Writing
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Using History in Fantasy (Guest Post by Toby Frost)
I’m not sure that truth is stranger than fiction, but it’s a lot less neat, and it often throws up unusual ideas that can inspire fantasy ... -
7 Simple Rules for Writing Realistic Combat: GUEST POST by J. P. Harker
Even when reading books in the fantasy genre, few things take me out of a story like a lack of realism. The magic can be fantastical ... -
The 4 Categories of Fantasy: Applying Some Ideas From RHETORICS OF FANTASY by Farah Mendlesohn
There are many more or less recognised subgenres to fantasy. On the bookshelves of Waterstones, steampunk jostles alongside urban and high fantasy. On social media people ... -
To Self-Publish Or Not To Self-Publish (Guest Post by R.S. Ford)
Being a writer is a tough, competitive business. Even when you’ve ‘made it’ you haven’t necessarily made it. Many authors are consigned to mid-list hell for ... -
Creating Complex Characters: A ‘Mass Effect 2’ Case Study
As a writer, there are some shows and books I find myself going back to again and again just so I can remind myself what exciting, ... -
Bad Writing Advice (Guest Post by Stephen Aryan)
Some people think there’s no such thing as bad advice when it comes to writing fiction. Because even if someone gives you a piece of advice ... -
Write of Way #15 – Write True to You
Yeah, yeah. I know, it’s ironic. A ghostwriter telling you to write “true to yourself.” What’s that about, anyway? I mean, what does someone who writes ... -
Words to Live By: Best Writing Advice from J.R.R. Tolkien, Philip K. Dick, and Franz Kafka
Here are some more of my favorite quotes on writing* to follow up on the previous words of wisdom from Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and Alan ... -
Write of Way #14 – Write Chronologically, damnit!
Stories are meant to be read chronologically, so they should be written as such! And…there you have it: my argument for why stories should be written ... -
Words to Live By: Best Writing Advice from Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and Alan Watts
A couple years ago, I bought a big cork board to hang over my writing desk. Since then, I’ve been pinning quotes to it to keep ...