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Meta
Monthly Archives: January 2021
It’s What’s Up Front That Counts
I have a completed novel that’s ready to roll out, but I don’t yet have a cover for it. This is immensely frustrating. I’ve had a couple of different artists work on covers (and paid them for their efforts, to … Continue reading
Dull Thud
Yes, it’s time for another Oblong Book Review, brought to you by Mr. Grumpy, Inc. This month the local science fiction book club decided to read Lightning Strike by Catherine Osaro. I had never read any of her work. She’s … Continue reading
Rescue the Princess?
In 1983, having sold a couple of stories to science fiction magazines, I saw that I needed to write a novel. I had four or five file folders of notes and scraps for possible novels, ideas I had started and … Continue reading
Revisions
Thinking out loud here. I have this mystery novel, still in manuscript but allegedly finished. I’ve been thinking that as soon as I get a couple of other projects uploaded to Amazon, I’ll hire a cover for this one, format … Continue reading
Standing Up
In the spirit of standing up for what’s good and right, naturally I applaud Twitter, Facebook, and other online service providers for shutting down some of the insane yammering that emanates these days from the wacko fringe of the Republican … Continue reading
An Object Lesson in Editing
At some point last fall, I was rather concerned about the inordinate length of my new novel. It was weighing in at 157,000 words, and I felt that I had to do something. Getting it trimmed down to a marketable … Continue reading
When Heads Hop
The wisdom du jour among those who teach fiction writing is that one should not “head-hop.” Head-hopping is considered poor technique. I write today in defense of head-hopping. Not heedless head-hopping, to be sure. You should do it only when … Continue reading
News Flash
I’m an old white guy. As such, I’m a lifelong beneficiary of white privilege. This fact plays out in many ways. I don’t have to worry that I’ll be shot and killed during a routine traffic stop. My parents were … Continue reading
Jim Aikin's Oblong Blob 