Columns

Tech and Product Round-up: July Edition

July 11th, 2016

Hello all. Welcome to a new monthly feature we'll be running here at LitReactor, the Tech and Product Round-Up. You've likely seen tech and product reviews appear on the site in the past, and we'll certainly continue to run those, but this compilation of mini-reviews, writer-related tech news, and announcements will fill in the gaps of the individual reviews, covering the goings-on in writerly products—as well as any tips and tricks—that don't necessitate an entire 1000+ word review.

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Shameless! 5 Guerilla Tactics for Promoting Your Debut Novel

July 8th, 2016

Your first novel has just been accepted for publication. Congratulations! You're living the dream. But if your big debut is being brought out by a small press—as opposed to a big New York publishing house—you may be in for a rude awakening.  That's the position I found myself in this spring when I realized just how much of the publicity for my debut novel, Hot Season, I was going to have to handle myself.

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5 Tips on Researching Legal Jargon for Writers

July 7th, 2016

As a writer who has been a criminal lawyer for over a decade, I often get asked about legal research for novels, short stories and film scripts. Recently, an author friend of mine showed me a draft of her newest work and I had to break it to her that one of the key elements of the manuscript was a legal impossibility. Whoops. It pays to do your research ahead of time to make sure you don’t end up sabotaging your plot from the get-go.

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You've Published Your First Story in a Pro Magazine...Now What?

July 6th, 2016

Photo courtesy Josh Hallett, via flikr.com, CC-BY SA 2.0 (Note: I admit fully to shamelessly plugging myself and the magazine in which I'm published. I have zero qualms about doing so.) You've sold and published your first story to a pro magazine. Now what?

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James Patterson: The Best Author I've Never Read

July 5th, 2016

I love James Patterson. Even though that love has never translated to me actually reading one of his books. Let me explain a couple things here. Skipping over Patterson's books is not a point of pride. I know there are many circles in which never having read James Patterson, or reading him in order to make educated jabs at him, would probably be a badge of honor. For me, it's pretty simple. I'll never forgive the casting of Tyler Perry as Alex Cross. Kidding!

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5 Things You Never Knew About Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Never Thought To Ask

July 4th, 2016

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. To celebrate his 212th birthday, here's a few tidbits that you may not have known about this stalwart man of letters.

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A Modest Proposal in Response to Devin Faraci’s 'Fandom is Broken'

July 1st, 2016

On May 25, the Nick Spencer-penned Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 uncovered modern comic fandom’s literal reading of stories and authorial intent. On May 30, film critic Devin Faraci reacted with “Fandom is Broken”.

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UPDATED WITH WINNER: LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: Knockemstiff Edition

June 30th, 2016

Flash fiction: A style of fictional literature marked by extreme brevity Welcome to LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown, a monthly bout of writing prowess. How It Works We give you inspiration in the form of a picture, poem, video, or prompt. You write a flash fiction piece using the inspiration we gave you. Put your entry in the comments section. One winner will be picked and awarded a prize.

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Weird as F@#K Horror

June 29th, 2016

I write it. I read it. I even have the lady balls (and grocery bills) to try and teach it. But what is It? Can you know It? Can you see It? And once seen, can It ever be unseen? Unknown?

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Comics vs. Television: 'Preacher'

June 29th, 2016

The first time I encountered Preacher was at the back of an old issue of The Punisher. There  was a page that listed upcoming releases, and as soon as I saw the description I knew I had to read this book. I don’t even recall what adventures the Punisher was getting into that month, but I can still picture the little gray box full of tiny type that introduced me to one of the finest pieces of graphic fiction ever committed to paper. Preacher went on to become one of my all-time favorite comics.

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