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NEW!  What would happen if somehow one-half of all of Earth's water suddenly *went away*?  A great speculative
discussion is located here.

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 Carol Orosco's horse-race wins laughs, places us in the race, and shows us the humor in a tough competitive occupation!

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Lenora Rose put together this wonderful little piece on how she goes about revising her work. I could see it as a charming little pocket book, maybe with an aqua-colored ribbon binding the spine.

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A writer must keep his or her sense of humor, else YOU may find YOURSELF in Jim C. Hines's Top Ten Writing-Related Neuroses!

This isn't an "idea," per se, but it's a terrific new web site for genre writers:

Sherry Ramsey is the publisher and she's got some great people helping her, and the site just looks & feels like "home" -- and is chock full 'o' great stuff for writers. Go there!

Generating a story idea out of a stapler???
 

TECHNICAL INFO

Ever wonder what would happen if a meteorite landed on your head?

Everything anyone could ever want to know about alcohol toxicity--and pregnant sheep...my knowledgeable friends at the Rumor Mill have been at it again.

Archery:   A vivid and info-packed discussion of warfare in the Middle Ages. Be glad you weren't there.

Maybe building a world? A solar system? Hoo, boy, do you have your work cut out for you! These Rumor Mill writers have done quite a bit of the homework for you.

Can anything move faster than the speed of light?
 

WRITING MECHANICS & BUSINESS
 

Them low-down ellipses got you down? Or maybe it's em-dashes that are ruining your appetite, causing you to snap at the kids, kick the dog, and tear out your hair? This discussion will give you all you need to know about using ellipses and em-dashes (and a few other things) plus a link to a cool English usage web site!

Hey--you don't have to be a SF writer to appreciate this--a detailed discussion (including quotes!) about that pesky little widget on the English Language machine concerning plural possessive case--or is it possessive plural case...?  WhichEVER case it is, you'll find this very enlightening!

Jim Van Pelt, up-and-coming Famous SF Author, and all-around nice guy, teaches the writing of science fiction to high school kids, the lucky little buggers. He's generously shared three teaching guides that he's developed for his students:

          - Short Story Peer Editing Guide
          - General Principles of Revision:
          - THE RUBRIC: Evaluation of a Science Fiction Short Story

Why read Science Fiction? Jim has some answers here.  Come to think of it, it's an awfully good list of reasons genre writers can stand TALL and be PROUD and feel INSPIRED!

An invaluable text in novel-writing and selling, a gift from a pro to new writers everywhere: Novel 101.

Charlie Vogel is a friend of mine, and a damn good murder mystery writer of the hard-boiled school. His eBooks have  humor, double-crosses, violence and dames and crooks--full of great characters! As a retired Navy veteran and retired police officer, he knows his Mean Streets Stuff. He wrote this piece on Characterization one afternoon when everybody in town was snowed in. I guess he didn't have any snitches to go lean on. Read it and then follow the link from there to his eBooks.

Naming characters: A nifty chart you set up yourself to create character names that will look and sound consistent and original. Or, you can use it as a game to give your enemies stupid names.

Copyright: Necessary information about copyright, in the US and elsewhere.

Public speaking engagement: Practical tips from experienced writers for surviving your first Reading.

Got Writer's Block? Desperate? Ready to try anything, even summoning the Unknown Powers?? Here's a special Exorcism Rite for poor scriveners bleeding ink through their brows.

  If you have any ideas for other materials you think would help writers, especially Speculative Fiction writers, email me and I'll check them out.

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