Columns

LitReactor Staff Picks: The Best Books of 2016 (part 1)

December 5th, 2016

Another year has come and gone. You know what that means, don't you? Time for a bunch of strangers to tell you what was good! And why should you care what the LitReactor writers think are the best books of the year? Trick question! You shouldn't. But what they have to say might interest you nonetheless, because they are good-looking and knowledgeable and they read like the wind. So for those who care, we submit for your approval/derision some of LitReactor's favorite reads of 2016 (part 1).

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5 Gifts for Writers That Will Motivate Their Lazy Asses

December 5th, 2016

Around this time of year, your favorite websites are going to be exploding with half-assed listicles offering gift ideas. Even writing websites will try their hands at gift ideas for writers. Most of these lists will contain the same worthless entries nobody will seriously consider. Look, if you’ve ever wrapped a notebook in Christmas paper and passed it on to another human being, you’re an asshole, and the writer you gave it to thinks you’re an asshole, too.

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Ridiculously Extravagant Gifts For Writers And Their Cheap Alternatives

December 2nd, 2016

'Tis the season! To buy some stuff for the writer in your life! I'll be the first to admit, writers can be tough to shop for. Especially if you don't want to indulge some bad habits (booze), overindulge medium-bad habits (coffee), or do that copout thing where you give something like a certificate for 30 minutes of interruption-free time.

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What 'Westworld' Can Teach Us About Writers

December 2nd, 2016

It’s fair to say Westworld is winning television right now. HBO’s latest gem and 2016’s best argument for reboot culture is being watched, discussed and dissected with far more fervor than expected for a show based on a 1973 film that is mostly remembered for Yul Brenner perfecting the iconic killer robot walk.

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5 Horrifying Monsters That Aren't Vampires, Zombies or Werewolves!

December 1st, 2016

Editors and publishers are getting weary of zombies, werewolves and vampires haunting their slush piles. Despite their pleas for change, new writers keep resurrecting the same old monsters for their latest horror submissions. There are a million strange and wonderful creatures out there that are dying to claw their way into your next manuscript. Here are five nasties you’ve probably never heard of that will inspire you to terrorize us with something new.

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Storyville: 10 Neo-Noir Films to Influence Your Fiction

November 30th, 2016

One of the reasons I talk about neo-noir so much is that, to me, it embodies everything I love in a great story—something new, innovative, and different; something dark, tragic, and conflicted; something with atmosphere, mood, and depth. Today’s article will talk about ten of my favorite neo-noir films, and how they can inform, inspire, and elevate your prose. I won’t include a ton of plot summation, as you have probably heard and/or seen most or all of these movies. If you haven’t, then hop to it. I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers.

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5 of the Weirdest Themed Anthologies To Ever Get Published

November 30th, 2016

The first anthology I ever edited involved zombie boners. Whenever I try selling it at conventions, most people gasp and turn the other way. They cover their children’s eyes and recite prayers. Some anthologies, the theme is just too weird for most people to take a chance on. But that’s okay. I’m used to books getting freaky. Freaky’s my jam.

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Creepypasta: Is Any of it Worth Reading?

November 29th, 2016

I can see some of you bristling at the title. Put those tweets down, sir.

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Tech and Product Round-Up: November Edition

November 28th, 2016

image courtesy apple.com Welcome, fellow writers, to LitReactor's monthly tech and product round-up. We've got plenty of ground to cover—including some sweet discounts on Kindle devices (before a potential price hike on all electronics), an update on on the new MacBook Pros that rolled out earlier this month, and a look at some free online writing tools that might just improve your prose. Let's dive right in, shall we?

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To-Do List: 5 Steps To Hiring A Freelance Editor

November 23rd, 2016

My last column listed 5 reasons to hire a freelance editor and also described how to go about submitting work if you don't. This week, I want to share some tips from The Other Side about what to do if you make the leap to hire a freelance editor for your manuscript. Here's what to do—and what to avoid. 

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