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10 Resolutions for the Writing Life

January 7th, 2016

It's a new year and a time not only for reflecting on the past, but also for looking toward the future. As writers, we are used to the solitary life. It’s always us vs. the blank page, with the knowledge that nobody can do the work for us. In order to find inspiration and camaraderie, we must look to each other and seek understanding in the common experience. As I look back on what worked last year and what needs a major overhaul, I'm sharing my Ten Resolutions for the Writing Life, in hopes that you might find something here to identify with.

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8 Ways To Fix Your Social Media Screw-Up

January 6th, 2016

A lot of writers have the same nightmare. You wake up one morning, and the notification numbers on your Twitter and Facebook are huge. You follow the stream to find out what happened. You start seeing that you screwed up. You posted something somewhere that was interpreted as insensitive, racist, wrong, bad, no-no, uh-uh. And now the internet, which might as well be the world, is abuzz with the revelation that you’re a piece of shit.

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Ring in the Noir Year: 2016 Edition — 8 More Promising Crime Titles

January 6th, 2016

Header Image by Randy Kashka I've been made aware of the fact that it's 2016, but in my post-holiday fog it still seems unlikely. Another 12 months have vanished since I wrote a New Year's roundup of 2015's most promising noir, mystery, and true crime. Writers will keep writing, of course, and there's a whole new selection of grim and gritty tales to choose from.

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The 5 Books I Wish Someone Would Write in 2016

January 5th, 2016

I pitched this article with the idea of a trawling expedition through those nether reaches of the internet called publishers lists and bringing back to you, my readers, a net bulging with all kinds of exotic fish – everything from giant killer sharks with teeth the size of scimitars to tiny octopi with rainbow tentacles. I’d spill my booty before you, you would forgive me for my wanton use of metaphor and together we would sit on the white sands of Cath’s Book Island and explore the contents together.

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UPDATED WITH WINNER - LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: The Holidays (Post Alien Invasion) Edition

January 4th, 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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One Month of Reading Joe Hill: A Primer

January 4th, 2016

Image via Joe Hill Fiction Last month I focused on the work of Ryu Murakami, this month I’m turning my attention to Joe Hill. It’s unlikely you’re unfamiliar with Joe given the numerous awards he’s received for his work, the film adaptation of Horns, and his successful comic book series, Locke & Key, which was recently adapted as an audio drama featuring Tatiana Maslany and Haley Joel Osment.

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Book vs. Film: 'The Silence of the Lambs'

December 30th, 2015

Last month, I took a look at the first of four novels featuring the character Hannibal Lecter, Red Dragon, as it related to its two screen adaptations, Manhunter and the Brett Ratner film of the same name, as well as the TV series Hannibal, which I felt handled the material the best.

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8 Literary Charities That Need Your Help

December 28th, 2015

'Tis the season for selfless gestures. While many charities see an influx of donations and volunteers during the holidays, that attention tends to taper off after New Year's. If you find yourself sitting bored by the fireside this winter, consider lending a hand somewhere. Here we have a mixture of opportunities through groups run by and made for writers, whether they're poets, journalists, screenwriters, or novelists. Some have been around for decades while others formed more recently to fill a perceived vacuum.

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Storyville: The Top Ten Short Stories of 2015

December 23rd, 2015

So, this list is highly subjective. I didn’t read every story published in 2015, but I’m trying to read more fiction, not just anthologies, but online as well. I’m constantly blown away by places like Tor, Nightmare, Clarkesworld, Shimmer, Apex…you name it. Where appropriate, I’ve linked to the story, if it’s online, and if it’s in a collection, I’ve included an amazon link. Most of the stories were originally published in 2015, but a few came out in 2014.

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10 Pathways to Literary Citizenship

December 23rd, 2015

In writing, there's a whole lot of hustle. New writers hustling to get into good programs. Emerging writers hustling to get published. Debut authors hustling established authors for back-cover blurbs. Established authors hustling for the big awards.

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