Recent content by MFreako

I'm about 35 hours into Inquisition, and a touch more than halfway through the main storyline. The game is amazing. It's huge in an overwhelming sort of way. The amount of content they've created for this one is unbelievable. I don't think it's possible to even come close to seeing it all in...

Conflict arises when two forces have opposing goals. Apply this principle to every scene you write, and you're set. It can be people fighting each other with swords, or words, or through intermediaries. It can be people fighting nature. It can be one aspect of a character's psyche clashing with...

I think a more fitting expression would be they have to stay true to their character. There's a difference between characterisation and true character. Characterisation consists of personality, traits, quirks. It is how a character acts under normal circumstances. A construct. The mask we...

I too think the original works fine as is. When faced with a question of style vs. grammar I tend to go with style nine times out of ten. But that's just me.

I'm a big geek for this game. Truly an exceptional story. It really makes a statement about the story-telling potential of video games.

This new Raptor beer the ninja's heard so much about tastes like crap. His sword makes short work of the six-pack. I want to see the Chosen One give up defeating the Dark Lord.

I think this trend is true across all media. If you check the top-grossing films of 2013, you'll find most of them are rated PG-13. In this day and age, you can get away with pretty much any subject matter while staying within the boundaries of YA. I actually think the so-called limits of YA...

Anyone watch the pilot of this new treat from HBO? I found it truly unique and mysterious. Interesting to see where it goes from here. From Wikipedia: The Leftovers takes place in the wake of a global "Rapture", which caused the unexplainable disappearance of 2% of the world population...

Everything that was said above me. But I think it helps if you know what you're getting into. Writing isn't art. Storytelling is. Writing is a craft, a means to achieve a very specific, artistic goal—a story well-told. Writing is work. It's hard work. I'm not saying writing isn't fun, because...

Glen Cook is one strange cookie. Enough said.

The Last of Us. I'm getting all emotional just thinking about it. Seriously. It's one of the most hard-hitting, honest stories I've ever experienced. Truly an exceptional game. Get it.

1. Rogues 2. Swords and Dark Magic

What Jabrosky said, but on a broader scope. The best story is the heartfelt story. Tropes and their subversion are an irrelevance. *Enter obligatory "that's my opinion" here.*

Can't say I'm a fan of Sanderson. I'm inclined to call his skeletal prose empty. And I find his characters flat. As for tropes—you can hit every so called cliche out there and still have a wonderful story. And you can consciously subvert every trope you know of and have a terrible one...

The Rogues anthology comes out later this month. It's a cross-genre piece, but there's a healthy dose of fantasy written by some of the biggest names in the genre. Oh, and it's edited by none other than George R. R. Martin. Among the authors: Neil Gaiman, Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss...