If I open a book with low expectations, and the author precisely hits that mark, I probably won’t be angry. I will conjure a shrug or a “meh” and give it two or three lethargic stars on goodreads and say something like “it just didn’t make much of an impact.” This was the Divergent seriesContinue reading “It’s only because they KNEW better”
Category Archives: Personal Stories
The Wisdom and Joy of the Re-Read
First of all: Perseverance is Rewarded Once upon a time, in high school, I was assigned to read a book: The Abolition of Man, by C.S. Lewis. For those who have read it, you’ll understand why the average Oklahoman teenager (such as myself) might not have totally grasped every last inch of that slim butContinue reading “The Wisdom and Joy of the Re-Read”
In the SPFBOX
I mentioned being in an indie fantasy book competition a while back, in this post. I set my expectations at: get a few eyeballs on the book, and maybe get a decent review from a judge. I did not (except in rare moments of what I would have called utter delusion) set my sights on:Continue reading “In the SPFBOX”
Update in the form of a ramble, for no one’s convenience
I did not realize till yesterday that I had let a whole month go by since writing a blog post. Not that these are strictly necessary–they are a mixture of casual joy and helpful discipline–and certainly no one has been knocking at my door, demanding I explain why I haven’t written one in a while.Continue reading “Update in the form of a ramble, for no one’s convenience”
So What Color is the Morality?
Gray. Or black-and-white. It’s all so simple, right? Well, of course not. It turns out that discussing the complexities of how morality is depicted in fantasy is itself a very complex endeavor! The subject is wildly muddled and I’m going to tell you how I accidentally confirmed this somewhat obvious fact. Confirmed it to theContinue reading “So What Color is the Morality?”
To Persevere or not to Persevere? The Classics
I am going to stereotype two typical views on how you should read. I am going to formulate them at their extremes, so bear with me: Perspective A: It doesn’t matter how you feel about the book or whether you enjoy it at all, get over it and read all the great classics, or everythingContinue reading “To Persevere or not to Persevere? The Classics”
The Everlasting Trope: Redemption Arc
An established villain–with all the sinister character and crimes to prove it–begins the story in darkness, and ends it having inched towards the light. On the face of it, this trope really is that straightforward. And I might have thought that, of all tropes, it has the most universal appeal. But I have learned thatContinue reading “The Everlasting Trope: Redemption Arc”
It Gets Easier. But Also, It Doesn’t
On Saturday I drove out of the dry and windy desert, through fog and rain-soaked mountains, to a city of angels by the ocean. All this, so that I could do a Jiu Jitsu competition. I sign up for these things many months ahead of time, when I am still coming down from the highContinue reading “It Gets Easier. But Also, It Doesn’t”
A Moment of Sharp Hypocrisy
So we had a few (minor) hiccups in the book upload process, the first of which my husband labored some hours to fix, the last of which was swiftly resolved and approved. But when that one small image was the wrong color on the eproof, and I saw we would have to revise the uploadContinue reading “A Moment of Sharp Hypocrisy”
A Discipline
My thoughts are scattershot right now, puncturing here, glancing off there, not really going anywhere. Not collected or concentrated enough to have proper depth. But, as we all know, writing is far more about discipline than inspiration, so here I am writing a blog post in the manner that one must fold laundry or doContinue reading “A Discipline”
J. L. Odom 