Columns

Book vs. Film: World War Z

July 5th, 2013

I’ll be honest: this is a tricky one. About two months ago, Max Brooks, author of World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, publicly dissed the Hollywood adaptation now raking in the bucks at the box office, warning viewers that the film and his book had one thing in common: the title. If fans were expecting a faithful page-to-screen translation, Brooks said, they would be disappointed.

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Stop Trying To Make Me Read Game of Thrones (And Yes, I Know That's Not What They're Called)

July 5th, 2013

Above: Daenerys by Phil Noto I am a Game of Thrones superfan.

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7 Things Dungeons & Dragons Taught Me About Storytelling

July 3rd, 2013

Once upon a time (in high school), a classmate bashed on what was then my preferred hobby: Dungeons and Dragons. His main argument was that, while not harmful, playing D&D was ultimately a waste of time. He challenged me to tell him how I benefited in any practical way, and the best response I could make was that enjoyment was an end of its own.

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Storyville: What is Neo-Noir Fiction?

July 2nd, 2013

NOTE: While many of these definitions may be accepted by the writing, publishing, and literary communities, much of how I see these genres and sub-genres is strictly my opinion. So it’s subjective, and not exhaustive. I don’t consider myself an expert on much of anything, but I’d like to think that based on my writing history, the authors I’ve studied under, my MFA, and my current work as a writer, editor, teacher, and publisher that I've learned a lot about these various flavors of writing.

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Book Brawl: Lexicon vs. Snow Crash

July 1st, 2013

During the opening scenes of Lexicon, Wil Parke, abducted by mysterious attackers, almost dies when an SUV ploughs into his kidnappers’ car. As Wil struggles free, he notices that it has just begun to snow.

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The Sleeper Must Awaken: A Dune Primer

June 28th, 2013

Image via LSGG Let me start this by stating that Dune is not only one of the best science fiction novels ever written, it’s one of the best novels (period) ever written. It’s my favorite single novel and it’s a masterpiece of literature, not just the genre, and I fully believe that everyone should read it. This Primer is an attempt to show you why (though you’d be better off just picking it up).

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UPDATED WITH WINNER: LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: June Edition

June 28th, 2013

Flash Fiction: A style of fictional literature marked by extreme brevity - The Gatsby/Summer Edition 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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Anthony Bourdain: Is He A Better Chef, Writer, or TV Personality?

June 28th, 2013

"I'm Taylor Houston. I write, I (wish I could) travel, I eat... and I'm hungry... FOR MORE." Ok, so yeah, I stole that line from the opening of Anthony Bourdain’s show No Reservations. You could say that I’m a fan. I have probably seen almost every episode and I’ll read pretty much anything he has written.

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Eating Babies: Boundaries for Writers in Fiction

June 27th, 2013

Following our discussion on the Unprintable podcast about transgressive fiction, I decided to make a list of things we should never, ever write about. Here it is:

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Authorial Artists: 5 Painters Who Also Wrote

June 26th, 2013

Everyone wants to be a writer—deep down anyway. And maybe not everyone wants to tell stories on a professional or even professionally amateur level, but it is true that we're all storytellers at heart. The desire to share information, life lessons, and laughs through constructed narratives is innate to our species. We tell stories to engage with others, to flatter them, impress them, bond with them.

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