A. A. Rubin

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284 Following
540 Posts

Happy #TolkienReadingDay

Check out my latest #blog post: On The Division of Heroic Labor and its Implications for Writing Fantasy and Fighting Evil

Learn how #JRRTolkien goes against the traditional hero archetype, and the lessons his approach can teach us about fighting evil in our own time.

https://aarubin.wordpress.com/2026/03/25/on-the-division-of-heroic-labor-and-its-implications-for-writing-fantasy-and-fighting-evil/

On The Division of Heroic Labor and its Implications for Writing Fantasy and Fighting Evil

Today is #TolkienReadingDay, an annual event celebrating the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. This year, the theme is “unlikely heroes,” and as such, I’d like to share a few thoughts about the way Tolkie…

A. A. Rubin
On Kerouac and Finding Your Method

Jack Kerouac found a process that worked for him. We should all strive for the self knowledge and confidence to do the same.

A. A. Rubin
Capturing the Moon

The so-called wise men of Chelm, a group of fools in Eastern European Jewish folklore, once tried to capture the moon. Seeing the reflection of the moon in a barrel of water, they covered the barre…

A. A. Rubin
@Emmacox yes. You@can see that I used many of the standard bricks in the skyscraper build.

How Old School Lego Developed My Creativity (and Turned Me Into a Panster)

https://aarubin.wordpress.com/2026/02/17/lego/

How Old School Lego Developed My Creativity (and Turned Me Into a Panster)

I’ve often mentioned that legos helped me become a writer. After reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, by JRR Tolkien, I thought to myself, maybe people would be interested in the stories I…

A. A. Rubin
The Funniest Charles Dickens Story You’ll Read Today

Yesterday, I had the privilege of leafing through some really expensive books which are on display at Christie’s. One of these, perhaps my favorite in the collection, is a presentation copy of Char…

A. A. Rubin

On Browsing

A couple of weeks ago, I was reminiscing about how I found Philip K. Dick, one of my favorite authors, browsing the shelves at the now defunct St Marks Books in the East Village many years ago. At the time, I did not know who Philip K. Dick was, do not know that many of my favorite science fiction movies were based on his work, and, of course, I had no idea that would become one of my favorite authors.

https://aarubin.wordpress.com/2026/01/27/on-browsing/

On Browsing

A couple of weeks ago, I was reminiscing about how I found Philip K. Dick, one of my favorite authors, browsing the shelves at the now defunct St Marks Books in the East Village many years ago. At …

A. A. Rubin
I Work Like A Painter

During my recent trip to the Brooklyn Museum to see the Monet in Venice exhibition, I was struck by the famous impressionist painter’s process. During his last visit to the Italian city, Monet had …

A. A. Rubin
The Best Books I Read Last Year

January is a time of looking forward, a of resolutions for the future, a time of hope and promise, but it also a time for looking back and taking stock, especially of the previous year. One way I l…

A. A. Rubin

The Tragedy of a Notebook

A story about a time I did everything right, but still came out the loser in the end.

https://aarubin.wordpress.com/2025/12/19/the-tragedy-of-a-notebook/

The Tragedy of a Notebook

Write it down or you’ll forget it. That’s the advice every writer hears. That idea that you get in the shower, that line of dialogue you hear on on the subway, or that perfectly phrased sentence th…

A. A. Rubin