With self-publishing on the rise, you can now bypass the traditional route, but there are still some of us out there that prefer the “submit, submit, submit” method. So why won’t you get published either way? Well, let me tell you, young grasshopper. It could simply be that you’re not finishing anything. Here are five … Read more
“I’m stuck.” These two words ring in your ears. That blank page. The blinking cursor. After three hours of hard-work, all you have is this: The Knight of Moonberries by John R. R. R. R. Johnson The knight walked… And that’s it. That blank page is waiting for you to blow it up. Fill it … Read more
With a few rare exceptions, genre fiction is generally dismissed – even disdained – by “serious” authors and critical reviewers alike. Fantasy book sales are miniscule compared literary fiction; even the other genres outsell it. If you want to get rich, you’re better off writing “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” than “Bonds of Sisterhood.” So … Read more
It’s hard to know how to get started as a writer. Should you write short stories or a novel? Should you stick with one genre, or try several? Should you get an agent and submit to traditional publishers, or try the self-publishing route? The answers to those questions depend entirely on what you want. A … Read more
This article is by Nicola Stretton. It’s not easy being a writer at the best of times. But when you’re suffering from depression it can be a lot worse. Most writers are plagued by negative thoughts such as ‘I’m not good enough’ and ‘Everything I write is terrible’. Then there are the days when you … Read more
Here in the United States we just celebrated the holiday known as Thanksgiving. It’s a time to gather with family and friends and count our many blessings. This year my wife and I traveled to my parent’s house, along with our precious 16 month old daughter. This was a wonderful time for our little one. … Read more
One of the most important – and difficult – tasks is to make writing a priority. There are so many other things in life that can distract you from your work, including family and career responsibilities. On November 11, a new distraction arrived on my doorstep: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I’ve been waiting for this … Read more
This article is by Craig Robertson. If I write something and not many people read it, am I wasting my time? This is an important question and I think most creators ask it, be they authors, musicians, dancers, or painters. I write speculative fiction – time travel, mythic figures, spoofs on genres – that type … Read more
Do you believe in spirits? Have you ever suffered an indefinable disquiet in the still of the night, ears straining as you pull the covers tight about your shoulders? I have. I’ve heard the whispers. They echo. They reverberate down the years. I didn’t understand their murmurings at first, but in my youth I don’t … Read more
This is a question I’ve thrown around in my mind like a ping-pong ball ever since I was old enough to understand what fantasy actually is (the literary genre, that is – I doubt anyone under the age of twelve needs any lectures on the power of the imagination and the hours of fun that … Read more