Category Archives: Writing

War and the Military in Fantasy: Part 2

Herein reside a few scattered thoughts on war and the military in fantasy. For part 1 of this, see here. I think I tend to be just a little pickier about how war/battle/military matters are presented in fantasy novels. Honestly, I’m a bit of a stick in the mud. “That doesn’t make any sense. ItContinue reading “War and the Military in Fantasy: Part 2”

The Desert is More than Sand

I have lived in/visited a fair variety of climates. I’m from Oklahoma, I lived a while in Virginia, spent a summer working at a clinic in Chiapas, Mexico, and lived in Israel for six months as a Moshav volunteer when I was 17 (Judean Hills area, near Abu Ghosh). When I was in the MarineContinue reading “The Desert is More than Sand”

Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast

I have mentioned before that I don’t really have writing advice to offer. This is for two reasons. One? The good stuff has all been said, no real need for me to rephrase it. Two? I don’t know that my way of writing and learning to write would be particularly helpful. But just in caseContinue reading “Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast”

Till We Have Faces: The Dividing Line

So, I’m halfway through my Till We Have Faces re-read, and I want to talk about how the book handles the supernatural, because it’s a tactic I implemented in my book almost without realizing it. In most fantasy books magic either exists or it doesn’t. Gods either exist or they don’t. Same for elves, orContinue reading “Till We Have Faces: The Dividing Line”

Language and Dialect

In my book, language and dialect are very important. Not in a Tolkien way–I did not invent languages for the purpose of the book–but in a contextual way. Language and dialect matter to the characters and influence actions in meaningful ways. They are a geography to be navigated–well or poorly, depending on the character–and theyContinue reading “Language and Dialect”

Adventures and Consequence

So I wrote two weeks ago about viewing inconveniences as adventures and how that can be difficult even when the inconveniences are minor and very silly. I hold to this. But that’s not to say there aren’t consequences to “adventures”–either those of choice or those of inconvenience. The whole point of adventure is consequence. WhenContinue reading “Adventures and Consequence”

Adventures and Hardship

“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered.” -G.K. Chesterton I didn’t think much about this quote the first time I read it. I thought “well…yeah…I suppose that’s true” but I also rather thought the author was oversimplifying. There seems to be a real distinction between the inconvenient adventure of one’s tire busting on the road,Continue reading “Adventures and Hardship”

Stories that Stick to the Ribs

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what qualities cause a story to go beyond momentary pleasure, beyond entertainment and enjoyment, to where they become a part of you. I have been running through an account of my favorite books and movies–as well as some of those I scarcely thought of twice afterwards–creating ledger toContinue reading “Stories that Stick to the Ribs”

Spices, Sauces, and Writing

So first things first, I love to cook. I didn’t really get into it until after I finished my service in the Marine Corps (because there’s not much opportunity to cook in the barracks. Lots of Chinese take-out, Pizza, roach-coach sandwiches, and commissary sushi for me). I had a brief stint of staying with myContinue reading “Spices, Sauces, and Writing”