“The truth is that most of what comes in is perfectly competent. Stories with an interesting protagonist with a clear motivation, on a journey with a definite beginning, middle and end. The problem isn’t that it’s full of problems. The problem is that it’s competent, okay, decent, moderately well-executed, perfectly servicable… You get the idea. […]
"You need to be brilliant." Read More »
Toby and Scalzi were reading at the Books & co. at The Greene! (don’t worry, somebody else got much better pictures). So it was straight from work to the gym to the reading (these guys make a great couple). Man, I miss the SF/F crowd. When’s Wiscon, again?
Where I Was At Tonight Read More »
Your result for The Steampunk Style Test… The Air Pirate 21% Elegant, 24% Technological, 20% Historical, 56% Adventurous and 57% Playful! You are the Air Pirate, the embodiment of steampunk fantasy. Admittedly, you would probably be more comfortable in a pulp adventure or Eberron fantasy, but you are able to find your niche in the
“In the days before I got the bright idea to start writing novels, I ran that particular obstacle course. I dutifully ate the scorpions and walked the highwire, dredging up my childhood abuse and past relationships and anything else that seemed suitably dire to please a professor. It really makes for an alarming personality type:
In honor of Post a Rejection Letter Friday (in response to this crazy), here’s an oldie but a goodie: What’s Wrong with This Form Rejection?
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Yumyumyum. Should be out July 22nd. After I burned myself out on slash-and-hack fantasy, I started looking forward to Abraham’s books a whole lot more. They may not always be my cup of tea (more chicks with swords! [ok, really, everybody’s books need more of those]) but they are always damn interesting. I have yet
Books I Will Be Happy to Own Read More »
Speaking of agentry, my buddy Colleen Lindsay is now a new agent for Fine Print Literary Management. Got novel? She’s looking for brand spanking new clients in fantasy, science fiction, pop culture, graphic novels, and maybe more. Check out her submission guidelines for details. Colleen is bloody awesome, and she’s the one who initially recommended
… Then market it as “literary” spec fiction, yo. The sight of 30 determined girls, many in headscarves, sparring and shadow-boxing, is extraordinary in Kabul. Women in burkas stalk the streets outside huddled against icy winds. The teenage boxers, none of whom is older than 18, are part of a new generation which has grown
And God’s War Isn’t "Marketable"… Read More »
Mary Sue is a term originating in fan fiction, for a phenomenon that has probably existed since a Cro-Magnon teenager scratched a stick figure single-handedly slaying mammoths on a cave wall. The above is a short list of stuff you can do with your characters to avoid the Mary Sue syndrome: that is, the creation
Let Your Protagonist Be Ugly Read More »