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Science fiction stories typically arise from a novum, a scientifically plausible concept that is a “reality” in the tale. The novum might be an mechanical device like robot servants, artificial intelligence, or faster-than-light spacecraft; it also can be a hypothetical idea such as “The Earth is a scientific experiment run by aliens to determine the meaning of…

“What is needed is, in the end, simply this: solitude, great inner solitude. Going into yourself and meeting no one for hours on end–that is what you must be able to attain.” – Rainer Maria Rilke “Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed.”…

Writers who misuse these two words should modify their writing. Adopt is to make one’s own, such as taking on the responsibility of a minor a child or integrating an idea into your belief system. For example, The city council plans to adopt strict restrictions on gentlemen’s clubs to discourage them from moving into town. Adapt means to adjust…

Good stories center on the clashing of characters’ goals and motivations. Sometimes a character’s goals and motivations arise when someone who is innocent must prove so. Here are four writing prompts for stories that center on being wrongly accused. Man vs. natureFalsely accused by his closest friends, a man is abandoned or imprisoned in a hostile…

As developing your story, maintaining a sense of tension is vital. Without dramatic tension – a feeling of uncertainty in the reader about how the main character will solve (or even if he will resolve) the central problem – the story will be flat and vanilla. Creating tension involves controlling the story’s pace. Pace is the…

“There is no satisfactory explanation of style, no infallible guide to good writing, no assurance that a person who thinks clearly will be able to write clearly, no key that unlocks the door, no inflexible rules by which the young writer may steer his course. He will often find himself steering by stars that are disturbingly…

When pursuing your dream, focus on doing what you love not what brings in money. Many people who really want to be novelists take jobs as journalists and ad writers. That’s fine if they enjoy that kind of work but often it simply means deferring their dream. During today’s writing session, do not worry if your…

In paperbacks, drop caps are a nice touch giving your book a professional, sophisticated appearance. Unfortunately, those drop caps don’t translate well to ebooks, especially Kindle.  The main problem is that Kindle’s software doesn’t support text wrapping features, so the text won’t fit around larger font-sizes or pictures of capital letters. Instead, the drop cap either…

Science fiction stories typically arise from a novum, a scientifically plausible concept that is a “reality” in the tale. The novum might be an mechanical device like robot servants, artificial intelligence, or faster-than-light spacecraft; it also can be a hypothetical idea such as “The Earth is a scientific experiment run by aliens to determine the meaning of…

Opposites might attract, but you shouldn’t mix them up. Alas, that’s what occurs all too often with accept and except. Accept means to receive or believe, as in Residents of New York City accept the fact that often they will meet people who do not fluently speak English. Except means to exclude, as with Residents of Los Angeles would snarkily say Southern…