Geek Gab: Writing Ain’t Much of a Living

This week's episode of Geek Gab was supposed to be about Skin Game; then Agents of Shield, but we ended up talking about Daddy Warpig's book deal (congratulations!) and Larry Correia's epic fisking of a HuffPo article on self-publishing. Note to aspiring authors: listen to Daddy Warpig's writing advice. Take notes…
September 19, 20153 Comments
Disney’s Competence to Guide Star Wars Undermined in New Novel’s Aftermath

Disney’s Competence to Guide Star Wars Undermined in New Novel’s Aftermath

Unless you've been living on Mars, the buzz surrounding Disney's acquisition of the Star Wars franchise, and their plans to release a whole new series of films, has completely enmeshed you in an inescapable web of hype. The first wave of movie marketing has already arrived in a multimedia blitz incorporating everything…
September 19, 2015
How to build 3D Characters with the Maass Breakout Novel Exercise

How to build 3D Characters with the Maass Breakout Novel Exercise

I've been making final revisions to my next novel, and my editor recommended a few ideas from Writing the Breakout Novel by literary agent extraordinaire Donald Maass. One day, Maass set out to see if best selling novels had any significant common elements. His research consisted of reading 100 novels that had…
September 17, 2015

Eyewitness to PNH Outburst Refutes CHORF Cover Story

This blog's regular readers may recall Tor Science Fiction Manager Patrick Nielsen Hayden's unprofessional outburst in response to my editor's appeal for reconciliation at this year's Hugo Awards. Now, more than three weeks after the fact, Teresa Nielsen Hayden emerges with a markedly (and conveniently) different version of events. Lamplighter's…
September 15, 2015
Nethereal Review at Yard Sale of the Mind

Nethereal Review at Yard Sale of the Mind

I'm greatly pleased to report that the redoubtable Joseph Moore has reviewed Nethereal with his customary insight and wisdom. Here's a sample: Nethereal is an exercise not so much in world-building as in universe-building. Niemeier creates a universe only superficially related to ours, and then explores the differences. This universe is…
September 12, 2015
Project Updates

Project Updates

I've been blessed with an abundance of projects lately, so I thought I'd update everyone on what's in store for the near future. First up, I'll be rejoining Daddy Warpig and Dorrinal tomorrow at 4 PM Central for a brand-new episode of Geek Gab, which made its highly anticipated and triumphant…
September 11, 2015

New Statement on the Hugo Data from Sasquan

Cathy Mullican sends this new reply to my demand that Sasquan follow the non-binding resolution passed at this year's business meeting and release the Hugo Award nominating data. The nominating and voting statistics are available from http://www.thehugoawards.org/content/pdf/2015HugoStatistics.pdf -- this is the data that has been released by every Worldcon since…
September 10, 2015
Review: Hard Magic by Larry Correia

Review: Hard Magic by Larry Correia

A friend was recently asked which novel is the best introduction to Larry Correia's work. She recommended Hard Magic: Grimnoir Chronicles Book I, and I was reminded that, although I've read and enjoy the book, I haven't reviewed it yet. This post is meant to correct that oversight. NB: I'll do my…
September 9, 20152 Comments
Hugo Committee Reneges on Resolution to Release Data

Hugo Committee Reneges on Resolution to Release Data

In a move that's par for the course in this drama-fraught Hugo Awards season, the Sasquan committee has announced their intention not to follow through on a non-binding resolution to release anonymized data pertaining to the 2015 award nominations. Back at Sasquan, the BM passed a non-binding resolution to request…
September 8, 2015