I think the issue here is that present tense is harder to pull off than past tense, so it's one of those things that we see new authors overuse,...
I think ultimately the only really useful statistical advice is "I enjoyed it and would pay money for it." You can look for patterns in people's...
Two options: THE QUEEN OF MAGES is currently available for free at Smashwords: Smashwords - The Queen of Mages - a book by Benjamin Clayborne. If...
Hey gang. So I'm at the point now where I'm handing out copies of THE SILVER WAR (sequel to THE QUEEN OF MAGES) to beta readers. I've got a couple...
If you want a cinematic feel, you might be better off writing a screenplay. ;) Novels and movies are different media and it's extremely difficult...
My first novel (and its sequel) are both multiprotagonist, and in many cases the characters are not in the same location, so cliffhangers don't...
High five. Diaspora is, to date, my favorite novel of all time (insofar as you can have just one favorite novel... in reality it's a constantly...
Greg Egan used ve/vis/ver, which I liked. "Ve went to the store to get ver favorite candy." "It's vis problem, not mine." Of course you could...
The problem is this: someone with the innate skill of an Orwell or a Tolkien or a Heller will always succeed given a chance, but you can't tell...
Forgot to post that Part 16 is up... but now Part 17 is up too. :) Bjarheim's Shadow, Part XVII
There actually are objective ways to measure it: categorizing the content of, and quantifying the intensity and number of, messages that appear in...
Where did I say women were alone in it? But it's prima facie absurd to claim that men get the same quantity or intensity of such treatment as...
The problem with the idea of writing being a meritocracy is this: who decides what defines merit? It's the same problem I keep blathering about,...
I enjoyed Downton seasons 1 and 2. I still sort of enjoy 3 and 4, because of the visuals (costumes/sets), some dialogue, and the performances....
I didn't figure I needed to address the other half, since it was basically a plea for "geez, I'm tired of hearing about this," rather than...
Hah, nicely done. I thought the first two might be the same before I read your explanation, but the last one... very well done.
"Write what you know" means "Write about characterizations and emotional experiences you're familiar with," not "write about subjects you've...
The sexualization of breasts is to a large degree a cultural thing. Evolutionarily, seeing breasts was normally not a big deal. To say "Aw, it's...
Anything that asks for money in exchange for reviews (even if you're participating by providing reviews) sets alarm bells off. Assuming it's all...
I'm no Michael Sullivan, but I think I can answer this. The "Sarah said" is technically redundant insofar as the phrase "Sarah walked out the...
