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"Is perfectionism okay?"
— Asked on Quora (Perfectionism)
Sure! But only if you do it exactly right.
— Leonard
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Useless Answers to Real Questions #8
Image by Elm Ben on ScopioFantasy Fiction Doesn't Need Gatekeepers
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The first full-length novel I ever read was The Hobbit, followed soon after by the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The books became a formative part of my childhood, even if I did give up on trying to read the Silmarillion.
As something of a Tolkien fan, it hasn't es…
Useless Answers to Real Questions #7
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"Feeling humble. Just received a request from a gentleman in Pennsylvania, asking for an autograph to be sent. (I'm UK) Anybody else experienced similar?"
— Asked on Facebook (AmWritingFantasy)
Yes, I was a gentleman in Pennsylvania once—but…
Useless Answers to Real Questions #6
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"Why did Shakespeare give so many of his characters names that do not suit their nationality or timeframe? E.g., Juliet is more French than Italian."
— Asked on Quora (Shakespeare Plays, William Shakespeare, English Literature, Literature)
…
In Search of Epic Fantasy Horror
Composite photo by Giacomo. Original skulls by Ville Hasala on Pixabay. Original butterflies by Igor Levchenko on Pixabay
So here's something that feels kind of weird.
I grew up thinking I didn't like horror stories because, but it turns out that was because during most of my childhood, "horror" w…
Useless Answers to Real Questions #5
Photo by Jorge Antonio Flores Delgado
What will you personally lose if the US enacts universal health care?"
— Asked on Quora (Universal Healthcare, Healthcare Policy, Health Insurance, The United States of America)
My car keys.
Not that I expect …
Useless Answers to Real Questions #4
Photo by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay
"What is more important- truth or fact, and why?"
— Asked by Anat Eliraz
Who, where, when, how? They all fade into insignificance unless propped up by a good, solid, "What?"—preferably with at least two or three exclamation marks.
I c…
Useless Answers to Real Questions #3
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"What do you think are the 5 darkest series in all grimdark?"
— Asked on Facebook (Fantasy-Faction - Fantasy and Science Fiction Book Discussion)
In no particular order:
• ABC World News Tonight
• CBS Evening News
• NBC Nightly News…
Useless Answers to Real Questions #2
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"A friend of mine is looking for a book. No title or author name. Here's the description: two brothers (grown men), one a little slow-witted, both enjoy jigsaw puzzle, slow one has the ability to teleport. They are being chased/hunted, possibly by the govern…
Useless Answers to Real Questions #1
Illustration by Pablo Nidam on Scopio
"What makes a villain three-dimensional?"
— Asked on Quora (Supervillains, Fiction Writing, Villains, Heroes, Fiction, Comics (narrative art), Fictional Characters)
It's the special glasses.
— Leonard
Useless Answers to Real Questions
"Do you have a super power and how do people react to it?"
— Asked on Quora (Super Power (ability), Superpowers (special powers), Human Behavior, Survey Question)
Photo by Brandon Basara on ScopioWell, since you asked, yes: I do indeed have a super power. I was gifted with th…
Yes, Dark Fantasy Can Go Too Dark
Photo by Vlada Teaca on ScopioTime for a visit to Ye Auld Social Media Mailbag.
Q: "Have you ever read dark fantasy so dark that you don't like it? Why?"
If you're looking for a broad psychological reason: why do amusement parks build roller-coasters? I mean, all those curves and hills and loop…
There and Back Again: An Author's Holiday
We took the long way home from our 4th-of-July weekend at InConJunction--handling things we'd been putting off until we'd reached full vaccination status--but we're finally back to relieve our house-sitter, and we had a great time.
Because we launched our first book in October of 2020, InConJunctio…
The Books We Love to Hate--or Something
So I've noticed a thing since I started joining reading groups: Even the most beloved books have a lot people who hate them passionately.
When someone comes out and declares a book I consider sociopathic rubbish to be a masterpiece, it's hard not to think of it as a personal attack.
When someone…
Relax and Enjoy That Star Wars Sequel -- Your Childhood Is Safe
Photo by
Marie Dashkova on ScopioEvery time a new sequel for a beloved franchise hits the theaters a new wave of angry hysteria hits the Interwebs. The same things happens when the film adaptation of a beloved set of books arrives. No matter how it turns out, someone somewhere is going to be…
There's Goodly Trade in Unicorns
Outside the Asylum
Once upon a time, the greatest and most advanced super-power in the world built a mighty wall and set up strict laws to keep out uncivilized foreigners who threatened its way of life.
Outside the wall, shut off from becoming part of the super-power's shining dream, the rest of the world busied it…
Pawn or Protagonist? (Part 2)
Reconciling the Dual Nature of Player Characters
The 1980's was one long journey down the road from pawn toward protagonist for the player characters in RPGs. The novelty of controlling a pawn as he crawled through mazes, battling monsters and collecting loot, was wearing off. Jaded players wante…
Pawn or Protagonist? (Part 1)
Reconciling the Dual Nature of Player Characters
Nameless, faceless, identical -- pawns exist to be sacrificed on the chess board. Growing emotionally attached to your playing pieces, struggling to keep them instead of staying focused on which ones to give up in order to move yourself close…
The Rules of Narrative: Every PC Comes to the Table Armed with Chekhov's Gun
"If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there." -- Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
Much ink, both virtual and real, has been spilled on the subject of how important it is for a GM, in his limitless power,…
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