D&D is a game of storytelling. It largely inspired my desire to write fantasy fiction. In writing fiction, I have learned techniques to help improve my narrative skills and many of them are transferable to role-playing games. Dungeon Masters can im…
Author: Interesting Wizard
DIY Book Cover
There is nothing funnier on the internet than bad independent book covers. Here’s an example:Really? NYT Best-selling author? The prevailing advice for anyone going the self-publishing route is to get a professional to do it for you. I don’t neces…
Thinking About Writing
Writing is hard.Ordering your thoughts into coherent and effective wording, with well-paced and enjoyable clarity is not an easy thing. There are those for whom it comes to more naturally, of course, but I’m not sure if I’m one of those people. I edit …
Worldbuilder’s Disease
Mitch Hedberg once said, “Alcoholism is a disease, but it’s the only one you can get yelled at for having.” Well, there’s also Worldbuilder’s Disease and I’m going to yell at you right now for having it – the simple truth is NO ONE CARES!Worldbuilder’s…
The Lonely Life of the Writer in the Age of Social Media
Hello, blogosphere. I’ve been absent for some time but I’ve recently been reminded that this is a bit of sin. I need to maintain my web presence if I ever hope to be a published or successful author. Agents and publishers want to authors who are active…
Literariness
I write fantasy. I imagine that if I am ever published, my books will appear in the fantasy/science fiction section of the bookstore. Is that a bad thing? Is it something to be ashamed of? Is fantasy only childish, escapist make-believe? I think the an…
On Style
Be clear. Be concise. Omit needless words.This is the prevailing advice on writing these days. Avoid long sentences and figures of speech. Beware of adverbs. Go light on the exposition. Use modifiers sparingly. Show, don’t tell. It is the notion that t…
Accounting for Taste
I have long believed that taste, one’s aesthetic sense, one’s choice in music, literature, art and fashion, is important, that it is not trivial or superficial. I’ve always struggled to articulate the idea, always wondering how people can like certain…
My Bias
David GilmourLast year, David Gilmour, Canadian author and a lecturer at the University of Toronto, stirred up controversy when he proclaimed his preference for heterosexual, white, male authors. Gilmour said, “I would only teach the people…
How I Quit Smoking
I have been smoking for half my life. And it’s no wonder that I took it up. I grew up with it. My mom smoked in the house, in the car, in bed. She would write a note and send me to pick up cigarettes for her at the corner store….