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Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category

How Wolves Change Rivers

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on October 29, 2014| Leave a Comment »

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.
— John Muir
This video from Sustainable Human is a fascinating look at the impact of an apex predator species on not just an area’s wildlife, but its ecology and even geography. As this article at Nature.com discusses, such trophic cascades can have far-reaching impacts:
When the impact of a predator on its prey’s ecology trickles down one more feeding level to affect the density and/or behavior of the prey’s prey, ecologists term this interaction a feeding, or trophic cascade…
Interesting information, both for denizens of Planet Earth and creators of other worlds as well.

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What Kids Eat for Breakfast

Posted in Food and..., Writing, tagged , , , , on October 24, 2014| 1 Comment »

When I meet someone new, especially if they are from another culture or country, I like to ask what they eat at home. It’s a simple yet often intriguing question, with the potential to upend basic assumptions while also opening a door onto the experience of another life.

In that spirit, I was fascinated to come across this New York Times Magazine article on what kids eat for breakfast. Sounds dull? Nay, say I. The article and accompanying photos provide an engaging glimpse into one of the most basic facets of our lives: breakfast.

Children begin to acquire a taste for pickled egg or fermented lentils early — in the womb, even.

How do we start the day? What do parents consider appropriate fuel for their children? How do those choices reflect their economic realities, historical trends, and geographic locations? Their societies?

The child in Japan eats much different food than the child in Holland or Turkey. Which looks best to you, and why? There is such variety in the food described, and of course this only scratches the surface. It’s the sort of thing I try to keep in mind when I’m writing. My breakfast is not necessarily your breakfast, especially if “you” grew up on Mars.

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A Better Tomorrow Through Science Fiction

Posted in Likes, Science!, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 21, 2014| Leave a Comment »

via Slate.com:
Using Science Fiction to Create a Better Tomorrow: A Future Tense Event Recap

Oh, this looks fun. A recent event hosted by Slate’s Future Tense and Issues in Science and Technology in D.C. focused on ways that imagination in general, and science fiction in particular, can help inspire a better future. Sure, dystopias are all the rage and who doesn’t love a good apocalypse, but people have always enjoyed teasing themselves with frightening things. The key word is “teasing”… that doesn’t mean we actually want to live there.

(Srsly, do you really want a horde of raving zombies standing between you and your pumpkin spice latte every morning? Neither do I. I want to live in a future where disease is manageable, hunger is obsolete, and creativity and innovation rule the day in the best ways. I also want a flying car. Because where are all the flying cars?!)

Check out the October 2nd event, complete with video of speakers like Neal Stephenson, Ted Chiang, Elizabeth Bear, representatives from NASA, DARPA, SyFy and many others, here: Can We Imagine Our Way to a Better Future?

From the tales we tell about robots and drones, to the narratives on the cutting edge of neuroscience, to society’s view of its most intractable problems, we need to begin telling a new set of stories about ourselves and the future.

Related links:
— Neal Stephenson’s article at the World Policy Institute, on the importance of renewing our society’s ability to “get big things done”: Innovation Starvation.
— The anthology Hieroglyph: Stories and Visions for a Better Future.
— For more links to short stories (including pieces from Hieroglyph) and related discussions on this topic, see the final section of the Slate article.

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James Ellroy on Writing

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 16, 2014| Leave a Comment »

If you’ve ever wondered how master writer James Ellroy puts together a dark, twisting crime novel, or plots stories as deliciously complex as L.A. Confidential, wonder no more.

“I’m a romantic, I love the big challenge and I’m gonna give it to you.”

This Fast Company article by Joe Berkowitz discusses Ellroy’s style (right now), his process (research, let it simmer, then go big, really big), and finally, bring it all together in a tight-packed ending. Enjoy!

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Fifty Thoughts on Writing

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Here’s another great piece of writing advice, this time from prolific and award-winning author Seanan McGuire. She gives us 50, yes, fifty thoughts on writing, some on the act of writing and some on being a writer. It’s a useful list. Let’s just say she had me at “You’re going to suck when you start.”
🙂

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Cover Letters: The Story Stands or Falls on Its Own

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 1, 2014| Leave a Comment »

If you have ever had questions about how to introduce your submission, I recommend The Occult Wisdom of Cover Letters by Helena Bell. It’s extensive, covers a great many details that only come up when you are ready to submit at 4:13 a.m. and have no one to ask, and is funny besides.

Essentially, her advice boils down to “the story stands or falls on its own” so keep it short and simple. Also, I recommend paying special attention to the appendix of “terrible things.” Avoid!

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Reading Aloud: Tips from a Master

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on September 25, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Today we have helpful hints on reading aloud (and presentation in general) from Mary Robinette Kowal.

As an accomplished narrator, podcaster, puppeteer and author with lots of touring experience, she should know. And she does!

Check out her 17-part series for a plethora of detailed and useful suggestions for handling stage fright, phrasing, breathing, recording, what can go wrong (and how to cope with grace), and so much more. If you have a tour in the offing or, you know, you just want to be prepared for your future as a literary genius, this series is for you.

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Shadow Unit 1: Free

Posted in Entertainment, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 24, 2014| Leave a Comment »

This has been true for a while but Shadow Unit 1 is available to download for free:

Shadow Unit is a contemporary science fiction series about a group of FBI agents struggling to protect humanity from the worst monsters imaginable. Except some of our heroes may be on the road to becoming monsters themselves….

Get started on this reader-funded series with writing by Emma Bull, Elizabeth Bear, Sarah Monette, and Will Shetterly for nothing, nada, zip, tipota!

Kindle version at Amazon: Shadow Unit 1. Epub, pdf, and other formats at Smashwords: Shadow Unit 1.

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Getting Past “Rave Rejections”

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 22, 2014| Leave a Comment »

The excellent Elizabeth Bear has a good post on how to get past “rave rejections.” You know the ones, where they tell you how great the story is but sorry, can’t use it.

Her advice? Focus on Voice and Narrative. While these suggestions are hardly new she does frame them in concise, useful language that cuts through the extensive “how to” checklists so often found in writing advice. Here she is on how to grow a voice:

Write a lot. Work at identifying and expunging cliches and lazy word choice from your prose. Find sharp verbs and strong, observed details. Read things out loud and if you don’t like how they sound, change them. Embrace whimsy and quirkiness, but only inasmuch as it is natural to you: otherwise you run the risk of becoming twee. Play with pastiche. If you have a natural wit, let it shine through. Be playful.

On narrative drive and creating characters readers care about:

A character who loves something, or who holds fast to an ideal, is humanized and becomes approachable. A character who takes action lures us unto caring about what she cares about.

…

We love people who fight.

It’s a great post, short, approachable, with a “manageable bite-sized helpful chunk” of useful information. Also, bonus points for using a funny video of David Bowie to make her case.

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Attention

Posted in Writing, tagged , , , , , , , on September 19, 2014| Leave a Comment »

So I’m chatting with my mother and somehow the topic of her graduate work comes up. Next thing I know we’re discussing linguistics, theories of form, elegance as a measure of validity, and how it’s possible to learn a language in a weekend (if you’re awesome, like my mom).

Not that I needed it with her, but it was a great reminder that everyone is interesting, everyone is complex and multi-layered and experienced in some way. Given the press of time and the tyranny of labels, it can be too easy to let this drift to the background. Mother, neighbor, mail carrier, teacher, gas station attendant. They are these things, yes. And much more.

Liking a person has less to do with it than you might think. The man who throws a huge stack of newspaper advertising against my front door every week, where it lands with a loud bang? His limp tells me he may not just be doing it to be annoying.

Everyone has a story. It’s important not to forget it, especially if you are a writer.

Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.”
― Susan Sontag

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