Recommended Readings: 1st Edition
A new series to highlight some incredible authors
Hello wonderful readers!
This week I’ve decided to share a few recommended readings from various writers here on Substack. In these posts, I will share a short story, a poem, and an article from different writers. I will try avoiding sharing the same author in future posts so I can highlight as many writers as I can.
There is no solidified rule or method on how I select these pieces, as long as they are either memorable, offer an interesting idea, or are simply entertaining.
Now lets get into it!
Short Story: “The Province of Terrans” by
The first short story is actually a weekly action-packed sci-fi series.
Starring Terran Morale Office, Vincent, he rescues a community from indentured servitude from greedy and nefarious space pirates, and comes up with a plan to turn them into a self-sustaining militia group.
What makes this series so unique is the interactive element. Every week, he posts a new continuation of his series where readers can vote on how the story will continue. This a wonderful way for readers to have a direct impact on the story, which rarely is ever done in literature, outside those seldom “choose your own adventure” books. The author shares a heartfelt dedication for his readers, as adjusting a story in real time to the whims of reader feedback is no small feat. Doing so requires a great amount of mental effort to readapt the story across many varying choices the protagonist may take.
While “The Province of Terrans” has been completed, a sequel is currently in progress which you can check out here.
Poem: “Wonders of Love” by
Learning how to weave words together in poetry is an art, and Wil Price showed a masterful level of artistry with this one. This poem was especially perfect for Valentines Day. It gave me a lot to think about when it comes to my future poem writing; as I look back on my own works, I feel there were a lot of missed opportunities to be creative. So far I tend to be more literal and straight to the point with my poetry, but reading this piece made me realize I need to expand upon my writing.
One passage from Wil’s poem that caught my eye most was this:
What lip that whispers a mountainous calm—
cures earthly wounds with a heavenly balm?
What life is mine in you, my dear?
’Tis this—the end of worldly fear!”
Well done!
Article: “Symbol of Strength: The Role of the ‘Sword on Scabbard’ by
“Peace through strength” has been the key for the Trump administration. Regardless how you view him or his policies, he has bolstered a position in strength to negotiate like the fierce real estate businessman he is, and with great success.
In a lot of our favorite media, we love seeing the glorious fights between strong characters that shatter mountains, or the majestic choreography of fist fights as two warriors dance the dance of kung-fu. What often isn’t glorified is when confrontation is avoided.
As the saying goes, “an armed society is a polite society.” This article provides us great lessons on human nature and how to properly navigate this often hostile world. Even outside the context of physical confrontation, the principles outlined in this article can be used for day-to-day interaction. To set boundaries, you must be firm and assertive, and you must be capable and willing to either step away or fight back. Otherwise your complaints will just manifest as “pleading.”
Got an article you want to see featured for next time? Read someone else’s work that you feel deserves more attention? Comment below!
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Thank you for your kind words, Michael! I am humbled that my words opened your eyes to new creative possibilities.
Good list, Black Knight more than earned his place here X)