(This post is part of my Patreon-supported New Worlds series.) Place one million dollars in unmarked bills in a duffel bag and leave it in a locker at the bus stop . . . When we think of hostages and … Continue reading
Category Archives: Writers on Writing
(This post is part of my Patreon-supported New Worlds series.) The Campbells and the MacDonalds. The Montagues and the Capulets. The Hatfields and the McCoys. In between the small-scale violence of one individual against another and the large-scale violence of … Continue reading
It’s THAT time of year, so I’m combining two of my loves: writing and baseball to reprise this post from several years ago with some additional thoughts. The title phrase of this post is from one of my three most … Continue reading
[Vaccine update: Fully vaccinated!] Rather than speculate on upcoming travel plans, like wondering what it will be like to eat at a Palm Springs restaurant—outdoor dining? What steps are involved for eating while masked? How to assess for ventilation?—I am … Continue reading
(This post is part of my Patreon-supported New Worlds series.) Watching the news, it’s easy to get the impression that we live in extremely violent times. Certainly some kinds of violence are all too characteristic of our modern society. In … Continue reading
(This post is part of my Patreon-supported New Worlds series.) Intellectual property may seem like an odd topic for wrapping up a discussion of the literary arts, but there’s a sense in which it feeds directly out of the printing … Continue reading
A frequently asked question, especially at writers’ conferences and conventions is: What is point of view, why does it matter, and how do I choose which one to use? Okay, I guess that’s three questions. I shall attempt to answer them. … Continue reading
(This post is part of my Patreon-supported New Worlds series.) What is poetry, anyway? At school you probably got taught about things like rhyme and meter (certain arrangements of stressed and unstressed beats in a line). These are frequently found … Continue reading
Paul Piper’s new novel The Wolves of Mirr is a new release this month at BVC. Look for a sample here. We interviewed Paul about his experience and creative process. Paul, your previous publications have been poetry. What made you pivot … Continue reading
(This post is part of my Patreon-supported New Worlds series.) Since these essays are crafted with an eye toward science fiction and fantasy, I should specify at the outset that I don’t mean “literary storytelling” in the sense of modern … Continue reading