Tag Archives: Quality in writing

Tips for Bringing your Setting to Life

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Rachelle Christensen

 David Farland often teaches writing workshops, and has trained a number of people who went on to become international bestselling authors—people like Brandon Sanderson in fantasy, Brandon Mull in middle-grade fiction, and Stephenie Meyer in young adult fiction.  He’s also … Continue reading →

Posted in Mysterious Doings, SF&F corner, The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Writing Compelling Characters

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Rachelle Christensen

This post is a blast from the past on my blog. I originally delved into this topic two years ago, here. Since I’m still doing revisions on my next novel, I’ve been looking at each character, examining them to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Mysterious Doings, The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Too Much Mystery: The Fine Line Between Intriguing and Annoying

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Rachelle Christensen

I’m happy to have a guest blogger this month–welcome Michael Young! Too Much Mystery: The Fine Line Between Intriguing and Annoying by Michael Young No matter what genre of story you are writing, you probably want to throw a little … Continue reading →

Posted in Action & Suspense, Mysterious Doings, The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

From The Writer’s Desk: Must Writers Suffer?

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Josh Allen

I’ll admit it. I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve lived thirty-seven fantastically charmed years. I’ll spare you the sunshine-laced details of my history, but I’ll sum it up this way: good parents, good friends, good spouse, good kids, good … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

The Writer’s Desk: To the Nameless Guy in the Steam Room

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Margaret Blair Young

So, Nameless Guy, you’ve written a 900 page book—which is not yet finished.  You want to know if I am acquainted with publishers at Little Brown, so maybe I could nudge them into reading your masterpiece.  Nope, I don’t know … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

The Writer’s Desk: Writing Epiphanies

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Jack Harrell

Novelist Charles Baxter’s book Burning Down the House: Essays on Fiction is a must-read for anyone interested in the art of fiction writing. One of the most evocative essays in the book is called “Against Epiphanies.” Though Baxter is critiquing … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

Agency and Storytelling

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Angela Hallstrom

I just finished reading well over 100 entries to Irreantum’s fiction and creative nonfiction contests, narrowing them down to a set of semifinalists over which our contest committee can wrangle.  Reading all those stories and essays can be a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

The Writer’s Desk: On perfection

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Eric R Samuelsen

In baseball, it’s possible for a pitcher to achieve perfection.  A perfect game is one in which no batters are allowed to reach base, either via error, walk, or basehit. Every single batter is retired: twenty seven up and twenty … Continue reading →

Posted in The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Consecrating Our Talents Etc.

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Margaret Blair Young

A little over a decade ago, I had met several of my goals as a writer. I had won awards and published books. Strangely, I found that publishing wasn’t that big of a deal. Neither was winning an award. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Storytelling and Community, The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Irreantum, Good Writing, and Telling the Truth

Posted on January 2, 2010 by Angela Hallstrom

By now, all Irreantum subscribers should have received their latest issue, and it’s my hope that the journal is sitting on your bedside table, or next to loveseat in your living room, or in your office atop your stack of … Continue reading →

Posted in Publishers Corner, The Writer's Desk | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments