Category: Uncategorized

I finally dug down deep enough in my stack of Books-To-Read-Before-I-Die and found myself flying through a book I mentioned a bit back: Hinterland, by James Clemens. I think I promised a review of it, since I gave one of the first in the series, Shadowfall. So here it is.…

Two lovely bits for you to sort through today. Take one home. Toss the other away. Or maybe keep them both for a rainy day. Sorry. Found myself in a rhyme there somehow. Shan’t happen again. Moving on. First is this illuminating post from yesterday by one literary agent Kristin…

I always enjoy seeing the maps that tend to accompany many fantasy novels these days. Some science fiction stories have them too, but more often you see ancient, otherworldly lands scrolled out on faded parchment, depicting magical territories, political divides and places known as The Forbidding Lands or little footnotes…

No, not me. Though some have called me crazy, which I take as a compliment, thank you very much. Madness is the spice of life, dontcha know? Ahem. Not that I want you to picture me breaking into maniacal laughter whenever I sit down to compose this blog, or work…

Still puzzling the title? I suppose the full of it would be: How to Tell Who WON’T Make It in Writing (and How Not to Be That Writer). This is more of an attitude check then actual craftspeak. Your attitude toward your writing, plus the way you handle criticism, and…

I swore I would never give in and take one of these online tests. I really did. I mean, honestly, aren’t these things just derivatives of all the psych-analysis tests that are out there so people can lump one another into more definable social borders (oh, you’re an IECJ? Well,…

Have you ever asked yourself that question? Or do you even consider yourself a professional writer in the first place? Do you delineate between the titles “writer” and “author” perhaps? I’ve seen all sorts of artificial definitions. A “writer,” according to some, is anyone who keeps a journal, a blog,…

I came across this handy laundry list of things to knock into your noggin should you be taking it upon yourself to hang up a shingle upon which is painted a parchment, quill, and a security blanket. Eight things new writers need to know as listed by Hugo and Nebula…

Just for your well being, because I know you wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight without knowing, here is the list of this year’s Philip K. Dick Award Finalists. Give them many congratulations, well wishes, and then go plot how to get yourself on this list sometime. You’ll notice that…

I want to look at some of the more common pieces of advice that people here as they float through the vast ocean of writing, publishing and so on. We come across this advice in the books on writing. We read it in writer, editor, and agent blogs (like this…