Giving Your Characters Room To Grow

While I was reading this week, I realized my favorite parts of the books were where I could see how … More

We’re #2, So We Try Harder

Backups, Sidekicks, & Henchfolk Heroes and villains step aside: We’re here to talk about your lieutenants, your seconds in command, … More

Family Structures in Science Fiction and Fantasy (A Balticon 56 Panel)

From werewolf clans to alien hives, this panel will discuss the most imaginative and thought-provoking examples of family structures in genre works.

So many book recommendations!

p.s. This is also my 700th post! WHOA!

P.s.s. It’s also Catticus’s gotcha anniversary, so great week all around.

But, I Don’t Want To Be A Hero (A DisCon III Panel)

The reluctant hero is a solid staple of fiction and comic books. What is a reluctant hero? What are favorite hero traits? And what keeps them from being an anti-hero?

Writing with Meisner

I usually don’t write up workshops. They’re run by one single person, and the content is theirs. But, I *have* to gush about the titular workshop with Ian Kirkpatrick at Imaginarium2021.

It described MY process.

Character Creation

While many character creation discussions revolve around the external bits — names, physical attributes, social settings, here are 8 techniques for getting to know who your character is as a person.

What’s In A Name? Characters in Fiction

Welcome to Part 4 of my WorldCon, CoNZealand panel write ups. The panelists for the “Writers on Writing: What’s in a … More

Choosing Your Perspective

All stories have a voice and a point-of-view — or POV.

It’s how you combine them that makes a story that resonates.

What The Writer Needs To Know: The Brain and The Body

Writers do their best to bring life and authenticity to the full range of human conditions. Sadly, however, writers are mere mortals and can fall into some trope-tastic misunderstandings and assumptions.

It’s time to set the record straight.