musings
Truth in Fiction and Emotional Vulnerability of Characters
On May 1st I attended a workshop by Margaret Stohl about “Truth in Fiction.” She is the co-author of Beautiful Creatures and has a new book, ICONS, coming out this month. People always say, write what you know. But when you write fiction, especially science fiction and fantasy, what you know may have little to do … Continue reading
What Kind of Book Reader Are You?
The Atlantic Wire recently published an article of types of readers (not eReaders, but people who read), and a followup article that shared even more types of readers. I don’t think I necessarily fit into any of the categories they listed. Perhaps a combination of multiple categories. I like to collect books and display them like … Continue reading
Books in a Series or Stand-Alone Books?
I hope everyone had a lovely Labor Day. I did. I can’t believe the summer is almost over. This summer, most of my reading involved one series, The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris. Many of you may be familiar with the HBO tv series, True Blood, which is based (loosely) on the books. A number of … Continue reading
Ponderings on Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Literature
Every culture and religion seem to have their own story about the end of the world. People seem to be strangely fascinated with potential end-of-the-world theories. Take the Mayan calendar, for example. Their calendar ended when the stars were in the same position in the sky as when the calendar started – one complete cycle; not the … Continue reading
Literary Fiction vs Genre Fiction: What Gives a Story Value?
I had a professor in college who thought all genre fiction was fluffy nonsense with no purpose or depth beyond the entertainment value. Actually, most of the English professors at the college I attended felt that way. What gives a story literary value? Political or social commentary? References to other writers and stories? Inside jokes … Continue reading
Blog: It’s Not What Everyone Else Wants, It’s What You Want
Well, it’s official. I’m at the end of an era. Because of restructuring, the position I work for my day job is being eliminated. So I’m on the job hunt again. And everyone seems to know what I should do for my next day job…except me.
Musings: #Touch, Connections, and the Branching Paths of Life
Are you familiar with a tv show called Touch? It’s about a little boy who has a talent for making connections between people who need to be connected in one way or another. The show is really inspiring, perhaps in part because of the themes: that everything and everyone is interconnected, and each person is … Continue reading
Blog: All’s Well That Ends Well
I have been sick all week. Ugh. One of those not-pleasant warm-weather colds. The fever has gone away and overall I feel better, but as of this writing my voice still sounds strange. Funny that the better I feel, the worse I sound. Unfortunately, over the course of the week, I haven’t gotten anything writing-related … Continue reading
Blog: Musings on Books in a Series
Most of the books I read tend to be part of one series or another. I become attached to characters. I like to read more about them. I must know how their story turns out. I have to see the transformation; the redemption; the union of the love interest (which we will know will happen, … Continue reading
