Even writers of epic fantasy stories need to be grounded in a good understanding of the effects of the three laws of thermodynamics. In Back to the Future 3, Marty McFly finds himself trapped in the Wild West during the … Continue reading
Even if you are writing speculative fiction that defies the laws of physics, you must give yourself boundaries. Otherwise, you will destroy your story. When I was growing up, I had a few favorite movies that I watched over and … Continue reading
My second novel, The Elysian Chronicles: Out of the Shadows, took much more work than A Prophecy Forgotten. Out of the Shadows is the complex, middle-of-a-trilogy book with several characters experiencing the peak of their development. I created character charts … Continue reading
If you want to make your make-believe elements feel believable, they have to work correctly and logically within the world you have created. For the past few weeks, I’ve been writing a series of posts about writing speculative fiction, … Continue reading
Character reactions to and use of your make-believe elements can make or break your reader’s suspension of disbelief. I’m a huge Yankees fan. During baseball season—especially the final few weeks and the playoffs—I do whatever it takes to keep track … Continue reading
Everything we experience will face the forces of failure, breakage, and decay. Your make-believe elements should be the same. Their imperfections can make them feel real and create the suspension of disbelief in the reader. For the past few weeks, … Continue reading
Sensory details can make the unbelievable elements in your story feel real. The trick is making sure you, as the author, know how your make-believe elements feel to begin with. In other words, sometimes this (below) is a necessary part … Continue reading
