded years ago. While remarkably like the old HeathKit, the product line is limited. That said, what they make is of great quality. I recently put together one of the new AM Radio kits, and it is a thing of beauty. I highly recommend Heathkit to anyone interested in getting their feet wet in kit building. Check out HeathKit here.
That's a wrap for the SciFiMonthly newsletter. Thanks for signing up. Please share and encourage others to check out my stuff.