blog:book_reviews:fantasy:start
Sitemap
This is a sitemap over all available pages ordered by namespaces.
-
-
- Description or Teaser?plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigDescription or Teaser?
When you write the blurb that goes on the back of the book, should you write a description or a teaser? This article explores that question, explaining why each of them work and what their effects are, and why sometimes one is a better choice than the other. - Oh, The Facts!plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigOh, The Facts!
[Only the facts, ma'am]There was a litany that writers used to be told, but is rarely heard these days. If you've been a writer for more than ten years you will probably recall it: “Stick to the facts!”. Does that mean your story ends up a dry, soulless, sequential list of equally dry, soulless facts? Of course not. - Self-Publishing Trapsplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigSelf-Publishing Traps
Sometimes it's a while before I post a new book review. Usually this is because I've read some self-published novels that I don't want to review. When I post a review, I'm telling readers about a book I'd recommend. This is good for readers, and it's good for the authors who get the recommendation. I'm not out to harm someone's writing career - which can always be turned around in the future - and I'm certainly not the sort of pompous umm, donkey, that simply lets my mouth… - Smart but Dumb Aliensplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigSmart but Dumb Aliens
We all know the problem, especially from video games and movies, where the super-smart aliens turn out to be really dumb. This is usually because the creator hasn't put much thought into it.
So, you're creating a super-intelligent alien or species or civilisation for your short story or novel or whatever. How do you avoid the pitfalls of dumbing them down? - Proper Paragraph Spacing and Indenting on Web Pagesplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigProper Paragraph Spacing and Indenting on Web Pages
This is a short article on how to setup the correct CSS in order to replicate the paragraph spacing and indenting displayed in a book on your web pages. It will also enlarge and embolden the first character in the scene. - Articles on Writingplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArticles on Writing
I'm not an expert on writing, and don't claim to be. Like most people I can get opinionated, but when I write an article about the art or craft of writing, I try to remain as objective as possible. To achieve this, my articles tend to offer things to think about, rather than saying - Story Structure (Hero's Journey)plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigStory Structure (Hero's Journey)
The Hero's Journey is an overlay for the 4-part story structure. See how they work in conjunction with the character arc.
----------
Click on this image to review it, then click it again to see it full size
Other Structures - The Climaxplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Climax
Whether you work out what happens at the end of your story before you start writing, or discover what happens when you write the climactic scene, understanding why the scene is so important to the protagonist's story is critical to getting it right. - The Prophecyplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Prophecy
[Myrddin]Prophecy is a common theme in fantasy, partly because it tugs on the strings that are entangled with mythos - somehow it just excites us - and partly because it is a huge convenience. Never underestimate the power of a single word. In all of writing, there are few words that are as powerful as - Voices in the Darkplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigVoices in the Dark
A scene that is all dialogue and no action creates the dreaded “voices in the dark”. Perhaps they're at a conference table, or standing around talking things through before making a decision that will propel the story into its next phase. - Animal Farm Part 2plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAnimal Farm Part 2
In an earlier article I explained why using a wiki farm could be productive for someone who is on the move or likes to preserve previous versions of documents, and also for someone like me who uses multiple operating systems.
It's worth noting too that collaborating becomes a lot easier using a wiki, and since the platform preserves old versions of each document, it provides a safety net too. That aside, I thought I'd share how this all works for the user. - Animal Farmplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAnimal Farm
As a writer, I love sitting at my computer and either writing my next novel, or working on the development phase - world-building, character creation, plot development etc. However, after 12 hours sitting at my desk I'm getting a bit uncomfortable and if I listen very carefully, I can hear the sofa's siren call
- Blogplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigBlog
This is my blog. It is an eclectic mix of book reviews by new and up-and-coming authors, articles, science news, random topic monologues and stuff about my software. Sometimes I talk about my fiction writing too.
Downloads
Aardvaark (articles with nowhere else to go)
- startplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigI'm a novelist and have an interest in space science and physics. I've been a programmer for more than 30 years and I like reviewing new and up-and-coming authors.
If you want me to review your novel, please look at my Rules on Reviewing page.
Please consider registering (see top of page) to help support this site. Your personal data isn't shared with anyone, but it makes me feel good. - topbarplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_big* Home * ISS * Mars Weather * Downloads * Orbital Calculator * Cookie Policy & GDPR * Book Reviews * Contact
blog/book_reviews/fantasy/start.txt · Last modified: 2019/11/30 13:57 by Phil Ide