Columns

8 Raw Westerns to Read This Summer

July 15th, 2015

There is more to a well-executed Western novel than its geographical setting. In A Literary History of the American West, the heart of the genre is summarized as a "pull between two contrary sets of values, represented on the one side by civilization and on the other by wilderness."

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Fantastic 4's Film Failures

July 13th, 2015

There was a time when I had a personal policy: Support comics, see every comic book movie that comes out. This was not a good policy. Things might be crappy, but it's just more fun to believe they might be good, even if that belief can only last until the movie actually comes out. Elektra. Daredevil. The third installments of X-Men and Spider-Man. Both Ghost Rider films. Punisher. Punisher: War Zone sober. All bad policy-based decisions.

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5 Things the Grammar Nazis Get Wrong

July 10th, 2015

Every writer knows a Grammar Nazi. Maybe this person is a retired English teacher, a long-ago English major, your dear Aunt Eleanor, or even (lucky you!) one of your readers. Regardless, the Grammar Nazi's chief mission in life seems to be to point out all the many ways that you, the writer, have failed to master the English language.

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Book vs. Film: 'Under The Skin'

July 7th, 2015

SPOILERS AHEAD. If you haven't read the book or seen the film, I would suggest doing so first. The twists and turns of this narrative are pure joy.

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Why 'Fury Road' Is The Best-Written Movie of...Ever!

July 3rd, 2015

If you haven't seen Mad Max: Fury Road yet, see Mad Max: Fury Road. There's no reason to not see Fury Road. Not a single reason that I would tolerate. It might be too late to see it in first-run theaters, which means it's the perfect time for the cheap seats, where the only thing more stale than the popcorn is the concern for whether or not you're sneaking in tallboys.

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Eleven Tips For A Successful Book Signing

July 2nd, 2015

With a book release comes signings. I've done three thus far for New Yorked. The release party at The Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan, a visit to my hometown Barnes & Noble on Staten Island, and at the Mystery Writers of America table at Book Expo America. Here's what I've learned... 1. Get people to show up

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Chicken or the Egg: When a Query Should Come First

July 1st, 2015

Does a story need to be written before it's sold, or is it more efficient to reverse the steps? All writing begins with an idea, but the process between that initial spark and a finished draft can vary considerably dependent on the finished product’s purpose. In some instances, a pitch is the very next step towards publication— not a draft of the content itself. This is generally meant to save everyone’s time in the event that the pitch or query is found unsuitable.

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

June 30th, 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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8 Ways Books Cure Loneliness

June 30th, 2015

Summer is in full swing. Couples are out lounging on blankets in the park, friends are waiting in line at amusement parks, and families are enjoying beach days. If you feel like you’re sitting in the background, watching all the fun, fear not! Walk yourself to the nearest library or bookstore, because I have found the solution to loneliness: literature. Skeptical? I’ve got eight reasons!

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Better Writing Through Focus Words

June 30th, 2015

There's a great book on writing called Horror 101: The Way Forward, a solid collection of anecdotes, advice and quotes from some big names in the genre, including Richard Thomas, with whom I'm sure you're all familiar. Even if horror isn't your game, this book offers excellent advice for any writer, and a piece by Michael Arnzen titled "The Five Laws of Arnzen" is no exception (This essay originated in the author's book Instigation: Creative Prompts on the Dark Side). Concerning these "laws," Arnzen states:

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