Columns

The Master of Hard Sci-Fi: A Larry Niven Primer

June 4th, 2014

Those who spend significant time reading science fiction inevitably run across the name Larry Niven. That’s because he’s such a longstanding master of the genre, and has earned himself a place in the pantheon of science fiction gods. Or cyborgs. Or alien forebears? Whatever it is we worship in science fiction, Niven is it. He earned plenty of awards, too. He won the Hugo award five times and was nominated nineteen times. He also racked up four Locus wins and a Nebula award, not to mention the dozens of other awards he’s been nominated for.

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8 Hot Summer YA Releases

June 3rd, 2014

With a long list of hot new YA releases coming out this summer, there's something for everyone. From highly anticipated sequels from big name authors like Cassandra Clare and Sara Shepard to contemporary gems from Sarah Ockler and Rebekah Crane, there's plenty to be excited about. Whether you enjoy your young adult steeped in fantasy or prefer a fresh contemporary take, we've got the rundown on hot books to keep you busy through the dog days of summer.

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10 Reasons You Should Be Writing Memoir Right Now

June 2nd, 2014

Memoir is hot right now—and has been since, roughly, the rise of the Internet. What with folks posting and blogging and tweeting their biz all day, everybody’s everything is suddenly a story, and more readers than ever have discovered that it can be fascinating to read about real stuff that happened to real people (especially if those people actually know how to write).

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Faded Pages: Bridge to Terabithia

May 30th, 2014

I was an awkward kid, and have only recently begun to cope with being an awkward human. Talking with friends later in life, I’ve been heartened in that it seems everyone felt like an outcast when they were thirteen. It's a strange time: too old for childish things, too young to be a proper adult.

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

May 30th, 2014

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 similar. 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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Writer Burnout: What To Do When You're Done

May 30th, 2014

I love my job. I do. I'm a writer, and, like I say on Twitter, that means I write things. All kinds of things. I write essays and columns. I write novels. I write articles about the arts scene in Charleston, South Carolina. I go to all kinds of galleries and shows. Once I met with a yoga company and got to play with acrobats. Next week I'm going to an indoor trampoline park with my daughter so I can write about the experience. It's a great job. There's no doubt in my mind about that. 

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I Hate You...No, Wait, I Love You! 5 Literary 180s

May 29th, 2014

Have you ever finished a book and thought, "Well, that was disappointing," only to have it take up prime real estate in your brain? Then, it hits you: it was actually one of the best books you’ve ever read! I don’t know if I’m just quick to judge, or if some books simply take longer to sink in, but this happens to me all the time. I cast a book aside and there is some flip of a switch, and a book I once hated becomes a favorite. A book that is worth a second read. A book you want to run and tell your bookworm buddies about.

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LitReactor Community Spotlight: May 2014

May 29th, 2014

You may have noticed that we're trying out some new things here at LitReactor (some of which are covered below). In this monthly column, I'll be looking to advertise what's going on in our community. I aim to keep things dynamic, so if you have suggestions on how I might improve this column, please feel free to drop them in the comments. My goal is to keep you informed about what's happening in the LitReactor enclave and highlight the accomplishments of our members.

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Offer The Coffee Branch: A Plea For Peace From A Coffee Shop Writer

May 28th, 2014

So there’s this: [video:http://youtu.be/APATLrEte9s width:560 height:315 align:center] Family Guy sure has a way of saying what we’re all thinking, like the time me and Brian...wait, no. Nice try, but I'm not falling for it.

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Path to Publication 2.3: Sequelitis

May 27th, 2014

My debut novel, New Yorked, will be published by Exhibit A Books in January 2015. Until then, I'll be writing about the path to getting that book published... Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is one of the greatest achievements in the history of cinema. Full stop.  

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