As we close out 2022 I thought I would write a short blog on my writing journey this year. Both achievements and set-backs. And while there certainly have been a few of the latter, I will say I am quite proud of all I have done, even if it has not yet produced the desiredContinue reading "Year In Review 2022"
Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Rules of Writing
All as pertinent today as when he wrote them. Plus a couple of my own thoughts on each. Let me know yours! 1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted. I take this to mean give them a satisfying story.Continue reading "Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Rules of Writing"
Guest Post: Writing for the SFWA Blog
As I stated in my last post - you may have noticed I have been a little slower with blog posts here lately as I have been fortunate to write guest blog posts elsewhere and that has kept me busy. The second of these has just come out on the Science Fiction and Fantasy WritersContinue reading "Guest Post: Writing for the SFWA Blog"
Guest Post: Dan Koboldt’s Science in SciFi
So I have not posted a blog post here recently, but it is because I was fortunate enough to be invited to do guest blog posts a couple of places. The first of those to come out is a post on the Science of Skin in Fiction, which is a guest blog post on DanContinue reading "Guest Post: Dan Koboldt’s Science in SciFi"
Short Story or Novel: Smart Choices Help You Write What You Intended
At a recent writers workshop I was surprised to hear repeatedly the question, ‘How do you know how long a piece should be?” and almost as equally surprised to hear the answer “You just find out as you are writing.” Now, no doubt, the writers giving those answers were writers who are more experienced thanContinue reading "Short Story or Novel: Smart Choices Help You Write What You Intended"
The Justice of Kings
One liner: We follow Helena Sedanka, clerk to Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor's Justice as he investigates a noblewoman's murder and uncovers a political plot that goes much, much deeper. The Pros: The magic is sparse, but very well done. Combining legal considerations, and investigation and fantasy is original and truly refreshing The world feelsContinue reading "The Justice of Kings"
Twitter #PitchContests
So it is the evening of August 25th and I spent the day taking part in the Twitter pitch event #SFFPit. Many of you will know what this is, but for anyone that does not: it is a day where you get to tweet a 280-character summary of your novel as a ‘pitch’, once perContinue reading "Twitter #PitchContests"
Writer’s Block: My Top Ten Remedies
I don’t claim to know it all as far as writing, or writer's block, and I would love, if you have other ideas than below, if you share back via the comments. However, after over a hundred scientific articles, three novels, and a decent amount of flash fiction, I have suffered from my fair shareContinue reading "Writer’s Block: My Top Ten Remedies"
Making your first writer’s website: insight from the recently initiated
Having recently made my own writer's webpage ( gideonpsmith.com ) and having learned a lot from doing so, I thought I would write a blog post about my experience in case it is helpful to anyone else. For anyone not wanting to read the whole blog, I made a helpful summary table at the end,Continue reading "Making your first writer’s website: insight from the recently initiated"
The Bone Shard Daughter
One liner: The emperor's rule is failing, but his daughter Lin has not yet mastered bone shard magic, and will need to if she is to take her rightful place on the throne. The Pros: Awesome magic system dependent on harvesting people's energy by taking shards of their bonesImaginative world on a world of islandsMultipleContinue reading "The Bone Shard Daughter"
Gideon P. Smith 