Archive for February, 2006
The Uselessness of Genres
In the latest episode of his podcast, Tee Morris tells a story about how he got into an argument over which genre one of Tom Clancy’s books “is.” The main feature of the podcast is a half-hour rant on James Frey. I’ve already commented on Frey. Tee, however, goes on as though Frey is the [...]
Pulling Us Into Your World
The idea for this episode actually came from a question someone posed on a writer’s board. How do you write short descriptions that still give the full picture of the setting? This question of course was directed at writing literature. But the answer, the storytelling principle, carries into other media as well. Describing where your [...]
Spellbound by Nora Roberts (Review)
I recently read Spellbound by Nora Roberts. Having not read any of her work, I thought this novella would be a way to dip my toe in the pool without overcommitting. The book got high ratings at Amazon.com, but I thought it was overrated.
Info Dumps Suck
This can be counted another Stupid Story Mistake. Summer posted at the Kick Ass Mystic Ninjas about a discussion between her, Jack Mangan, and Mur Lafferty about info dumps, long descriptive passages in the middle of a story, also called core dumps, expository lumps, death to the reader. Mur should visit us at be the [...]
Guilty Pleasures
We all have our guilty pleasures. I’ll get mine out into the open now. Firstly, I like Star Trek.
An Example of Real-Story Power
A quick follow-up to The Power of Your Personal Story: Steve Pavlina last night posted on his polyphasic sleep experience. Some say it can’t be done. Surely, Steve has unique expiences and perspectives on the subject. Still, I get a kick when he talks about people who “tell me that what I’ve already done is [...]
How to Moralize Without Getting Preachy
I mentioned in my review of Peanut Butter and Tofu on Jewish Rye that the play moralizes without getting preachy. The way to accomplish this feat is pretty simple, actually.
Spotlight: Peanut Butter and Tofu on Jewish Rye (Review)
A review of the Icebox Radio Theater’s production of Peanut Butter & Tofu on Jewish Rye. By Andrew Librizzi. Adapted for radio by Jeffrey Adams. Sound Stages podcast, December 27, 2005 – January 17, 2005. Do you believe in miracles? In December 2001, Daniel Ekuchukwu, a pastor of a Nigerian church, was in a fatal [...]
Gilmore Girls Saved My Day 2
(In case you haven’t read it, here’s part 1.) The girls were actually very nice to me when I said to them, “Daddy’s sick today, so can you quietly do your homework and let me just sit and watch TV?” They were quiet, but they did not do their homework. Parents understand the problems in [...]