DeepGenre

Blog posts made from the now-defunct DeepGenre blog, on which I wrote about storytelling craft alongside authors like Kate Elliott, Katherine Kerr, Kevin Andrew Murphy, Madeleine Robins, and more. For the original comments, visit the site on the Wayback Machine.

The Two Elements Common to All Science Fiction Stories

Since my post on The Five Elements Common to All Stories, I’ve been thinking about the obvious follow-up: what are the common elements of science fiction stories? We can argue all day about what constitutes a science fiction story and what doesn’t. (And, heck, if you’re reading this blog, chances are nothing would make you happier.) But for the purposes of this post, I’m going to include both the genres commonly known as science fiction and fantasy, as well … Read more

The Five Elements Common to All Stories

I’ve been thinking about the purpose of telling stories. Simply for amusement or diversion, as the most cynical critics suggest? For education, as those in the ivory tower suggest? For enrichment of the soul, as the spiritually inclined might say? I tried to break down the story into its most base elements. What are the ingredients that no story can possibly do without? Every time I tried to think of something that fit this description, … Read more

Stupid Writer Tricks: Choose the Right Tools

Since my last Stupid Writer Tricks column about casting your characters with Hollywood actors proved so unpopular with — well, everybody, I’m hoping this one will be a little less controversial. It’s very simple: make sure you have the right tools for the trade. What are the right tools for the trade of writing? Well, obviously they differ from writer to writer. Some prefer to write longhand with ballpoint pens. Some prefer to bang their literary masterpieces out … Read more

Superman Returns, For the First Time

My wife and I went to see Superman Returns last night. No, I don’t intend to write a full-blown review here. Suffice it to say that while the plot inconsistencies do seem to surface quicker than Lex Luthor’s proto-crystalline continent, Bryan Singer does an admirable job in resurrecting the Big Blue Guy. Quibble all you want about the details, but Brandon Routh was Superman, and that’s just about all that matters. But here’s what I really want to discuss. About … Read more

Stupid Writer Tricks: Cast Your Characters

Here’s a writing trick that’s so simple and so effective that I’m surprised I haven’t read it elsewhere. (And if it has been discussed elsewhere, someone post the link so I can give proper credit. I’m too lazy to Google for it.) The trick is: cast all of the characters in your story with recognizable Hollywood actors as you write. Why? The reason is very simple. It’s the easiest way to keep track of the details about your characters from … Read more

20 Ways Science Fiction and Fantasy Are Like Mozilla Firefox

It’s a sunny day here in the Washington, D.C. area. So in lieu of doing any real writing, I’ve decided to ruminate on the ways in which the science fiction and fantasy genres are like the Mozilla Firefox browser instead. 1. Both are available across multiple platforms. You can install Firefox on your Windows PC, on your Linux PC, on your Mac (though it’s called Camino there), or even on your mobile device. Likewise, SFF spreads across TV, books, … Read more

The Mutation of Genre

Genre is a twentieth century concept (or perhaps a nineteenth century one). It’s going away. (Eventually.) Historically, genre has been mostly useful as a marketing and publishing tool. Bookstores want to sell more copies of books, so they naturally group them together. After all, someone who’s just bought Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea is statistically more likely to buy Michael Moorcock’s Elric of Melnibone than, say, a Rosamunde Pilcher romance or a Louis L’Amour western or a Frommer’s travel … Read more