A Darker Shade of Magic is an extraordinarily fun book. V.E. Schwab crafts an exceedingly enjoyable, vivid world whose sheer concept feels pulled from the wishes of my younger, Victorian-lit-and-anime-loving-self.…
Alice Munro’s Lives of Girls and Women gives us an amazing chance to discuss narrative distance, pacing, and authorial intent in writing. This is, in part, because it didn’t really…
Normally, I use this blog to discuss books, games, and writing. But, since the pandemic started, I’ve been fielding a lot of questions from friends who know I work as…
Any time I pick up a book by Neil Gaiman, I know I’m going to get something good. His prose sings, his stories are creative and magical, and his characters…
Four weeks ago, I posted an article about getting started in a new art. And, for my last post, I continued the theme by teaching you how to build the…
A couple weeks ago, I posted an article about getting started in the arts. It was a “call to action,” a rallying cry for people who might be procrastinating, or…
I’m putting this comment up here, so that if you come away from this article with only one thing, it’s this: if there’s any art or project you’ve wanted to…
It’s almost the New Year, so what better way to start 2020 than picking up a new hobby? How about game writing? Hold up, don’t leave the page! It’s easier…
Well-written villains have a magic that makes a story pop. Despite this, some writers have trouble getting into their villains' heads, and many readers and viewers fail to fully understand…
What Makes a Good Villain? (Part 2 Available Here) Nothing makes a work of fiction stand out like a memorable, well-written villain. The great ones can be the highlight of…