This is a poem that I’ve been writing off and on for a few weeks. I know it’s not the usual shtick for my blog, and it’s not likely to win any awards (I’m no great poet). However, given recent events, I’ve decided to post it anyway. Hopefully it’ll give you some food for thought. So, without further ado, I give you …
Reality, meet MMO (Armada book review)
Well, I finally got around to reading Armada by Ernest Cline. Overall, it was pretty good; a fun read that told a story that I, as a gaming nerd, found extremely compelling. If you were a fan of Ready Player One (RP1), you’ll probably like Armada. All that being said, I don’t think Armada is quite as good. The story …
We’ll miss you, Terry Pratchett
As most of you have probably heard, Sir Terry Pratchett (an author whose works I dearly loved) passed away yesterday, March 12th, 2015. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007, and managed to fight it, while continuing to write best sellers. He called it his “embuggeration.” I greatly admired Sir Terry Pratchett (yes, he was knighted) not just …
I felt trapped, but in a good way: Lock In book review
So, I finished Lock In by John Scalzi the other day, and thought it time to write a review. The book’s all about people that were afflicted with some sort of neurological virus that prevents people from having voluntary control over their bodies. They’re aware, but unable to respond in any way. You can check out the review on the …
Suspending disbelief through shock (writerly stuff)
Today a co-worker mentioned suspension of disbelief to me (thanks Katie), and it got me thinking about how the approach to the concept has changed. Establishing suspension of disbelief in genres that are inherently easy to disbelieve has really evolved in the last decade or two. Tolkien eased us into the world of Middle Earth by giving us a detailed, …
Curiosity is power
So, as a writer, I often find myself pondering what makes a book (or any kind of story) successful. I’ve come to realize that you can throw around terms like “tension” and “suspense” all you want, but it all really boils down to one thing: curiosity. Curiosity is the key to ANY good story. You’ve got to make your audience …
Why characters die in Game of Thrones
Let me start this post off by stating that there will not be any spoilers here. I’m going to talk in general terms with Game of Thrones (GoT) as my example because most people are at least passingly familiar with it, and it’s kind of famous for killing off characters. So, why does mean old George R.R. Martin kill off …
How to make a good movie (and why Hollywood keeps failing to do so)
I’m a writer. I studied it for four years to get my BA in English, then I studied it for two more to get my MFA in Writing. I’m telling you that up front to properly set your expectations. I’m somewhat picky, and it can be somewhat obnoxious. You’ve been warned. I’m especially picky when it comes to telling a …
Something I wrote in 8th grade
So, back in 8th grade I wrote a story that my teacher loved. She was the first person (outside of my family) that told me I had a real shot at being a writer. She encouraged me to stick with it, and that encouragement is a big part of the reason I’m pursuing (and making a living through) writing now. …
Use your nerdy obsession to drive you
Us nerds and geeks tend to get very into our own worlds. I know that I can sit down for hours on end playing a tabletop RPG with my brothers and friends. Hell, I’ll walk away from a long gaming session wanting more every time. The same thing goes for reading (novels, comics, or whatever). I regularly stay up entirely too …