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The Life Cycle of Books
April 27th, 2016
Books are born and die all the time. I'm not speaking of the cycle of creation that all writers know so well: the loop of ideas, draft, submissions, and eventual publication. I mean the physical lifespan of binding and pages. In celebration of Earth Day, I take a quick look at how much waste our beloved books create, and what happens when they are eventually left to rot in a garbage heap. Life First, some quick facts:
Read Column →Crowdfunding for Writers: 10 Tips for Running a Successful Patreon Campaign
April 26th, 2016
Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have made a big splash in recent years, helping creative people raise funds for everything from videogames to unicorgis. But Patreon, the new kid on the fundraising block, may be the best platform yet for writers, and I'm here to tell you why.
Read Column →10 Reasons Why Books Are Always Better Than Boys
April 25th, 2016
1. Neglect Isn’t a Thing Let’s face it- relationships are work, and boys especially need lots of care and tending, so it’s not always possible to step away for a few days or weeks and not lose momentum. I mean, who wants their boy toy to feel neglected? But with a book, there’s no worry about abandonment! You can put a book down in March and pick it back up in May and it will have been patiently waiting for you to return, with nary a sarcastic comment or cold shoulder. When you need time and space to just be, books are always better than boys.
Read Column →Jasper Fforde's 'Thursday Next' Series, the Natural Progression for Harry Potter Fans
April 25th, 2016
Many Harry Potter fans grew up with the character and his stories. The first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was first released in 1997 and was an immediate success. Its 1998 release in the United States, under the title ...Sorcerer’s Stone, led to the 2001 film adaptation, and the subsequent seven sequels culminated with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (the movie divided the book, released in 2007, in twain) a decade later.
Read Column →The Movies And Books That Influenced Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Pulp Fiction’
April 22nd, 2016
Last month I explored five movies that influenced Quentin Tarantino’s feature-length debut, Reservoir Dogs. This month I’m turning my attention towards his second feature movie, Pulp Fiction. The commercial and critical success of Reservoir Dogs has been huge.
Read Column →5 Works of Art Ripe for the Storyteller's Plucking
April 22nd, 2016
We've all heard of the visual writing prompt, right? It's the exercise whereby you write a story based on a photo, painting, or some other visual medium. The great thing about being a writer is, you can dream up a story based on just about any image you see, even if the image in question isn't all that inspiring. The most mundane and seemingly innocuous items can, through virtue of a healthy imagination, become something wonderful and/or terrifying.
Read Column →Storyville: Six Dark Contemporary Films That Can Inspire Your Fiction
April 21st, 2016
So over the past couple of years I’ve seen a lot of innovation in literature, and in film—especially with horror, and similar genres. What I’d like to talk about today is how you can embrace new movies and allow their visionary directors to inform, and inspire your fiction. Here are a few films that really resonated with me, and the ways they already have, or could influence my future writing projects—and your work as well.
Read Column →The 10 Most Compelling Hitlers in Fiction
April 20th, 2016
Before we get started, let's just be clear about one thing. This is not an endorsement of Hitler, not a loving memorial. Let's face it, for better or worse or a whole lot even more worse, Hitler made an impact on the world, and the world of books is no different. Hitler's one of the few taboos left. What happens when writers go there?
Read Column →Six Ways Pets Improve Your Writing
April 19th, 2016
Every superhero has a sidekick. Every motorcycle has its sidecar. And every (animal loving) writer has his or her furry companion. Our pets bring us endless hours of joy and comfort in the funniest of ways—and even sometimes help us write. Their professional assistance is very cute, even though it’s not always appreciated. To honor their hard work and dedication, we as authors should take these 540 words to tell the world just how much our animals serve our craft.
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