Category: Uncategorized

Trope Tuesday: Scarpia Ultimatum

How far would you go to save the one you love?  Would you sacrifice your life?  Suffer an irreparable blow to your reputation?  Or would you sleep with your lover’s would-be killer? Scarpia Ultimatum is when the villain threatens to kill the hero (or, alternately, a basket full of kittens) unless the romantic interest gives him some… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Scarpia Ultimatum

Heinlein’s rules for the digital age

I’ve been thinking a lot about Heinlein’s rules and how they apply to my own writing career.  While a lot of newer writers like to debate Heinlein, all of the long-time professionals tend to agree with him.  For that reason, I think it’s worth taking a serious look at his rules and doing my best… Continue reading Heinlein’s rules for the digital age

Interview with Slava Heretz

I met Slava Heretz online shortly after I started publishing my books.  He’s another indie writer who specializes in science fiction and space opera.  I’m reading his short story / novelette series Outer Pendulum right now, and it’s pretty good.  If you like a good space adventure, I think you’ll like his stuff. Anyhow, we… Continue reading Interview with Slava Heretz

Trope Tuesday: Walking the Earth

Oh there’s sober men in plenty And drunkards barely twenty There are men of over ninety That have never yet kissed a girl. But give me a wandering rover From Orkney down to Dover We will roam the country over And together we’ll face the world. When a character decides to walk the Earth, they… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Walking the Earth

Story Notebook #7

All right, it’s been forever since my last story notebook post, so I figure it’s time to do another one. Last time, I shared the story ideas I from my fifth story notebook, during my time in Washington DC.  This next notebook is pretty tattered, and it covers my time from graduation to winter of… Continue reading Story Notebook #7

Trope Tuesday: Bittersweet Ending

WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR AMERICAN GODS, LAGAAN, LORD OF THE RINGS, TREASURE ISLAND, AND CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON. And he sang to them, now in the Elven-tongue, now in the speech of the West, until their hearts, wounded with sweet words, overflowed, and their joy was like swords, and they passed in thought out to… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Bittersweet Ending

Trope Tuesday: Childhood Friend Romance

There’s something heartwarming about a romantic couple that knew each other as children.  Maybe it’s that return to innocence, or a sense that destiny is on your side, but I find these kinds of stories hopeful and encouraging. My favorite example of this is probably Deanna and Michael from For Better or for Worse.  My… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Childhood Friend Romance

Tradition!

We have some pretty weird traditions in my family.  One of them is that we watch The Ten Commandments every Thanksgiving.  Another is that my mother tells everyone “rabbit rabbit!” on the first of every month.  Yet another: whenever anyone opens a bucket of fresh butter, everyone nearby screams bloody murder and scrambles to be… Continue reading Tradition!

Trope Tuesday: Recycled IN SPACE!

Or, as my friends at Leading Edge would say, IN SPAAACE!!! The basic idea behind this trope is that setting a story in space makes it cool and different.  The tvtropes article focuses mainly on how this trope is used in children’s cartoons, but it actually goes much wider.  In fact, most space stories are… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Recycled IN SPACE!