Successful stories are about something. They don’t always have lots of action, but they’re about something. Good stories have good (as in well written and engaging) characters. Those characters can’t just be two-dimensional cutouts. They need thoughts and emotions. They need to believe something. When that belief comes with trust and confidence (and it should)Continue reading “Stories of faith”
Category Archives: genre fiction
Fantasy vs “Real World” stories
Occasionally someone asks what genre I write in. It’s not a simple “one word” answer. I write in several. In the non-fiction world, I’ve written scientific stuff, self-help stuff, and business stuff. In fiction, I write fantasy, real world stuff, and stuff where fantasy and the real world intersect (I like those stories). I aspireContinue reading “Fantasy vs “Real World” stories”
Scenes and encounters
As a writer, I build scenes. As a game master, I build encounters. There are differences, but there are similarities too… Encounters and scenes have different requirements and components. I usually introduce outside characters and creatures in an encounter, but not as often in a scene. Scenes might focus on the actions of a singleContinue reading “Scenes and encounters”
Discovery vs. planning: character backgrounds
Many writers divide themselves into “plotter” and “pantser” camps. But… there’s more to fiction than plot. If you have a plot and no characters, nothing happens. There’s nobody to move the plot forward. So, today we’re considering “discovery writing” versus planning in developing characters. The joy of discovery There is joy in discovery. The thingsContinue reading “Discovery vs. planning: character backgrounds”
A light from the shadows
One of the new things we’re doing at FMP is talking about books we’re reading. No, we’re not just giving another book review. Book reviews will happen from time to time, but the why is more important than the what… Any reading I do needs to have a purpose. In this series, I’ll talk aboutContinue reading “A light from the shadows”
Fox Boy
I’ve already said I’m doing a sequel for NANOWRIMO this year. This week I finished the submission draft of the first book! And I’m working on a non-fiction project, which has just gotten restructured (for the second time…). I’m dazed and confused at the moment. So, instead of trying to hammer together something pithy andContinue reading “Fox Boy”
Improving your stories (Part 3)
Well dear reader, as promised this week I’m resenting a revised version of my story Life, Death, and Mr. Boggs. I won’t claim that the new version is perfect (After NANO, when I’ve worked on my world some more, I’ll probably want to change it again). But I think this version is a lot better.Continue reading “Improving your stories (Part 3)”
Improving your stories… (Part 2)
In the spirit of show don’t tell, I put up one of my stories here on the blog last week with a promise that I would put up both my list of things to work on and a rewritten version of the story. This week I’m presenting my ‘fix it’ list and talking about someContinue reading “Improving your stories… (Part 2)”
Racist Orcs?
This week I ran into something weird. People proclaiming that orcs (creatures in fantasy stories and games) are racist. My initial response was “Of course orcs are racist! They’re orcs!” Being racist is a known feature of orc culture in every fantasy game and world I’ve ever encountered. But… It turns out the writers inContinue reading “Racist Orcs?”
“Pure science” the biggest lie in science fiction
On the one hand, there’s an upswing in reported health issues associated with vaping, and news reporters feigning shock. On the other hand, my wife asked me to read and discuss a book: Science Fiction Prototyping: Designing the Future with Science Fiction by David Johnson. Somewhere between the two I hit upon a realization: “pureContinue reading ““Pure science” the biggest lie in science fiction”
Forever Mountain Publishing 