Secret fact about fantasy writers
The reason why we write sequels is the sheer number of things that have to be named when you’re starting a story set in a new world. Character names are bad enough, but everything has to be named–countries, cities, rivers, mountains, seas, monetary systems, religions, governing organizations and political factions, the lists are endless. Mystery writers have it easy. š
Read MoreWriting in dog years
I’ve spent the past week working on a synopsis, which has been behaving in the way they typically do. Over this morning’s coffee, I found myself considering why it was that writing a six page synopsis is so much harder than writing an entire chapter of a novel. And then it hit me. A synopsis is to a novel as dog years are to human years. Each page of a synopsis carries the weight of fifty or more pages of story. A superdense form of prose, each paragraph of a synopsis must do the work of at least a scene, if not an entire chapter. It’s as if I went to do my normal workout...
Read MoreMy people are a simple people
Thanks to a friend who introduced us via email, I met up with two area sf&f writers last night. It was fun to hang out and talk shop, and the chosen venue of a local brewpub was ideal. My people are a simple people– we like to talk about writing, craft, what’s going round the internets, the latest sci-fi movies, the endless submission/rejection/submit again game. And, oh, yes. Beer. We found out that we’d all been at Boskone last month, and even had mutual friends there, but hadn’t met up. Next time I go to a con, I’m wearing a shirt that says “New...
Read MoreRevisions: when is enough enough?
MIND MELD asked a group of authors: As a reader and as a writer, how do you feel about the practice of revising books after they have been published (or at least have reached the ARC stage)? How much revision goes into your writing process? (How clean are your drafts)? Click here to read what I had to say on the topic, along with Lucy Snyder, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Jon Sprunk, Christopher Golden, Rhonda Eudaly, Leah Petersen, Linda Nagata, and Deborah J....
Read MoreEverything you always wanted to know about sidekicks, Part 1
This past summer at the Odyssey Workshop I discussed the role of sidekicks in fiction, as part of an overall discussion of character-driven writing. The talk went over so well that they turned it into a two part podcast. The first part is now up on their website here. Once I got past the kneejerk reaction to hearing my own voice (OMG! Hyperactive squirrel!) I was pleased with how it turned out.
Read More
Recent Comments