You’re Not The Fucked Up One

This is how I feel: I feel like I’m the fucked up one. I feel like I’ve gone cuckoo bananapants, because I look out into the world and I see people who think the pandemic isn’t real; I see them not wearing masks anymore; I see people who somehow think Trump is doing a good job, or that believe he’s accomplished anything at all; I see people who live...

3d

Eddy Boudel Tan: Five Things I Learned Writing After Elias

When the airplane piloted by Elias Santos crashes one week before their wedding day, Coen Caraway loses the man he loves and the illusion of happiness he has worked so hard to create. The only thing Elias leaves behind is a recording of his final words, and even Coen is baffled by the cryptic message. Numb with grief, he takes refuge on the Mexican...

4d

On Plot And Character (And Giving Writing Advice At The End Of The World)

Writing advice is bullshit on a good day. Though as I’m wont to note, bullshit fertilizes, and so we continue to share it and give it with the notion that maybe a scattering of it over your garden will help your story-plants grow. Maybe it won’t. And that’s okay, too. But here at the end of the world (okay, not really the end of the world I don’t think,...

2w

Where’s (Virtual) Wendig?

Take the red pill and you stay in Wendigland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. (I loathe that a bunch of zero-brained nitwits have taken “red pill.”) ANYWAY. Hey, hi, I’m back — finally got a new computer, summer is ending, and so begins the season of renewed work. I just did edits on two books (Dust & Grim, Magic Skeleton) and have...

2w

Wanderers TV News And, Wait, Did Someone Mention A Sequel?

So, Deadline got to break some very cool news. That news is a many-headed hydra of awesomeness, and consists of three beats: first, QC has partnered with Lionsgate Television for the project; second, Glen Mazzara (The Shield! The Walking Dead! Dark Tower TV show that should’ve been picked up but wasn’t!) is on as showrunner; and third, the book is...

4w

Kevin Hearne: Five Things I Learned Writing Ink & Sigil

Al MacBharrais is both blessed and cursed. He is blessed with an extraordinary white moustache, an appreciation for craft cocktails—and a most unique magical talent. He can cast spells with magically enchanted ink and he uses his gifts to protect our world from rogue minions of various pantheons, especially the Fae. But he is also cursed. Anyone who...

4w

Christopher Brown: Five Things I Learned Writing Failed State

In the aftermath of a second American revolution, peace rests on a fragile truce. The old regime has been deposed, but the ex-president has vanished, escaping justice for his crimes. Some believe he is dead. Others fear he is in hiding, gathering forces. As the factions in Washington work to restore order, Donny Kimoe is in court to settle old scores—and...

Aug 2020

No, Writing For IP Is Not Soulless

So, I take it someone on Twitter said something about IP books being soulless. Or maybe they said it about the writers of those books? I dunno. Whatever. Now, as someone who has written at least a little bit of IP, I take exception to that — while also recognizing that the person wasn’t likely trying to make a problematic point, and was not expecting...

Aug 2020

Wanderers Nominated For A Dragon Award

AHOY THERE. My computer is still gently melting in the corner of my office, and so a new computer has been summoned from the ether, but that’ll take a week or two. But in the meantime I swiped my wife’s laptop (shh don’t tell her) to update the blog with the news that Wanderers has been nominated for a Dragon Award. And that, alongside a pretty cracking...

Aug 2020

Ferrett Steinmetz: A Messy, Incomprehensible, And Unfathomable Endeavor

Let’s be clear: A Messy, Incomprehensible, And Unfathomable Endeavor, would be a very good book title. Also extra points if it’s the title to a book about 2020. BUT I DIGRESS. And now, a guest post from Ferrett Steinmetz that is about code, and stories, and more than that, too. Enjoy! *** We all know the internet is a burbling cesspool of questionable...

Aug 2020