Columns

LitReactor Community Spotlight: September 2015

September 2nd, 2015

Aww, it's good to see you guys again. Sorry for having been away for so long. I'm ready to return as the hero you deserve, so long as you don't need me to leave the couch here. Somehow, LitReactor's boards muddled along without me, and you guys were up to all sorts of things this summer. I have a bit of a backlog to address in the Spotlight portion of this column, and I have enough exciting things to talk about without rambling up here, so let's get started.

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UPDATED WITH WINNER - LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: August Edition

September 1st, 2015

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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What Works & What Doesn't: 'Chinatown'

August 31st, 2015

Welcome to What Works & What Doesn't, a new monthly feature here at LitReactor, dedicated to the craft of screenwriting. So what's this all about? And how does Chinatown fit into the scheme? 

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5 Lessons For Your DIY Audiobook

August 31st, 2015

It takes a special kind of nerd to get excited about meeting George Guidall. You might not know that name, but you know his voice. If you're a fan of audiobooks, you definitely know his voice.  I'm a special kind of nerd, and I was pretty damn excited to hear George Guidall speak in my hometown. 

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6 Ways to Save a Mary Sue

August 28th, 2015

Today we're going to talk about the Mary Sue—the over-powered character found in the works of many novice writers. If you've realized that you accidentally wrote a Mary Sue, this article will help you fix your story and improve your character. But before we get into that, let's discuss the Mary Sue at a broader level.

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Writing And Parenting: A Survival Guide

August 28th, 2015

There's something about becoming a parent that fundamentally rewires your brain. From my experience, at least. For a long time I was always on the fence about having a kid. It seemed like a thing I would eventually do, but it wasn't something I was rushing toward. And then my daughter arrived. Some days when I'm at work I get depressed because I'm not home with her. So I have to flip through goofy pictures of her on my phone and it only makes me feel a little better. 

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What the Fuck Are You Writing For?

August 27th, 2015

So Why Do You Write?             This has to be a question you’ve asked yourself. Or read in a writing forum somewhere. We all ask ourselves this at some point, usually when the need to justify the time, effort and anguish becomes intense. After a slew of rejections or when an acquaintance gets published. Or when you read over what you wrote the day before and wince. Why the fuck am I doing this?

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Falling Without a Parachute: Lessons Learned from My First Novel

August 26th, 2015

In October of 2013, I was having a bad year. I was jobless, living in a place I hated, and lacking hope. It was one of my lowest points, that quickly became of my highest because that month I sold my first novel, Falling Sky. A lifelong dream of mine had come true. I was going to be a published author. And yet there was just one persistently buzzing fly in the ointment — I hadn't finished the book. 

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Economics of the Big Release

August 26th, 2015

Every now and then a tidal wave comes along in book publishing. Big releases can sometimes act as a shot in the arm for struggling bookstores, and they’ve helped to keep a changing industry afloat.

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Teens in Tinseltown: Six Hollywood YA Novels

August 25th, 2015

There’s nothing as exciting as the shiny world of Hollywood, where nobody is quite what they seem and drama is set to unfold not only on the sets of our favorite films and television shows, but in real life as well. America’s fascination with all things Hollywood knows no bounds, and luckily there are many Young Adult novels depicting the high profile lives of the stars to keep readers satisfied. Ranging from sweet contemporary romance to intriguing historical settings, there’s a Hollywood YA for every taste.

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