This week's podcast is part of a science fiction mystery story. Here's a little behind-the-scenes: I cycle in my fiction, just as I do in my nonfiction. However, my fiction seems to require a whole lot more cycling at the start of the piece, to cement the setting.
As I recorded this podcast, I realized what else I needed to do to draw readers in. That's good. However, you do not get the benefit—this week—from my cycling.
Enjoy this writing in public and that little peek behind the scenes.
The Podcast:
The Transcript:
This is 60 Seconds of Writing in Public with Johanna Rothman for December 19, 2025, where I read an excerpt of just a minute of some writing in progress.
This is part of a science fiction mystery story.
Sipping her hot water because the coffee replicators were on the fritz—again—Louisa Armstrong blinked as she saw the odor alarm go off for Cargo Bay Six.
Cargo Bays Four, Five, and Six were just one hundred meters square. Large enough for many kinds of cargo. Small enough–mostly–to contain any problems.
But Louisa’s alarm panel, mounted up on the wall to her left did not match what she saw on the six monitors—one for each cargo bay—directly in front of her. Just to her right was the pocket door that allowed people—really, just Louisa—into or out of her office.
She carefully put her self-sealing white insulated mug down on the desk from underneath the wall under the monitors.
She leaned forward as she said, “Magnify Visuals for Cargo Bay Six.”
Nothing happened. The monitor did not change.
She shook her head, just a bit, and blinked. She wriggled a little in her black office chair that was no longer ergonomic. Maybe she had said something wrong. She tried again.
“Computer, magnify visuals for Cargo Bay Six.”
Still no change.
The Video:
The video link is here.