Columns

The Magic of Christmas: An Advent Calendar of Fantasy Fiction

December 5th, 2012

It’s that time of year again, and it’s hard to think about the holidays, particularly Christmas, without thinking of fantasy. Whether or not you’re religious or Christian, the story of Jesus' birth is full of fantastical elements, from the angels to the star to the three Magi. Moving to the secular (or perhaps pagan) side of things, Santa Claus is nothing but fantastical--flying reindeer, elves (which rather resemble gnomes), a fat man fitting down a chimney, and so on.

Read Column →

Notes from the Drunken Editor: Forging Your Own Independence

December 5th, 2012

I don't have a drinking problem, because I rarely drink. When I drink, I don't get drunk. The reason I'm calling this series "Notes from the Drunken Editor" is because I would like to catch a particular kind of reader's attention, and if you are reading this, it seems to have worked.

Read Column →

Storyville: Top Ten Best Short Stories Ever

December 4th, 2012

How dare I make a list of the top ten short stories ever, right? Who the hell do I think I am? Well, obviously I’m a fan of fiction, of the short story form. I’m also an author. And I now have my MFA in Creative Writing as well. Does that make me an authority? Yes, on stories that I love—that’s it, nothing more. These may work for you or they may not. You’ve probably heard of many of them, but I hope you’ll track down the ones that are not familiar and give them a read.

Read Column →

Book vs. Film: 'Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho' and 'Hitchcock'

November 30th, 2012

Hollywood loves navel-gazing. It’s a long-held truth. Every year Tinseltown releases a slew of movies about making movies, whether the film within the film is fictional or factual. So I’m rather surprised that a silver screen adaptation of Stephen Rebello’s Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho has been such a long time coming. The 1990 non-fiction book has been very well received over the years, as it’s infinitely readable, meticulously researched and wonderfully enlightening.

Read Column →

10 Reasons Your Screenplay Sucks (and how to fix it)

November 30th, 2012

…99 out of 100 screenplays I read [aren't] good enough… When you read a good screenplay, you know it – it’s evident from page one.  The style, the way the words are laid out on the page, the way the story is set up, the grasp of dramatic situation, the introduction of the main character, the basic premise or the problem of the screenplay – it’s all set up in the first few pages of the script. — Syd Field Screenplay (1979)

Read Column →

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

November 30th, 2012

Flash fiction: A style of fictional literature marked by extreme brevity. Welcome to LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown, a monthly bout of writing prowess, in which you're challenged to thrill us in 250 words or less. How It Works We give you a picture. You write a flash fiction piece, using the picture we gave you as inspiration. Put your entry in the comments section. One winner will be picked, and awarded a prize.

Read Column →

Guess The Plot Episode VI: The Greatest Generation

November 29th, 2012

As the year draws to a close, it's only natural that we all take a moment to reflect on what we've done in the past 366. (Leap year!) Personally, I had successes and setbacks both personal and professional. And yet, one of my biggest accomplishments -- seriously! -- was providing a safe online space for people to extrapolate the plots of forgotten Science Fiction novels based solely on their covers. I didn't expect Guess The Plot to be my legacy, but I'm certainly not complaining either.

Read Column →

The Internet Has Become The Bookstore Front Window

November 29th, 2012

Back in the "good old days" before Amazon and the Kindle, readers got their hands on new books in one of two places—either the library or a bookstore.

Read Column →

The Archetype of The Eternal Wanderer

November 27th, 2012

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to attend the World Fantasy Convention in Toronto. The World Fantasy Convention is a gathering of publishing professionals and fans who generally celebrate fantasy fiction. This year I participated in a panel on the idea of the Eternal Wanderer. Also appearing on the panel were authors Patrick Rothfuss, Robert V. S. Redick, David Levine, and Stefon Mears.

Read Column →

5 Reasons Why Hawkeye Might Be The Best Superhero Comic I've Ever Read

November 27th, 2012

If you had told me six months ago that the superhero comic I would be most excited about was a monthly featuring Hawkeye in his off hours from being an Avenger, I would have laughed in your face. For starters, I don’t read a ton of Avengers books and even if I did, I’ve never cared one bit about Hawkeye. In fact, my only significant feelings about Hawkeye since the Avengers movie released was grouchiness that he was getting his own ongoing comic while the Black Widow got a (really crappy) mini-series. But I take it all back.

Read Column →