This is a tricky one. For one thing, people can’t even agree whether it’s a subgenre or its own genre. And once you reach some sort of consensus on that, getting people to try and agree on a definition –
Short Story Markets
So, I was talking to my friend Anne (of Sky Shark fame) last week about short stories and anthologies and how I thought I would try a few more, and she said, “Wow, you know way more about this than
Premise vs. Plot
People seem to get these two confused, so let’s clear the waters, shall we? Premise: the basic idea of the story Plot: what happens in a story They are not the same, though they are related. I’ve seen it said
Subgenre Study: Space Western
I can hear you now saying, “Kit, now you are just making up subgenres.” Am I? Am I? Possibly, but let’s face it. Science fiction and westerns go together like mint and chocolate. Peanut butter and jelly. Cream soda and
Submission Tracking and Why You Should Use It
You know how it feels. You write something, you edit it, you polish it, and finally – FINALLY – it feels like you can let it go, let it out into the world to find its way. Its horrible, dangerous
Announcing: Harry Potter Re-read
So I have seen Deathly Hallows Part 2 and lo! it was awesome. But, of course, with any great form of entertainment, everyone wants to talk about it, and it comes to pass that you realize that perhaps you don’t
Subgenre Study: Space Opera
This week on Subgenre Study we examine the science fiction subgenre of the space opera, a subgenre of adventure that tends to have more in common with most fantasy than other science fiction subgenres. (I managed to get the word
Pottermania
In case you’ve been living under a rock, the final Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2) hits theaters at midnight tomorrow. I (and Landsquid) are suitably excited. (Hey, at least it gets him out of
Editing: Why the Big Picture Must Come First
I admit, the first time I sat down with a completed manuscript to edit it, I was overwhelmed. I procrastinated for days. It was a sad sight to see. Editing is hard. You’ve got a first draft, a complete manuscript,
Subgenre Study: Paranormal
This one’s a bit controversial, friends. While I would put paranormal as a subgenre of fantasy, I’ve started to see publishers and agents list it separate, like it’s its own genre. Paranormal tends to involve things that are not quite