Category Archives: fiction

Let It Suck Series: What Would Your Character Do?

We’ve agreed to “let it suck” on first draft, yes? Just let it rip with the writing and get a draft completed. And we’ve been discussing ways to find and refine your work during rewrite.  Now let’s let the character … Continue reading

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Let It Suck Series: revisiting “Write Better With Character Profiles”

As part of the “Let It Suck” series of posts, I wanted to discuss how knowledge of your characters informs writing decisions, and this post seems crucial to include, so I am reprinting it as a companion to this week’s … Continue reading

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Let it suck series: Setting up setting

Elmore Leonard famously advised writers to “try to avoid the parts that readers skip”. This is a definite risk when it comes to describing where your characters are, so listen to the master when dealing with setting. I tend to … Continue reading

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Let It Suck Series: overwrite the scene, then pick up the scalpel

As we move beyond the blank screen and into our efforts as writers, we need to deal with scene work. The conventional wisdom is “enter the scene as late as possible and leave as soon as you can”, and I … Continue reading

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Let it suck revisited: the beginning of a series

Awhile back, I wrote the following blog, which basically advised people to push beyond fears about instant quality in writing and just “let it suck.“ I reprint it here as the beginning of a series of blog posts that focus on … Continue reading

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Creativity Worth Talking About

For those of you who have enjoyed my blog posts about writing and creativity, this new show may be perfect for you: https://youtu.be/HyNRNm6fx3s    </ Ryan is author of City of Woe, available on Kindle and in print. For more info, click here.<

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The Power of “What If”?

Writing is an optimistic enterprise. Even the most cynical writer, the one who believes everyone is corrupt and the world is doomed, if that person still writes, s/he proves hope is alive. If that person truly believes nothing matters, why … Continue reading

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Marvel’s Daredevil on Netflix Exceeds All Expectations But One

Yesterday, in one long and glorious binge, the goddess and I watched all of Marvel’s Daredevil Season One on Netflix. This was a wonderfully indulgent experience I thoroughly enjoyed and will never repeat. First, the show is almost perfect. The … Continue reading

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Does Disney Playset Reveal Surprise Character in Avengers: Age of Ultron?

While browsing stores with the goddess recently, I came across the item featured in photos below. Although I do not want to spread unfounded gossip or create wild rumors, the contents of what I found were intriguing enough to share. … Continue reading

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Staycation: Planning a Trip to the MCU Tomorrow

Clock’s ticking. Just a few more hours until this happens. I thought it might merit republishing a slightly updated post about the joy of binge watching….   Okay, yes, I am on vacation this week, and yes, that usually means I … Continue reading

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