Listen up fantasy writers: We need to talk more about literary themes. I know that themes are hard. In English class my teachers and probably yours talked about themes in a way that felt overthought, random, and forced. Some literary writers describe themes as a regimented dictum that defines every page of our novels like … Read more
This article is by Sheila Wisz Ellayn. Ever since I can remember, the impulse for imagining stories has been inside of me. At first I had little interest in writing about the characters and images in my mind, and I limited them to personal enjoyment. As a child it was great fun to imagine my … Read more
Browse any writing forum and you’ll notice a pervasive question manifested in a myriad of forms. How do I keep the reader engaged? What is the correct ratio of adverbs to words? What plot structure works best? When should I use passive writing? What should be the make up of my cast? The kernel of … Read more
A few weeks back I wrote an article about Writer’s Voice. I explained my thoughts and experiences and I gave a few examples. One thing that all of these examples had in common is that they took some liberties with what’s normally considered proper grammar. I thought about commenting on it, but decided against it. … Read more
This article is by Alex Limberg. You want to pull your reader out of his everyday life and draw him into your fantastic world? Want to wow her with things she would have never imagined possible? Then you need to introduce magic into your stories! Here are a couple of hints on how to create … Read more
Every now and then the concept of Writer’s Voice comes up for discussion here on the writing forums of Mythic Scribes – actually, let’s just call it voice. As with so many other things in writing, it seem there aren’t definite rules for voice. It’s just another one of those things where you wing it … Read more
This article is by Chloe Waters. My high school writing teacher once said, “A writer views his work the way a mother views her child.” A child is the creation of his/her mother as a written piece is the creation of the writer. Writers, especially when their work is freshly written, are unable to see … Read more
The players gather around a dimly lit table that illuminates the soft haze that carries the musk of stogies and scotch. One by one they sit, only the green felt of the table reflecting from their eyes. The chips are distributed. The stage has been set. The game begins. A total beginner can sit down … Read more
When you’re watching a movie, you can see the actors as they deliver their lines. You can see the expressions they make, and you can hear their tone of voice. Seeing them talk tells you a lot more about what they’re saying than just the words they’re using. When you’re reading a text, you only … Read more
With November comes NaNoWriMo and by now many people are either realizing: a. they might have something worth salvaging. b. they have a steaming pile of crap. c. a and b d. none of the above I came to the conclusion a couple of years ago that having a steaming pile of crap can be … Read more