Short Story Analysis: Twelve-Step Program for Quitting My Life

TLDR: I analyze a piece of flash fiction. Short fiction doesn't get as much attention as novels for some reason, perhaps it's the difficulty in separating the vein of good stuff from the surrounding rock. Perhaps it's the difficulty inherent in selling the short stuff, though I'd have thought that e-readers would have helped more…

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Gordian Plot

TLDR: Unraveling high-level problems in a novel is a mess. I do not understand it, but will share my thoughts on the process nonetheless. Last Monday my critique group had a special meeting in which we discussed high-level writing concerns like plot and structure rather than our usual nose-in-the-dirt critique of individual scenes. I came…

The Worldbuilding of Altered Carbon

TLDR: Contrast, descriptions, and single-sentence "flashbacks" can be used to build the world and character backstory. Altered Carbon has a four star review on Goodreads while also getting a lot of criticism for its graphic violence, lengthy sex scenes that contribute little to the plot, and its unabashedly male gaze. I personally enjoyed Altered Carbon,…

My Three Keys for Writing Success

TLDR: The three keys for writing success (or any success really): practice, seek knowledge, challenge yourself. In my opinion, there are three keys for writing success (or any success really). To grow and develop, it's best to intermingle these three activities: Practice Learn Stretch Practice is where you cement the skills you have learned. Practice…

Theme and Chapter Structure in Nemesis Games

TLDR: This may be the best Expanse book yet! In this post I discuss Nemesis Games and analyze the chapter structure the authors use. Small SPOILERS for book five of the Expanse series, Nemesis Games, follow. I've criticized the Expanse in the past for not serving up the raw experience of living beyond Earth the…