Morgan Hazelwood: Writer In Progress
Whether you’re writing from a cat’s perspective or a being from Chiron Beta Prime, it’s easy to fall into the trap of giving the non-human very human motivations.
What is “alien”, what considerations do you need to create a well-rounded species, and what authors do it well?
While most of us know the bloody tales of how the European powers colonized much of the globe, fewer are … More
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.
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.
Backups, Sidekicks, & Henchfolk Heroes and villains step aside: We’re here to talk about your lieutenants, your seconds in command, … More
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.
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.
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.
Not every protagonist wants to be the hero of the story. How do doubt and hesitation develop heroic characters, and how does reluctance change over the course of a narrative?
WRITING TIPS & WRITERLY MUSINGS 