New Worlds: Beat the Drums
We’ll never actually know if I’m right about the voice being the oldest musical instrument . . . but if it isn’t, then that title goes to drums.
Writing
articles on writing
New Worlds: The Human Voice
Over time, the list of things unique to the human species gets shorter and shorter. We’re not the only tool-users; we’re not the only ones with names or culture.
NaNoWriMo: Everybody’s Doing It
NaNoWriMo Everybody’s Doing It Irene Radford If everybody’s participating in National Novel Writing Month, then why aren’t I? When NaNoWriMo began, about fifteen years ago, it was marketed for beginning writers who couldn’t finish a book. All of us who have tried to write a book have heard about the people who get a “Wonderful …
WORLD-BUILDING & RELIGION: Cultural Influences
Q: Do you agree that religion influences culture? Does culture influence religion? If so, how much do or should you take that into consideration while preparing your book? I think religion is at the heart of what we call culture. Our world culture is so steeped in religious principle that there’s no way to separate it …
New Worlds: That’s Private
Privacy is a hot topic these days, thanks to the internet and the growing population of smart devices all around us.
Author Interview: Elizabeth Schechter
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Elizabeth Schechter Interviewed by Irene Radford Book View Café is very pleased that we have another new member. We are excited about the projects Elizabeth Schechter will bring to our bookstore next year. Please join us for a brief chat. Q: Have you decided yet what writing means to you? A: For me, …
New Worlds: The Water We Swim In
Individualism and communalism aren’t the only aspects of culture so pervasive, we can barely even see them.
Consideration of Works Past: The Arrangement
I’m not sure when I first ran across The Arrangement. The book (picture from here) was written by Elia Kazan in 1967 so it could not have been before that. That would have put me in high school, either in Alabama or Washington depending on when it percolated down to me. I was certainly familiar …
New Worlds: The Individual vs. the Collective
There are certain parts of culture baked in so deeply that we may not realize they’re a part of our worldbuilding, because we don’t even realize they’re part of our world.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Christina Delay
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Christina Delay Please join us for a chat with BVC’s newest member Christina Delay! Very soon you will have a new book available through BVC and other outlets. SONG OF DESTINY Is this a new work or a reprint? Will there be new fiction coming from you? Soon? A: This is a …
WORLD-BUILDING & RELIGION: Common Elements
Greetings, World-builders! Here is another question from a group of Catholic writers at an online conference I spoke at several times as a non-Catholic guest. Today’s question deals with common elements in religion. Q: What are the common elements of all religions, and how do you decide what to keep and what to discard when …
New Worlds: Political Patronage
Holding someone’s vows of fealty isn’t the only way to exercise power and influence within an aristocratic society.
