This Versus That and Then Versus Now

I recently took a close look at the question of when to use "this" and when to use "that" in fiction. A great deal of confusion surrounds this question, and I've been advised by numerous people that I'm doing it wrong. I respectfully disagree. We learn in grade school that "this" is nearby, and "that" is farther away (distance being…

Video Game Writing Tip #9

Be Cautious around Prepositional Phrases Not much will turn a reader or a player off faster than stilted or unrealistic dialogue. Unless you're going for a satire of Tolkien, it's better to have your character speak in a more natural cadence. It doesn't matter how "fantasy" your world is. Here's an example for you. BAD: Guard! I am in need…
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Wily Nathan Crowder Interviewed

Nathan Crowder has been affiliated with Wily Writers since its inception. His influence helped guide the group and the e-zine. He's such a talented writer, now turned editor and publisher, that I was honored to include his short story "Ink Calls to Ink" in the Night-Mantled: Best of Wily Writers anthology. I hope you enjoy this interview I did with…
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Confessions of a Wily Newb, Part 1, by Paris Crenshaw

Guest blogger: Paris Crenshaw I admit it. When it comes to professional writing, I’m still a newb. I’m probably the least prolific and most inexperienced member of the Wily Writers team, so when Angel asked me to contribute a blog entry for her site, I was hesitant. I didn’t think I had much to contribute. After some reflection, some serious…

Expanding Your Writing Career …

Some absolutely excellent advice from Matt Forbeck on his blog. How to Branch Out from Writing RPGs A friend of mine who writes roleplaying games (RPGs) asked if I had any advice for someone who wanted to branch out of that and into fiction or comics. Since I get similar questions from others, I thought I’d share my answer here.…

Review: “Forever” by Jack Ketchum

I like listening to audio books while driving to and from work. It helps pass the time and allows me to make some progress through my reading list. It also, sometimes, lets me hear a story in the author's own voice. This is the case with "Forever." This short story is recorded along with its companion "Father and Son" on…