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October 31, 2015

Recommended Reading: A Little Horror for Your Halloween

Having only recently taken an interest in horror, I don’t have a lot of personal experience with the genre. That’s why when I started research for Bloodletting, I asked friends and family what aspects they liked best and what books/movies were their favorites. In the process, I found out that several good friends of mine are big horror fans. These two...
Categories Research & Worldbuilding/Reviews & Recommended Reading Comments: 0
October 24, 2015

Schrödinger’s Setting

You’ve probably all heard of Schrödinger’s cat, a thought experiment that has become a widespread internet meme. To summarize, the cat is simultaneously considered alive and dead until someone can be bothered to open the box. Now, about Schrödinger’s setting. I’m sure you all know what the setting is. ALL: [In a monotone chorus] Where and when the story takes place. Technically,...
Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Research & Worldbuilding Comments: 2
September 23, 2015

Don’t Forget the Everyday

When you’re focused on the big picture of the plot, it’s easy to forget that the character has a normal life that’s been put aside for this adventure – little things that have to happen every day for life to go on. When the author ignores everyday life completely, however, the story gets a bit surreal and less believable. I...
Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Creative Process/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques/Research & Worldbuilding Comments: 0
September 9, 2015

Read, Read, And Read Some More!

One of the most common recommendations for aspiring authors is to read. Read as much as possible. And it’s good advice. You see, reading works like osmosis. You learn about plot techniques, writing methods, and character building (and more) without consciously thinking that you’re learning. You simply absorb it. And the more good writing you’re exposed to, the more good writing habits you...
Categories Creative Process/Research & Worldbuilding Comments: 0
August 10, 2015

Have Fun with Puns!

Wordplay often involves picking specific words or word combinations to create double meaning. It’s usually used to add humor, and a lot of it involves puns. Puns take homophones (words that sound alike but aren’t) and put the wrong one into the circumstances. If the sentence is talking about steak, for instance, the writer might use “stake” instead. These are also...
Categories Humor & Wordplay/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques/Research & Worldbuilding Comment: 1