Category Archives: comics

What Message the Boston Marathon Bombing Really Sends

Posted on April 16, 2013 by chrisryanwrites

I have been struggling with what to say to my junior and senior students about the Boston Marathon bombings. I hate that this is the “latest terror attack” – the phrase delivers the twin defeats of acknowledging we now have … Continue reading →

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On Writing: A Phone Call Writers Dream of

Posted on March 24, 2013 by chrisryanwrites

You can’t wait for it, will it, pay for it, or do it yourself, but every once in awhile, a blessing comes to writers. Something that re-energizes, that affirms beliefs, keeps the writing going. When it comes, embrace it, live … Continue reading →

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The Rule of 36

Posted on March 22, 2013 by chrisryanwrites

There was a time in my life when my deeply held beliefs and my passions were misread as anger or being “cranky.” That time was yesterday. In my continuing efforts to communicate ever-more clearly with the rest of the world, … Continue reading →

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Author’s Afternoon

Posted on January 13, 2013 by chrisryanwrites

Giving a first-ever public talk on your book is an experience not totally unlike being present at your child’s birth and getting asked to cut the chord. How do you know you won’t hurt the baby? Sure, they tell you … Continue reading →

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On Writing: Embracing Your Genre

Posted on October 21, 2012 by chrisryanwrites

A long, long time ago, in a galaxy right across the Hudson River, I took a screenwriting course that offered up sage cliches, formatting rules, and pacing maxims that collective attempted to pass themselves off as innovative screenwriting vision. Despite … Continue reading →

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On Writing: What to Do When You’re Overwhelmed

Posted on October 13, 2012 by chrisryanwrites

Morning comes in the middle of the night way too often for me these days, and I know why. I’m overwhelmed. This morning, my “To Do” list included grading 150 college app essays, 40 reaction papers, 100 timed essays, answer … Continue reading →

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On Writing: The Less He Writes, The More Elmore Leonard Teaches

Posted on September 16, 2012 by chrisryanwrites

Don’t let the blog headline fool you, Elmore Leonard writes all the time. He just doesn’t write anything “people tend to skip.” The result as been a career of tight, lively, fast-paced novels that have entertained for decades. Elmore Leonard … Continue reading →

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On Writing: Learning from The Big Boys – Stan Lee

Posted on August 31, 2012 by chrisryanwrites

I am starting a series of blogs recounting lessons I’ve learned from big time writers. Since the mega-blockbuster film “Marvel’s The Avengers” returns to theaters this weekend to end the summer like we began it, I am going to start … Continue reading →

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On Pop Culture: Who Warner Bros. Should Really Get to Direct Justice League

Posted on August 10, 2012 by chrisryanwrites

Warner Brothers came soooooooo close to solving their comic book movie credibility problem. And they still have a chance to get it right, with one phone call. This week Marvel announced Joss Whedon would be writing and directing Avengers II … Continue reading →

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On Writing: Why Smartphones Are A Writer’s New Best Friend

Posted on August 2, 2012 by chrisryanwrites

I used to plan out and gather ideas for novels and screenplays on index cards. Great system. One idea per card. The lined side was for the idea, be it bits of dialogue, character, setting, or whatever else came to … Continue reading →

Posted in comics, digital publishing, ebook publishing, fiction, film, independent publishing, pop culture, self-publishing, teaching, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments