Category Archives: Literature

Reviews and commentaries on how what you read affects your writing

Please make me think

Science fiction in films was once an outlet to comment on society, often with a critical view, such as Fahrenheit 451 and Silent Running. As recently as ten years ago I was intrigued by the British Science Fiction film, Moon, … Continue reading →

Posted in Drama and movies, Literature, Story structure, Trends in books, Writer's resource | 1 Comment

After the fall

The term post-apocalyptic brims with images of ruins, remnants of civilization crumbling around the world. Meanwhile humans a reduced to living like prehistoric hunter gatherers. Honestly, if a novel pictured how life improved for humans after the collapse of civilization, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ideas for writing, Literary devices, Novels, Story structure, Trends in books | Leave a comment

Roman replicas

One type of government that keeps appearing in modern science fiction is a replica of the Roman Empire. From the gladiator-like entertainment  by the Hunger Games series to the takeover of the Galactic Republic senate by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in … Continue reading →

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The three little worlds

The places of the imagination must have some semblance to earth, or we are confused by the nonsense as we try to take in an alternate world. Usually there is one difference—one factor that is altered to set the ball … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary devices, Literature, Story structure, Trends in books, Writer's resource, Writing trends | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Kick starting a story

Many writers believe that most readers will only read a novel that grabs their attention from the first page. A dramatic episode must unfold in the first paragraph. I witnessed a workshop in which writers were coached to do just … Continue reading →

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Present tense prose

Since the popularity of The Hunger Game series and the awards won by All the Light We Cannot See, a trend is fiction is the use of present tense. This style is touted as making the character’s actions more intimate … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary devices, Literature, Poetry, Style and voice, Writer's resource, Writing trends | Leave a comment

The foundation of world building

As a child, the stories that fascinated me the most were set in other lands. As an adult, reading passages that describe an unknown world still intrigues me. Simply throwing me into a story without a describing the setting leaves … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary devices, Literature, Story structure, Writer's resource | 1 Comment

The art of world building

I wanted to vacation on the banks of the San Antonio River as it meandered through the center of town. The river that had once created messy floods was now encased by sidewalk with a sprinkling of shaggy bald cypress … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary devices, Literature, Story structure, Writer's resource | 1 Comment

What makes poetry, poetry?

Originally posted on Write about what?:
As a young child I assumed poetry must rhyme.  Meter was beyond my comprehension. It was only that constant repetition of ending sounds that mattered. In fifth grade, the teacher encouraged us all to…

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Educational play

When I was growing up there were a few “structured” learning events outside of school. A week of nature day camp in the summer, horse riding instructions, followed by a pony we had to take care of, and piano lessons, … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomers, Generation X, Generational differences, Literature, Millennials | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment