Writer’s Craft #5 – Does it matter if it has been done before?

This week’s guest blogger is Theresa Crater (http://theresacrater.com/) , author of Under the Stone Paw and Beneath the Hallowed Hill (coming in April 2011), reporting on a panel she took part in. Theresa writes: Does it matter if it’s been done before? That was the name of a panel I had the pleasure of moderating……

Clarion Call #4: Revolting Pupils

This week’s writing prompt is short and sweet.  Give us a few words about “revolting pupils”… however you interpret the phrase. There are only two rules for Clarion Calls: If you choose to try the assignment, do not read the comments section before you post yours. This is a critique-free zone, and that includes critique……

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

Though not strictly related to speculative fiction, the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award is worth mentioning to our readers, as the deadline is approaching on February 6th.  Science fiction and fantasy (or any other genre) novels between 50,000 and 150,000 words are eligible, and there is no entry fee.  Entries are capped at 5,000 general fiction……

Spec Tech: The Poetry of Madness

Yesterday I met a young man so interesting but so disturbing that he has haunted my thoughts and it has occurred to me that he may be of interest to you who write on the darker side of fiction. I am an anthropologist, and among other pursuits (magic, spirituality) I study madness. Today I spent……

Five Things We Learned at Clarion, Part 2

Yesterday, I posted some of the lists generated when Jim Kelly asked former students about the five things we learned at Clarion.  There was some fantastic writing advice in there – so we got some more of the lists! As always, if you’ve written your own list and wouldn’t mind having it reposted here, leave……