Category: fantasy
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Brainstorming for NaNoWriMo (or for any story you want to write)
Whether a writer is a planner or pantser, wither can engage in some minimal planning for NaNoWriMo. If he or she doesn’t want to think about it until twelve midnight on November first, nothing wrong with that. However, they may want to lay some groundwork for their 50,000 word story—nothing wrong with that either—as long…
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One Way to Get Ideas for Writing Stories
Potential spoilers: If you haven’t watched Love and Monsters and plan to, you should know the following post has some potential spoilers. Are you looking for an idea for writing your next short story or novel? Are you coming up with nada? Well, look out. The following is just one way to generate an idea…
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Friday’s Findings
I’ve been so busy, I haven’t done a Friday’s Findings in a while. Lately, I’ve come across some resources for writers I really like. If you are looking for a more streamlined Scrivener, you might want to take a look at NovelPad. It’s free, but it has an upgrade. Milanote and Inkarnate also have upgrades,…
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Book Reviews: Some Fun Fantasy and Science Fiction
Recently, I’ve had a chance to read some great novels in the genre of speculative fiction. I’ve already done a review for Dustborn earlier this year. I’ve been meaning to follow up with some more reports on what I read and recommend: The Blacktongue Thief By Christopher Buehlman Kinch Na Shannack needs to pay back…
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Book Review: Dustborn
Talk about stepping outside your comfort zone. Delta and her tribe live in a remote part of the Dead River. It’s a desolate, dusty and harsh place but the leaders of her people–who are dwindling in number–refuse to travel elsewhere. Through a series of events, Delta finds herself alone and in search of answers: answers…
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Friday’s Findings
Six to eight past midday. That is when I am writing. I don’t have the luxury of writing full time, so I need a schedule to motivate me to apply body to chair, fingers to keyboard. A person can get a lot done in two hours. Some writing advice: Story Structure: How The Act Three…
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MY FAVORITE SF&F SHOWS, PART 6
It’s been some time since I’ve reviewed some of my favorite science fiction and fantasy shows on my blog, and I’ve seen some good stuff lately. So here’s my take on WandaVision, Star Trek: Picard, and His Dark Materials (Season 2). Warning: There may be some minor spoilers in my reviews. And also, I’m going…
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Friday’s Findings: A Fiction writing Experiment in Layering
I’ve been experimenting with layering as a way to develop a scene. One aspect of layering I find helpful is how it can focus on the dialogue and action. I believe those two fiction elements are where a writer should begin when writing a scene draft. Here’s how I’ve been doing it: I make a…
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Book Reviews: Science Fiction And Fantasy I’ve Read So Far in 2021
A few things I’ve noticed in my reading so far in 2021: alternate realities, teams of mercenaries, sports in other realms and people with superpowers. I’ve also discovered I enjoy reading novellas which are books under 200 pages. Several of my reviews below are of short novels which I enjoyed reading in one afternoon. Or…
Andrew M. Friday 