In Hero Years… I’m Dead (The additional adventures)

In Hero Years… I’m Dead (The additional adventures)

I’ve been writing a lot of stories set in my In Hero Years… I’m Dead universe. They’re prequels to the novels and deal with a variety of characters early on in their careers. It’s been a challenge because IHY ends their careers, so I know the direction in which I have to pitch them, and […]

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Rick Loomis, In Memoriam

Rick Loomis In Memoriam Rick Loomis passed away last week. He was a man of passions, and one who had that rarest of combinations: the ability to learn and the ability to laugh at himself. He was sharp and insightful and capable of surprising you. I knew Rick for forty-two years. He was a friend […]

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Talion Challenge Update #3

Talion Challenge Update #3

First, for everyone who has been so patient for any update about the sequel to Talion: Revenant, thank you. I’ve talked to a lot of you at conventions, or via Twitter and other services. Your forbearance and interest have pushed me to to find a way to bring Talion: Nemesis to you. Though it has […]

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City of Terrors: A Solitaire Adventure

City of Terrors: A Solitaire Adventure

As I remember it… Way back in late December 1976, I started playing Tunnels & Trolls from Flying Buffalo, Inc.. I’d previously tried to play D&D, but I wasn’t acquainted with miniatures gaming, thus having a book that told me “a horse may move 2 inches,” made no sense whatsoever. T&T was the only alternative out […]

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For Your Reading (and Escapist) Pleasure…

For Your Reading (and Escapist) Pleasure…

Yesterday’s election, and the campaign leading up to it, generated a lot of stress. I offer this story as something I hope you’ll enjoy, and that might give you a moment or two free of the pressures of the ordeal we’ve all been through. Field Trip The pressure plate, as all pressure plates are wont […]

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My Resignation Letter to the GAMA Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE To the GAMA Board, It is my great pleasure to have been part of the gaming industry since 1972 when I first discovered it. In 1977 I sold my first article, in 1978 I sold my first game design and in 1979 began working for Flying Buffalo, Inc.. In 1985 I was […]

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I’m Teaching a NANOWRIMO Prep class

I’m Teaching a NANOWRIMO Prep class

This October, I’ll be teaching a NANOWRIMO Prep class for the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University. In the past I’ve offered similar classes (alone and in conjunction with Aaron Allston) to get writers all organized for National Novel Writing Month. The task of writing a 50,000 word novel inside […]

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Overwhelming Fiction!

Overwhelming Fiction!

Let me dust off the blog here. One of the reasons I’ve not been blogging with any regularity is that I’ve been heavily involved with the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University. I’m the director of the Science Fiction/Fantasy wing of the Center’s Your Novel Year program. This is an […]

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Why Puppies are sad, and always will be

Why Puppies are sad, and always will be

Let me state from the outset that I have zero interest in awards. While they are an honor when fairly awarded—and it would be fun to have that merit badge in my collection—the reality is that in the big game, Hugos, Nebulae and other awards really mean nothing to the life of a working writer. […]

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High Intensity Writing Workout No. 7

High Intensity Writing Workout No. 7

Up to this point, the High Intensity Writing Workouts have focused largely on characters and dialogue. Characters are the lifeblood of any story. We read for characters. If a writer can get them done correctly—making them believable—then the writer will have a career. What most writers don’t realize is that the worlds we create—no matter […]

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High Intensity Writing Workshop No. 6

High Intensity Writing Workshop No. 6

Despite the fact that this will be one of the shorter exercises, it’s one of the most important you can use to develop characters and their unique voices. Previously I’ve had you work on dialogue so you could avoid the “he said” tags which make dialogues choppy. By the end of this exercise you’ll understand […]

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Rogue One

Rogue One

It’s a bit of a shock, but also kind of fun, to find your Twitter feed blowing up because of a blockbuster announcement. Yesterday the news came out that the first Star Wars™ stand alone movie would be Rogue One. I can’t tell you the thrill that ran through me with the news. I don’t […]

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