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Narrative and the Moving Image: What Film Can Teach Us About Fiction Writing
July 11th, 2012
I’m a big movie fan. One of my favorite things about film is its ability to win an audience’s trust so easily. As a storytelling authority it seems the celluloid image has a propensity to pull viewers under its “spell” much quicker than the written word. There’s something about our visual faculties that allows us to surrender seamlessly once something has managed to “trick” the human eye into believing images on a screen are objects inhabiting space.
Read Column →Don't Write Comics: How To Write Comics Part 2
July 11th, 2012
Don't Write Comics is a multi-part essay about writing comics, understanding what your options are, finding the right artist, and everything you need to do to get a strong comic book pitch package together. So, against all my advice last time, you’re still planning to write a comic book series, huh? And you’ve done all your research as detailed in Part I, right?
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Get Real: The Spectrum of High School Reality in YA Fiction
July 10th, 2012
I'll admit it. I actually enjoyed high school. And before you picture me with a sparkling tiara on my head and a hulking football player on my arm, you should know that I wasn't popular and I never had a boyfriend. I was a nerd, actually, but I was lucky enough to find other nerds, and together, we made some great memories (after we finished our homework, of course).
Read Column →Ask The Agent: What Does "Researching An Agent" Really Entail and More.
July 9th, 2012
Navigating the rough terrain of today’s publishing industry shouldn’t be a solo event. This week in Ask the Agent, I’ll explore and dissect two of the industry’s mysteries, straight from the shoulder. -----------------------------------
Read Column →What Do The Authors Of Serialized Works Owe To Their Fans?
July 9th, 2012
Just recently I finished the fifth book from the A Song of Ice and Fire series. (5,000+ pages in two months. Where's my medal?) After putting down A Dance with Dragons I was overtaken by feelings of malaise and depression. So many questions demanding answers. So many dangling plots! And answers will be a long time coming. There are still two books in the series forthcoming. Thus far, the first five books took George R.R. Martin 16 years to write. A Dance with Dragons came out last year. I am not holding my breath.
Read Column →The 10 Most Bizarre Pieces Of Literary Merch
July 6th, 2012
Books aren't just books anymore, and authors aren't just authors. They are—as obnoxious and bizspeak as it sounds—"brands," and they're being marketed as such. So if you're sick of hearing about Fifty Shades of Grey now, wait until your aunt asks for Fifty Shades lingerie this Christmas.
Read Column →Post-Mortem: 'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy' by Douglas Adams
July 6th, 2012
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has pervaded pop and geek cultures since its publication in 1979. Actually, since before that. The novel - the first in a "trilogy" that actually includes six books - began its life as a BBC radio series in 1978. The story has also been recorded as an album, a mini-series, a video game, and a feature film. As entertaining (and often contradictory) as each of these iterations have proven to be, the original novel of the series is the most lasting and resonant component of this sprawling epic.
Read Column →Storyville: 10 Ways to Balance Life and Writing
July 5th, 2012
One minute the house is calm and quiet; the twins are playing Legos in the living room, the puppy is asleep at my feet, my wife is out shopping for groceries, and all is well in the world. I sit at the computer and put the finishing touches on a short story that I’ve been writing all day. And then all hell breaks loose. Somebody hits somebody else, there is a loud crash of glass breaking, there are screams, the dog starts barking, the garage door opens, and my concentration is shot. Does this ever happen to you?
Read Column →The Long & Winding Road: Part VI - What Happens When Your Book Doesn't Sell
July 5th, 2012
Recap: The Long & Winding Road is a multi-part essay about my endeavors to get an agent and publish my first novel. Part I discussed writing my first novel and seeking representation, Part II discussed "revision hell", Part III discussed talking to and landing an agent, Part IV discussed editing with an agent, and Part V discussed submitting to publishers.
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