From Bit-player to Leading Light
When one vignette comes to life, a hack actor goes from bit-player to leading light. And a short story spawns […]
Writing
Posts on the craft of writing
The Players of Empire
The Players of Empire (short fiction): when their subsidized propaganda plays end, what does a troupe of second-rate actors do
The Fool Who Longs for Home
In a re-interpretation of the hero’s journey, the true hero is the fool who longs for home. It’s about the
Five tasks on page one
According to writing coach Eva Langston, any novel has to complete five tasks on page one. We can agree those
The First Quarter Debate
As the protagonist resists engaging with the external plot. the First Quarter Debate powers the first act of a novel.
No New Stories Only New Twists
Sequels, re-boots, and ‘reimaginings:’ are there no new stories only new twists? What happened to originality?
Magic Conjures a Plot Hole
This is a problem with the fantasy genre: magic conjures a plot hole. Usually an entire Swiss cheese of plot
Six Essential Action-Genre Story Beats
What are the six essential action-genre story beats? The lack of which strips the novel of both genre and story?
Likable, sympathetic or just compelling?
What’s the priority for a protagonist in fiction: likable, sympathetic or just compelling? It seems counter-intuitive, but not every protagonist
Fantasy Book Cover Cliches Gallery 3
It’s time for Fantasy Book Cover Cliches Gallery 3. Many elements contribute to a cliche cover: concept, composition, typeface, character