In this Book & Book, two classics with an ambassador to a new world, whether by choice or force, demonstrate the lessons of language and their bearing on interpersonal power dynamics. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin sees an ambassador on the faraway planet of Winter where he must navigate shifgrethor … Continue reading Language as Lesson
Tag: writing
Justin Bloch, author
Justin Bloch's debut novel, The Stolen Karma of Nathaniel Valentine, is a powerhouse of plot twists and personal journeys. The settings are rich and varied, and the characters are all masterfully round and motivated. I caught up with Justin while he was hard at work on the sequel to ask him a few questions. PersephoneKnits: … Continue reading Justin Bloch, author
2018 – What’d I Learn?
I'm a goal-setter. A list-maker. A Resolutionist. (ya like that?) Here were my goals for 2018: Have four works published Revise Ferals & Blights Write six new short stories Be able to do ten full push-ups Complete full year of Patreon poetry postcards Not bad! And, I learned something BIG about goal-setting as a writer. … Continue reading 2018 – What’d I Learn?
Some Tarot Thoughts
I'm moving on to a new writing project. Or, I will be. If I can decide which one to tackle. This requires a lot of thought. I have finished a middle-grader fantasy. Should I work on a new book set in that world? What if that one doesn't sell? Should I work on one of … Continue reading Some Tarot Thoughts
FrostFire Worlds
Remember how great it felt to curl up as a kid with a collection of short stories? You could drop in and out between chores or during lunch at school. I remember reading them on long car trips, too. FrostFire Worlds is a market for younger readers who like speculative fiction. It's one of the … Continue reading FrostFire Worlds
The Moon Fight
Drew has to battle for the right to be Baba Yaga's apprentice. The rules are simple: give your opponent an emotional experience that changes a long-held belief. But, the rules don't specify "human" emotions... There's a new short story on my Patreon! For the full read, click over and pledge a $1/month. You'll get more … Continue reading The Moon Fight
MAPS!
I was lounging in The Chairs at Miscon 32 with a friend, Jeff Howe. We hadn't seen each other in a year, so we were catching up on each other's lives. He mentioned he was going to use some old National Geographic maps as story prompts. Enamored with this brilliance, I told him I'd be … Continue reading MAPS!
Collaborative Brainstorming
This was a new panel for Miscon 32, and I loved the honesty of it. Rhiannon Held, urban fantasy author, and Krista Wallace, author/actress/musician, spoke and acted. They listed ideas and then modeled behaviors - ones that opened up creativity and others that closed it down. My notes are practically illegible, but here's what I … Continue reading Collaborative Brainstorming
World-Building, Part II
The world-building panel at Miscon 32 moderated by Brandon Sanderson was crammed with ideas. This is Part Two. On designing governments, Sanderson said he's fascinated with the push/pull of who is said to be in charge versus who is actually in charge and who makes law. He recommended C.G.P. Grey's Rules for Rulers. He added … Continue reading World-Building, Part II
World-Building, Part I
This panel at Miscon 32 was full of people saying things from brains that aren't my own. It was wild. You know what I mean by that, right? Someone says something, and you think, "Whoa. What a cool way to view the world!" And your viewpoint shifts as if they pulled aside a blue veil. … Continue reading World-Building, Part I
