It’s quid pro quo time.. over a year ago I posted on Pat’s blog (here‘s a link to the blog), now she’s returning the favor. With me writing for Camp NaNoWriMo right now, this is an appropriate post. I’m not as prolific, but few people are! At last count, I’ve written 59 novel-length manuscripts since […]
Category: Writing Craft
Pantsers vs. Plotters
With me starting at Camp NaNoWriMo on July 1st I thought that I should explain the difference between these two story methods, and what I do or don’t. “Pantsers” This is an expression, short for “writing by the seat of your pants”. A writer goes into a project with nothing planned and just writes what […]
Wil Wheaton and Not Writing for Free
I won’t commit idea theft myself, so Wil Wheaton‘s original post is here. Here’s an opinion on Slate. I agree with both views. I offer what I write free on this blog; what I’m writing for Exploits of a Midnight Traveler is also free — but no one is being paid for it. In the case […]
Why I’m an indie author
If I was under a contract to a big company, I could only write the books that I was under contract for. I could write other things, but I’d likely have to sit on them for a different deal, or have to publish them under another publisher, under a pseudonym. As an indy, I can publish […]
Space Opera — What is It?
This is a genre that’s existed for decades, but it’s often misunderstood. It was considered as Science Fiction in the 1950s, the Golden Age of Science Fiction, but it’s really a form of Science Fantasy. There are many worlds of aliens, in fact hundreds, which gave it the veneer of science fiction. How it no […]
8 Important Steps I Follow to Write a Book a Year
I haven’t yet succeeded in doing this, but it’s worth my consideration. This is my first Guest Post as well, and it needed some editing: I have few business ventures that are as rewarding as writing a book. Please don’t interpret that in financial terms; most any business author will tell you that getting rich […]
Science Fiction vs Science Fantasy
There’s a difference between these two genres, and it’s a difference that I learn more every day. I called myself a science fiction writer, but I’m really the latter. They share a similarity, in that their original genesis is a basis in scientific concepts — but that’s where they diverge. Good stories are the […]
Steampunk list
Here are references to get you into the genre: Books http://steampunkworkshop.com/nine-novels-defined-steampunk/ Games – Video Only https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Steampunk_video_games All Games – Roleplaying Too http://steampunk.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Steampunk_Games This list includes Space: 1899. The original game is out of print, but I took part in a Kickstarter for the new version. Contact the project runners to find out if you can […]
Steampunk Omission
I forgot to mention an important aspect of Steampunk yesterday. It’s very important because it’s an element very common to all aspects of the genre: Both in terms of the visual style and the mannerisms of the genre, the basis is the Victorian era. So: many of the adult males have mutton chops or long handlebar […]
What is Steampunk?
There has been a large wave of fandom for this in the past few years. There’s even an anthology of comics (I tried for it; unfortunately I was early in my learning of the Scrivener app and, as a result, I blew it). With all of the popularity I will still try to explain it. […]