The Power of Myth in Storytelling
“If a being from another world were to ask you, ‘How can I learn what it’s like to be human?’ a good answer would be, ‘Study mythology.’ ”—Joseph Campbell For Joseph Campbell, perhaps our era’s […]
Read More
Santiago Oviedo – Editor de NM
Santiago Enrique Oviedo – Editor de NM – Publicación argentina de Ciencia Ficción M. C. Carper para Amazing Stories Magazine: Hola. ¿Quién eres? Preséntate con tus palabras, por favor. Santiago Oviedo: Hola. Soy Santiago Oviedo. […]
Writing Gender
The first half to this is here. As I am writing, I check in with my co-writer from time to time, mainly to work out issues like the example that follows. You see, I’m writing […]
Playing the Short Game: How to Sell Your Short Fiction (Part 25)
A Writer’s Magic Bakery: Selling your stories again (and again, and again…) Welcome back to my series on marketing and selling short fiction. Last week, I wrapped up a mini-series on everything that happens after […]
Stumbling Into a Free-Fall
Free-Fall by Graham Templeton is a thought provoking story from the June 2013, Issue 18 of Clarkesworld Magazine with precise character utilization, and a pleasure to stumble upon.
Using the Subtext of Body Language in Storytelling
Kinesics is the study of “body language”, which explores how movements and gestures project a person’s hidden thoughts. Blushing is an obvious reaction. But more subtle ones can be used. When body language contradicts verbal […]
Those Early Readers
In Those Early Drafts, I looked at the sometimes complex task of getting a messy first draft edited and refined into a legible manuscript. I briefly touched on the importance of reader input in the […]
Playing the Short Game: How to Sell Your Short Fiction (Part 24)
Let the Band Ring Out and the Banners Fly: To promote or not to promote Welcome back to my series on marketing and selling short fiction. I’ve written these posts in a very specific sequence, […]
Novedades literatura y cine 3-7
Noticias literatura “Espiral CF” anuncia que su próximo número será doble “Espiral Ciencia-Ficción” es una colección de libros de ciencia-ficción, editada de manera no profesional por el bilbaíno Juan José Aroz. Lleva en marcha desde […]
The New Novel
Yes, while I’m dealing with everything else in my life I’ve decided to start writing a new novel. It’s a time travel story and, I hope, a comedy, but as with my previous books — […]
Are You a Closet Synesthete?
“A person with synesthesia might hear and taste her husband’s voice as buttery golden brown, feel the flavor of food on her fingertips, sense the letter J as shimmering magenta or the number 5 as […]
Emailing a Book Blogger About a Review and Why First Impressions Matter
One of the primary benefits of reviewing books on a blog is that people will work hard to get you to give their book a chance. Now if you have a big publisher behind you, […]
Characters: Jet Black frmo Cowboy BeBop
Rounding out the characters from Cowboy Bebop, we end with Jet Black, the Black Dog. Yes, there’s still Ed, but what else can be said about her than, he’s a seven foot ex basketball pro, […]
Camp NaNoWriMo: Doing the Prepwork
On Monday, the last Camp NaNoWriMo of 2013 begins. You’ll have thirty days … okay and maybe one extra … to write something awesome. I’m on holiday but wanted leave some words of wisdom for those planning […]
Playing the Short Game: How to Sell Your Short Fiction (Part 23)
They Said WHAT?!?: Dealing with reviews Welcome back to my series on marketing and selling short fiction. I’ve written these posts in a very specific sequence, with each entry building on previous ones. You can […]
ASM Blog Horde Interview with Matt Mitrovich
Welcome to the Amazing Stories BLOG HORDE INTERVIEWS! The ASM Blog Horde is a diverse and wonderful species. I have the privilege of talking with all of them, and I get to share those chats with […]
An Introduction to the Empire’s Corps
When I was a child, I read the Foundation series and it left a great impression on me. (It must have done; collapsing galactic empires is one of my favourite SF themes, both as a […]
Finding a Path to the Stars at the 2013 Campbell Conference
Friday, June 14, 2013, arrived without much fanfare. My yard gnomes were chained and securely staked in my garden, while the lazy, overweight alligators lounged at the edge of the moat with their mouths open, […]
What Dreams May Come: Richard Matheson
Richard Matheson passed away Sunday June 23 at age 87. He is probably the last of the giants who once walked the land. Rod Serling was one, Paddy Chayefsky was one, Stirling Silliphant was one. And […]
Why I Do What I Do
I have been asked several times in the last week alone about indie publishing. Before I talk about what I’m doing, and why, let me point out that I am relatively new to this. Vulcan’s […]
Those Early Drafts
When is a story fit to be read? It depends on who’s reading it. Your family may seem genetically programmed to love every word you write. A potential publisher, not so much. By the time […]
Playing the Short Game: How to Sell Your Short Fiction (Part 22 in series)
But, But, But…You Bought My Last Story: What Your First Sale Really Means Welcome back to my series on marketing and selling short fiction. I’ve written these posts in a very specific sequence, with each […]
ASM Blog Horde Interview with James Palmer
Welcome to the Amazing Stories BLOG HORDE INTERVIEWS! The ASM Blog Horde is a diverse and wonderful species. I have the privilege of talking with all of them, and I get to share those chats with […]
The Genderless Mind?
The genderless mind is a myth. Even here in cyberspace, where we can be whatever, whoever, whichever we choose to be, we are still each of us male and female. Our words give us away. […]
Playing the Short Game: How to Sell Your Short Fiction (Part 21 in series)
I Love Your Story. Now Change It: Working with an editor (conclusion) Welcome back to my series on marketing and selling short fiction. I’ve written these posts in a very specific sequence, with each entry […]
A Commissioning Editor Speaks: David Moore of Abaddon Books
Britain’s Abaddon Books is a seething brew of villainous steampunk, sleek spaceships, cruel sorcery, and blood-soaked horror. I tracked their commissioning editor David Moore down to his lair, where I forced him to unravel a cracked and […]
Dopes To Infinity
This man is the biggest rock star who never became a big rock star, but deserves to. I had to find some excuse to write about my love of Monster Magnet and by golly, I found one! Read on to discover what writers should learn from Dave Wyndorf & co. in this brave new world.
Digging in to Writing
I’m trying to get my writing restarted after the move. I’m not trying to finish Pixie Noir in 13 weeks any longer, as I had originally planned. I’ll be happy to get it done by […]
It’s Write-a-thon season: Clarion West and Clarion workshops sign up writers
Planning to tackle a writing project this summer? Now you can get your writing done with other writers and raise money for two of the world’s foremost non-profit writing workshops.* Clarion West and Clarion invite […]
Marooned off Vesta by Isaac Asimov
Marooned off Vesta was Asimov’s first published story, appearing in the March 1939 issue of Amazing Stories. The story, and the story behind the story, is an example of man’s will and determination to to never give up.
About Author
Latest Posts
Recent Comments