Continuing the discussion of Heinlein’s Rules of Successful writing (First, Second and Third rules.) So, now you’ve written something, you’ve finished it, and you’ve stopped fiddling with it. This can […]
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Heinlein’s Third Rule
Continuing from the previous posts (Heinlein’s First and Second Rules), let’s move on to Heinlein’s Third– and to some, the most controversial– Rule to succeed at writing. RULE #3: YOU […]
Read moreHeinlein’s Second Rule
Continuing from the last post on the Heinlein rules writers need to follow for success, let’s move on to his second rule: RULE #2: YOU MUST FINISH WHAT YOU WRITE. […]
Read moreHeinlein’s First Rule
If you go to workshops– especially SF/F related workshops– or otherwise seek out Writing Advice, sooner or later you’re going to hear Heinlein’s Five Rules for getting published. The rules […]
Read moreWorldbuilding: Aliens and Environments
Now I’m working on Banshee, a space-opera novel that, on a fundamental level, is about putting a human being on a ship with a whole lot of different aliens and […]
Read moreFuture Worldbuilding: Choosing the Future
I’ve now switched gears, in earnest, with my “primary” writing project. I’ve written four books in Maradaine and the world around it (six if you also count the two trunked […]
Read morePerils of the Writer: Clarity and Transition
Earlier this week I was reading a piece with a very troubling section. Troubling in a technique and clarity way, not content. In the scene in question, two characters were […]
Read morePerils of the Writer: Writing Race in SF/F
A little story from some 20 years ago: My college roommate and I were watching Deep Space Nine, and in the episodes a small group of Bajorans were meeting with […]
Read morePerils of the Writer: Failure vs. Defeat
Last week I talked about failure, and how to find value in failing. I should point out that failure is not the same as defeat. Failing is when you get […]
Read morePerils of the Writer: Finding Value in the Faceplant of Failure
Failing is important. Not just failing, but the full-on, spectacular faceplant of FAIL. Because that kind of failure can only be managed by really trying something. Take, for example, the […]
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