Columns

Storyville: 3 Essential Books You Should Read in Every Major Genre

June 14th, 2013

This list is entirely subjective, based on books that I’ve read over the years. But what they all have in common is that they’ve stayed with me. Many of these titles I’ve read over and over again. Some are touchstones, lodestones that I reference when I get blocked, bowing at the feet of masters that have taught me everything I’ve ever learned about what makes compelling fiction. I’m hoping that you’ve read most of these and will spend much of this column nodding your head in agreement.

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The Blagger's Guide to Kathy Acker

June 13th, 2013

To blag (v): to sound like you know what you’re talking about when you don’t. The Blagger’s Guide to Literature (n): an invaluable resource for those who wish to blag about books without actually reading them.

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Cum for Bigfoot: A Sexy Self Publishing Success Story

June 12th, 2013

When I decided to write a silly camping story with a vacuous teenage girl as the protagonist, I thought it would be pretty cool to have her kidnapped by Bigfoot. Porsche was rather slutty to begin with, having already slept with Mr. Vandekamp, who was the stepdad of one of the teen boys on the trip, the night before. Luckily, this story was written in the erotica genre, which allowed me to describe all the ins and outs in glorious, mostly raunchy, detail.

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...and ACTION!: The Who, What, When, and Why of Verb Conjugation

June 12th, 2013

Verbs are action words. Yep, you remember that from grade school, but then there was all that other stuff about conjugating verbs for tenses, moods, and forms…and, well…you don’t remember all that so well.

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LURID: Boss Prophets - the Cult Narrative in Fact and Fiction

June 11th, 2013

LURID: vivid in shocking detail; sensational, horrible in savagery or violence, or, a guide to the merits of the kind of Bad Books you never want your co-workers to know you're reading.

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Questions Every Writer Should Be Asking But Isn't

June 10th, 2013

Despite the overwhelming amount of information available to writers online and on the shelf about how to land an agent and how to publish, despite the many exciting and not so thrilling changes we’ve faced in the industry these last few years, despite the many new technological developments affecting how we read and spread the word about great books, emerging writers are still coming to author, writing and professional trade publishing events with the same goal in mind – how can I get my work in front of a decision maker?

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Recap: Game of Thrones 3.10 - Mhysa

June 10th, 2013

This is going to contain spoilers for this episode, and also for the books. Deal with it. And that's the season, folks. 

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Literature's Ten Most Disturbing Sociopaths

June 7th, 2013

How many times have you imagined smashing someone's windshield with a tire iron after they cut you off in traffic? Or stabbing your boss with a sharp pencil when he denies you that raise yet again? Or conning your way into a carefree life of luxury? We all have dark urges—at least I hope it's not just me or this is going to be one seriously awkward article—but very few of us act on them, which might be why we love reading about people who do. Many sociopaths are charming, witty, and intelligent.

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Men (and Women) of Steel: Supermen and Superwomen in Fantasy

June 7th, 2013

Image via desura.com

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It's Ladies Night and X-Men Drink Free

June 6th, 2013

Brian Wood's new X-Men book (X-Men #1), the last of the "Marvel Now!" titles to launch, debuted last week to much fanfare and huge critical acclaim. I count myself among its fans. I reviewed the issue for Comic Book Resources and felt crazily fulfilled to be able to do so, because in so many ways—from the creative team to the cast—this was a comic book I'd been waiting nearly 20 years for.

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