A Simple Will for Writers

I was on Neil Gaiman’s blog today, reading about the death of his father, when a link caught my eye. It said:

My current crusade is to make sure creative people have wills. Read the blog post about it, and see a sample will.

Well, since my parents have been bugging me about making out a will (since they’d have to deal with all the crap anyway), I checked it out.

There’s some very good advice there, and a lawyer-drawn sample will. Very useful. I thought I should share.

Thanks, Neil, for this great resource. I’m sorry about your father. He must have been a wise man to have raised such a wise son.

Goodbye, Mr. Clarke

The other day, I told a friend that Arthur C. Clarke was still alive. The next day, he passed away. Just when you think something is forever, the world tells you differently.

According to a close friend, this is what will be engraved on his gravestone: “Here lies Arthur C Clarke. He never grew up and did not stop growing.” Words of wisdom — words he lived by.

Goodbye, Mr. Clarke, and thank you for all you’ve given the world and beyond.

Arthur C. Clarke foundation — check the ‘cosmic coincidence’ link for the ultimate farewell, and his biography
New York Times
Yahoo News

Lost Specs

I really *am* behind in the business these days. I just found out today, in the latest Ansible, that Speculations is gone. According to their website now, “As of 2 March 2008, Speculations is no longer in the business of publishing market information for writers.” Their subscriptions will be continued via Cynthia Ward, the Market Maven. But with the loss of Speculations and the Rumour Mill, speculative fiction has lost an incredible resource and networking site.

They hint at returning with a format change. The Market Maven will be the first to announce their return.

We’re gonna miss you guys!

Other losses I learned of in Ansible are:

• Dungeons & Dragons creator, E. Gary Gygax
• Roy Scheider, of Jaws fame
• Columnist and wordsmith William F. Buckley, Jr.

All in all, a rather sad day for the person who can’t keep up with these losses as they happen…