Publisher

How to Think Like a Publisher

Uncomfortable conversation time. You may not want to hear it, but a lot of folks in the newpub scene shoot themselves in the foot by calling  themselves "indie authors." Don't feel bad. I made the same mistake at first. And it is a mistake. Because as the name implies, newpub…
May 15, 20241 Comment
World Building 1

How to Handle World Building

The one element that distinguishes science fiction and fantasy from the other flavors of adventure fiction is world building. If you’re a new SFF writer, learning how to craft vivid secondary worlds is a crucial skill. And mastering it takes finesse as well as creativity. But it’s not as daunting…
April 19, 20245 Comments
Sam Hyde

Bayou Bomber Contra Sam Hyde

Many of this blog's readers will be aware of comedian Sam Hyde. He's spent his career straddling the line between the rightward edge of the Overton window and the mainstream. He's also something of a Jack of all trades, having crashed a TedX talk, had a now-cancelled show on Adult…
January 29, 20246 Comments
Gen Y More Millennial

More Millennial Than Millennials

This blog's ongoing project to beat the boundaries of forgotten generations has drawn a surprising amount of interest. Especially posts dealing with Gen Y and Millennials. You would think these observations self-evident, but Madison Avenue has consigned these cohorts to the memory hole since they're not longer profitable to ad…
January 24, 20249 Comments
FInding God

How to Prove God and Find Him

Helping others clear away intellectual obstacles to faith in God and His Church is every theologian's solemn obligation. As Fr. Chad Ripperger has said, Hell is so bad that we shouldn't even wish it on our worst enemy. So it is in a spirit of fraternal charity that I offer…
December 27, 20238 Comments
Pacing Watch

How to Master Pacing

The Burned Book is now funding. Get the highly anticipated dark fantasy before launch, plus a ton of awesome perks. Pledge now. Writing is an art, and like any form of art, it requires skill, practice, and patience. For aspiring writers, one of the most crucial elements to master is…
November 6, 2023
Fantasy Genre Setting

Genre vs Setting

Friend of the blog author David V. Stewart's recent stream on speculative fiction settings uncovered a curious phenomenon. It seems a lot of people, even some new authors, have trouble telling the difference between genre vs setting in speculative fiction. It's a worthwhile stream, covering a range of topics from…
October 26, 20232 Comments
Writing Spiral

Escape the Writing Spiral

Look around the pop culture moonscape, and you'll notice that former titans of entertainment like Lost and A Game of Thrones have become bywords and lolcows - grim warnings to writers about the price of failing to deliver. Everybody says that these shows disappointed viewers because their storylines devolved into…
October 19, 2023
Influence

How to Manage Your Influences

The influences that shape your writing can be a boon and a challenge. Striking the right balance between drawing inspiration from others and staying true to your unique voice is an essential skill for new authors. Let's explore some practical ways to help you manage your influences while writing without…
October 12, 2023
Book Opening

How to Open a Novel

Every writer knows that the first few pages of a novel can make or break a reader's interest. Author David Stewart's recent stream about the best novel openings ever inspired me to explore how to write an effective beginning that will hook readers from the start. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrxKB3WeaoE Here are some…
October 5, 2023