Fairytales & Folklore in Urban Fantasy

As humans, we look for patterns everywhere. So, when we see a new story, draped in the shape of a well-known fairytale, the vibrant mix of the familiar with the new and strange can be irresistible to many of us as readers.

Sustainable Series Strategies

For those of us who like to write genre fiction — the cozy mysteries, the thrillers, the science fiction horror, the fantasy — our books often have the funny habit of turning into series.

Trilogies, and longer series, seem to dominate the market regardless of genre. From a craft perspective, how do you set up a successful series from the start, with characters that continue to be interesting five books in, and plots that are sustainable across hundreds of thousands of words? At what point in your career does it make sense to pitch a series? What are readers hoping to get out of series work, and how long will they wait between installments? Series writers share tips and tricks gained from going through the process.

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

Writers, Are You Using Your Beta Readers Wrong?

As writers, we’re always refining and adjusting our processes, trying to figure out what works best for this novel, today. Me? I finished up a round of revisions this weekend, and tossed them off to beta readers — but I might have been too hasty.

Writing the Sex Scene in Non-Erotic Works (A Balticon 56 panel)

Sex scenes can run the gamut from fade-to-black as soon as they reach for a kiss to explicit move-by-move erotica. But, when you’re writing a story that’s not erotica, deciding where to draw the line can be a challenge.