Reader Question: Science Fiction Definition (and Other Rhyming Goodness)(Part One)

Kelsey, a friend from Facebook and Young Writers Online, recently asked me the following question: This might be a stupid question, but what exactly defines SciFi, or what are the characteristics? Most people think (like my pitiful self) of space-ships, but I’ve also heard 1984 and other such books being called SciFi. Firstly, I want […]

Reader Question: Dialogue Tags (Friend or Foe?)

Tsuki (a friend from Young Writers Online) recently asked me whether dialogue tags are good or bad, so I thought I would tackle that question here. The problem with dialogue tags is that everyone who has been professionally/traditionally published, and has been successful at it, has different opinions on how to properly use dialogue tags. […]

Question to Readers: Content Again

This question will be quick. I’ve received a few emails regarding promotional material and what not–obviously about books. Would you all be okay with a post here or there talking about books coming out, etc.? I don’t expect it to be a frequent thing, since I only have three or four bits of promotional material […]

Reader Question: Colon-oscopies (or How to Use the Colon and Its Cousin)

Tsuki over at Young Writers Online asked: How the hell do you use a colon or semi-colon correctly? This should be fairly easy to answer. Here goes: ColonsThe colon is primarily used to attach lists or related statements to an already completed sentence. Here’s an example: Billy wanted to buy three things while he was […]

Reader Question: Video Game Plots and Successful Fantasy Novels

(This question is yet another whose questioner I forgot to write down. Please, if you asked this, let me know in the comments so you can get credit. My apologies for not putting your name in the post as I was working on it.) The full question was: Has there ever been a fantasy book […]

Reader Question: Should Writers Have English Degrees?

(For some reason I did not write down the name of the person who asked this question, nor did I write down where it came from. So, if you asked this, please leave me a comment here letting me know so I can give you credit!) I think at one point people thought that they […]