Monthly Archives: April 2018

What is one to say to an aspiring writer who is truly bad? Today on one of the Facebook writers’ groups where I hang out, a fellow posted what he described as a pitch and a synopsis. They were among … Continue reading →

In the process of writing a story, there’s a lot to keep track of. You’ve got 17 balls in the air at once, or more likely a diverse collection of stuff that includes a bowling ball, a lighted torch, a … Continue reading →

Are there any standards at all by which a novel can legitimately be judged? Or is the entirety of literature truly a flat and featureless plain on which each reader, and each writer, can with equal justification embrace his or … Continue reading →

Nora Jemisin is a rising star in the world of fantasy. I’m enjoying her work, though not without reservations. I’ve just finished reading the Broken Earth trilogy, and now I’m starting on the two-volume Dreamblood story. The Broken Earth story … Continue reading →

I’ll admit it — whether I’m writing or reading, I’m a demon for realism. Different rules apply in the case of humor, of course. Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books are not remotely realistic, and who cares? But when a novel that … Continue reading →

A six-novel series is a large canvas. If the opening pages seem leisurely, we should cut the author some slack. But after 150 pages of The Broken Crown, which is book 1 of Michelle West’s Sun Sword series, I’m ready … Continue reading →