Writing Sci-Fi and Creating a Visual Story

I’ve always been a pen-and-paper storyteller (well, more of a typing into the computer storyteller these days). Recently, I’ve decided to venture into the realm of visual storytelling to breathe 2D life into my stories.

“The Last Human” is the first chapter of a visual novel that I’m creating with friends. (We’re all writers with minimal technical skills in movie making.) The words of the story are given new life with video and music. It’s a little more work than typing a blog, but it’s also fun to share a story that people can see and hear!

If you’re curious about how this android escapes her creator to discover what life is like beyond her little prison, check out this five-minute video of Chapter 1, parts 1 to 5!
Link: https://youtu.be/t44oXOuhPfg

Who Was Your First Crush?

His name is not important–what you need to know is how he made me feel. Because he was different from all the other boys. He didn’t just walk—he floated. When he moved, the world made room for him. His steps were smooth, unhurried, like time paused for him to catch up.

He had the most beautiful voice. Not in a grand, operatic way—but soft, warm, and easy. Like the most soothing music. When he spoke to me, even for a passing “hi,” his words were sunlight. Our brief interactions were slow and golden. Seconds stretched into something cinematic, like a perfect Hallmark movie.

I’d walk home, replaying the moments of a one-minute conversation and wishing those moments were longer. When he’d asked to borrow a pencil, that moment was a turning point. And in the world of ten-year-olds, it was.

Then I grew up.

I stopped doing homework, I put away the little plastic lunchbox, the dolls, the crayons.

He was just a kid. Just another boy in elementary school. I don’t know where he is now or who he’s become. I wouldn’t date a kid anyway.

My husband is taller. He forgets to wash the dishes sometimes and occasionally completely misses the point of what I’m saying. He sings silly rhymes while he fixes the garden fence. He cooks soup in the summer using the outdoor barbecue. It’s jarring and it doesn’t make sense. 

He’s not perfect. But he’s a grownup.

But there’s something irreplaceable about our number one crush.

Daily writing prompt
Write about your first crush.
View all responses

What’s Your Favorite Thing About Yourself?

What’s your favorite thing about yourself? Take a look in the mirror! Sometimes I look and I don’t like what I see because I’m having a bad hair day! At other times, I’m impressed with how I’ve been keeping myself. Do you sometimes this way too?

Perhaps you should pause and take a moment to celebrate yourself, unapologetically. Because there is something—many things, actually—that make you special, strong, and wonderfully you.

Maybe it’s your body shape—exactly as it is right now. Not the version you had five years ago or the one someone else told you to chase. Your body holds stories, and every curve, every line, every scar is part of that story.

Maybe you’re proud of a hidden talent. You can curl your tongue, balance on one leg like a flamingo, or touch your toes without bending your knees. You’re flexible in ways that surprise people—or maybe just yourself. That’s joy. That’s skill. That’s yours.

And let’s not forget the quiet triumphs, the kind that don’t show up in headlines or social media posts. You recovered from that awful cold. You got through that migraine. You made it out of bed on a day when it felt impossible. You did that.

You and your body—you’re a team. So thank your arms for holding the people you love. Thank your hands for every meal you’ve prepared, every word you’ve written, every button you’ve fastened. Thank your lungs for the breath you just took. Thank your feet for carrying you to where you need to go—even when it’s uphill, even when you’re tired. Especially then.

You are not a before-and-after. You are a masterpiece in motion. And you, exactly as you are right now, are worth celebrating. That’s got to be your favorite thing about yourself. 

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Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
View all responses

4 Types of Companies for Remote Work

Updated from 2023

Remote work has been around for as long as we’ve had the technology, but 2020 made work from home (WFH) a household word. Now, many startup companies offer remote work as a way to cut operating costs. Without a physical office, expenses are reduced. Remote work also offers many other advantages to certain types of companies. Let’s take a closer look at four types of companies that offer remote work.

1 Technology Companies

Technology companies (tech) are great for remote work because they tend to have the latest technology. Tech companies include software development companies, IT companies, companies that sell electronics, artificial intelligence or computers, and website development companies. These companies have the ability for their employees to communicate through virtual meetings and communications applications such as Slack. 

During the pandemic, tech workers were more easily able to transition to performing work tasks from home, since the majority (if not all) of their tasks were completed using technology. 

2 Customer Service Companies

Customer service companies that offer services via online platforms, such as chatbots, are suitable for remote work. Customer service workers must be familiar with technology and have internet access to perform their tasks. Many businesses that hire customer service workers have customers from multiple time zones. To provide 24/7 service to these customers, they hire employees from different time zones to cover a wide range of work shifts. Similar to tech companies, customer service employees can communicate with supervisors or coworkers with communications software.

3 Education Companies

Education companies and companies that provide online education are perfect for remote work. These companies provide e-learning platforms for companies and educators. The course content is designed electronically, and IT programming is also handled online. Educators who use these platforms to design courses or offer tutoring work remotely to provide the content. The education is available at any time to anyone anywhere in the world with internet access. This form of education is especially handy for people who work during the day and take courses to upskill at night.

4 Creative Agencies

Creative agencies offer remote work for those interested in graphic design, advertising, marketing, and content creation. Work is completed through online collaboration and communication tools. Some agencies hire employees from the same city, while others hire freelancers from other cities in the same country or around the world.

Key Takeaways

Work from home has become possible because of the collaborative platforms and communication applications that we now have available to us. Many startups start as remote work companies, saving on the costs of having a physical office. In particular, companies that work with technology, customer service, and education, as well as creative agencies are well suited for remote work.

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What’s the Oldest Thing You Own That You Still Use Daily?

Daily writing prompt
What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?
View all responses

Today, I stopped to think about the oldest item in my home that I still use every single day. Not something tucked away in a closet or a “just in case” backup item (because I have lots of those), but something that earns its keep year after year, decade after decade.

For many of us, these items remind us that things used to be built to last. Whether it’s a heavy-duty appliance from the 1970s or a wool coat that’s seen more winters than a snowplow, there’s something deeply satisfying about using something that’s stood the test of time.

Museum Pieces in the Kitchen

Take appliances, for example. My parents’ old avocado-green refrigerator—made sometime in the early 1980s—wasn’t fancy. It didn’t have touchscreen controls or 20 preset modes. But it worked. Every. Single. Day. The motor hummed like it was brand new, and the design was simple enough that if anything ever did go wrong, it was actually repairable.

Contrast that with the experience of a friend who bought a brand-new fridge when she moved into her new place. It gave out barely a year later. One year! She spent another few thousand after just purchasing a new home that was supposed to have a new fridge.

Wear and Wear Again

Then there’s clothing. I have a wool coat I bought over ten years ago. Still warm, still stylish enough to pass for modern, and not a single tear or fray. The trick, of course, is consistency—your body can’t change too much. But as long as it fits, it’s good to go. That coat doesn’t just keep me warm; it has nostalgic value.

Some of the clothes you buy today—fast fashion—are cheap but don’t last. Thin fabric, shoddy stitching, and trends that barely survive a single season. It’s fast fashion in every sense—fast to buy, fast to wear out, fast to forget.

Technology’s Expiration Date

Of course, some things are just doomed to become outdated no matter how high their quality is. Tech, for one. Your smartphone may be only a few years old, but eventually, apps stop updating, batteries weaken, and it’s time to buy a new one. Same goes for laptops, TVs, and other gadgets. 

We’ve come to accept that as normal, but maybe we shouldn’t. Perhaps we should explore the possibility of developing products with durability in mind, rather than just focusing on profit margins. I’d rather buy once in a decade than renew and update every two years.

The Value of Things That Last

There’s something irreplaceable in an item that’s lasted decades. It’s proof that craftsmanship matters. That longevity is possible. That not everything needs to be disposable. I mean, I don’t have sentimental value attached to every appliance that I buy. But it’s nice to have something around for a while.

So—what’s the oldest thing you still use daily? A coffee maker from the 70s? A cast iron pan passed down from a grandparent?  

Whatever it is, give it a thanks of appreciation next time you use it. Things like that are getting harder to come by.