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Poetry Fun-0-1: Love Poems
February 13th, 2014
A great poet once said, "All poems are love poems." Okay, it was a decent poet. Fine, it was me, all right? You caught me, congratulations. Maybe not every single poem in the world is a love poem, but regardless of the veracity of my claim, there are certainly more than enough to go around, a revolting amount of written endearment floating on that literary sea like emotional driftwood. How did the world end up with so many love poems anyway?
Read Column →5 Queer Relationships in Science Fiction and Fantasy
February 13th, 2014
Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and it’s a time (they tell us) to celebrate relationships and love. Last year I looked at unconventional relationships. This time I wanted to look at some queer (LGBT) relationships in science fiction and fantasy.
Read Column →Shelving a Fear of Romance
February 12th, 2014
About four years ago, a bookstore owner advised me to read romance novels. Romance readers are some of the most dedicated of any genre, he told me. They’ll stick with a series or favorite author through any number of pitfalls, continuing to buy new titles. Bring on a romance expert, and you’re basically guaranteed regular customers.
Read Column →Writer's Conventions: A Hot-Bed of Legal Issues
February 11th, 2014
TRIGGER WARNING: This column refers to sexual harassment and assault, and may be triggering to some people. Conventions are fantastic events, particularly for the writing and publishing industry. They give writers a chance to network with agents and publishers, and other writers. Aside from the positive business advantages of attending conferences, they can be wonderful social events.
Read Column →Storyville: Three Essential Books On Writing
February 10th, 2014
Today I’m talking about books on writing. I know that there are a million of them out there, but these three are the ones that I’ve read and re-read the most, the books I pick up when I get stuck or am looking for inspiration, the books that speak to me most as a writer. Yes, I own all three.
Read Column →11 Science Fiction Novels for the Lovelorn Rocket Jockey
February 7th, 2014
It’s the season of love, or at least the season of professing love through crass commercialism, so it seems only appropriate that we talk about romance novels. But I can’t be the only one who’s tired of ripped bodices and Fabio on book covers. Instead, lets talk about some great romances in the science fiction genre.
Read Column →Product Review: The Snugg
February 6th, 2014
More and more, we writers are turning to tablet computers for access to digital and online reading options on the go, as well as access to full-feature word processors in a smaller package for our writing endeavors away from home. Regardless of how you’re using your tablet, protection is a must, and selecting the right case for your precious can seem daunting, given the seemingly endless options available to you.
Read Column →Three Books About... Animals
February 6th, 2014
Image by Adam D'Costa Are you a vegetarian? A vegan? Do you only buy products not tested on animals? Want to hear a confession? Me neither. I’ve adopted rhinos and gorillas. I wear leather. I own dogs and cats and lavish them with toys, treats and attention. I eat meat.
Read Column →Overcoming Object Love: How to Write Female Leads Who Are People
February 5th, 2014
My goal in this article isn't to explore the complexity and pitfalls of gender representation. Instead, I want to simplify the issue and teach you how to overcome an insidious (and painfully common) writing disease: Object love.
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