Halloo, the Internet! Stonecoast's January residency is fast approaching, so I've spent most of this month in a mad scramble to get all the prep reading for workshops and presentations done in time. Which is my latest excuse for not updating much. Still, I did manage one on a recent observation:
 Multi-Perspective Books: Mostly Written By Guys? I'm finding a weirdly specific trend, in fantasy at least: Books by female authors tend to have only one POV (MAYBE two, if it's the love interest), whereas books by male authors are likely to have a handful or more. I'm hoping to look into this, so post a comment with your thoughts! |
And here's a collection of my favorite links from this month...
 "The Conversation We Never Have," by Ann Bauer (Beyond the Margins) Confessions of how this author can afford to write full-time -- and a pointed look at the fact that this vital part of all writers' lives is never openly discussed. "I'm not allowed to tab away until this post is done," by Marie Brennan (Science Fiction & Fantasy Novelists) On the trials -- and importance -- of staying on-task, particularly while writing.  "Reading Every Book," by Randall Munroe (xkcd: What If) Answering the immortal question: "At what point in human history were there too many (English) books to be able to read them all in one lifetime?" (Spoiler: The answer involves 400 Isaac Asimovs.) "Making Excuses for Science Fiction," by Kameron Hurley (Locus) An examination of the way we talk about genre writing, and the effect that has on potential readers. A powerful article for writers of all genres.  "In the Greenwood," by Mari Ness (Tor.com) This hauntingly gorgeous retelling of the Robin Hood story through the eyes of Maid Marian is sure to stick with you. Don't question me. Just read it. |
Finally, since we're going into 2014 in a matter of hours...
 "Visit to the World's Fair of 2014," by Isaac Asimov (The New York Times: Books) In honor of the 1964 World Fair, Isaac Asimov wrote a piece on what the world will be like 50 years later -- in 2014. A lot of it is SPOT ON. If you read nothing else of it, the last couple paragraphs: ...mankind will suffer badly from the disease of boredom, a disease spreading more widely each year and growing in intensity. This will have serious mental, emotional and sociological consequences, and I dare say that psychiatry will be far and away the most important medical specialty in 2014. The lucky few who can be involved in creative work of any sort will be the true elite of mankind, for they alone will do more than serve a machine. There's also a bunch on population growth, and on the disparity between the hyper-advanced technologies in privileged regions and the better-than-the-sixties-but-still-horrendously-behind technologies of marginalized regions, and that we won't have flown any manned missions to Mars yet but one will be in the works. Also, flying cars, which is less accurate but always cool. |
So, there's December, 2013! Here's hoping I'll get more into the blogging rhythms in the new year.
RSS Feed