Reposted: Research for the Working Writer

This article is full of good advice, readers. Check it out! RESEARCH FOR THE WORKING WRITER “Help, I need sources!” Ah, the plea of the desperate student/grad-student/fiction writer in search of material or confirmation of some nugget, or a replacement for something that suddenly won’t work any more. Every so often the question arises about …

Reposted: Campbell’s Hero’s Journey is Bunk

A good thought from John C. Wright, readers!   Campbell’s Hero’s Journey is Bunk We were discussing Campbell’s conception that a wheel-shaped pattern called the Hero’s Journey underpins folk tale and myth for all foundational heroic stories, across all cultures and generations. I admit to be deeply unimpressed with Joseph Campbell’s writing, after reading three …

Reposted: Vampirism and Other Afflictions

A thought-provoking reflection from Monalisa Foster, readers: Vampirism and Other Afflictions If you’ve been alive for more than a few decades, you’ve probably noticed that people change as they age. Executive brain function takes place in the pre-frontal cortex, a region of the brain that reaches maturity (stops changing) around the age of 25-26. If …

Reposted: On Christian Magic

A word from master writer John C. Wright, readers: On Christian Magic A reader posed an earnest question to me, and one of great interest to a man of my profession of faith in my profession as a fantasy author. The question is one wiser heads than mine have pondered, so my answer was to …

Reposted: The Stories That Guide Us

A piece worth contemplating, readers: THE STORIES THAT GUIDE US We humans are a talking breed. Language and story are inextricably mixed, and it seems clear that the stories we tell eachother around the campfire—the narratives of our lives and imagination—are what define us as moral and ethical beings. Life provides us with various types …

Reposted – Worldbuilding: Next to the Fight

A worthy consideration, readers! Worldbuilding: Next to the Fight What do your characters do if they’re not directly saving the world? Valiant soldiers, wandering adventurers, and dazzling superspies are awesome to read about. But sometimes we might want to explore lives that aren’t always overshadowed by The Fate of The World Is At Stake. So… what …

Reposted: Draw From A Deeper Well

A thought-provoking essay from Mr. Cheah, readers! Draw From A Deeper Well “This is just like [Brand X]!” This is the most common sentence in modern fiction. It is also the most annoying sentence in modern fiction. Every time I encounter it in a story, I always roll my eyes, shake my head, and ignore …

Reposted – Business Musings: Advertising, Marketing, and Connection

A good reminder from Kristine Katheryn Rusch, readers: Business Musings: Advertising, Marketing, and Connection Posted: October 5, 2022 Kristine Kathryn Rusch Every time I turn around, someone is talking about advertising. It seems like every news story mentions it. Many of the magazines I subscribe to mention it. When I go on social media someone …

Reposted: Conflict + Choices = Character Agency

A thought-provoking article from Ms. K.M. Weiland, readers: Conflict + Choices = Character Agency Note From KMW: Character agency is a hot topic these days, but truly it was always an important topic for writers. Why? Because a character (particularly a protagonist) with no agency is a character who isn’t likely to be very interesting. More …

Reposted – GameLit: Not Just Written Games

A thoughtful and helpful reflection on GameLit (Game Literature) from Benjamin Cheah, readers: GameLit: Not Just Written Games Gamelit / LitRPG is one of the hottest literary genres on the market. It attempts to replicate the gaming experience in written form, taking the tropes of role-playing games and reproducing them on the page. As a …