Nonfiction Archive

Interviews
General Writing Advice
Grammar and Proofreading
Character Creation and Story Development
Research
Writing Erotica
Submissions and Marketing
Opinion

INTERVIEWS

Farewell Summer: An Interview with Ray Bradbury by Mike McCarty
       Ray Bradbury is perhaps the greatest living master of science fiction, with hundreds of short stories in print; his novels, including Something Wicked This Way Comes and Fahrenheit 451 are taught in classrooms around the world. In this interview, the creater of The Martian Chronicles talks about his hopes for manned NASA missions, his reasons for writing, and his work with Ray Harryhausen, Katherine Hepburn, and John Huston.

The Runner Who Will Never Die: An Interview with William F. Nolan (Part One) by Michael McCarty and Connie Corcoran Wilson
      William F. Nolan, author of science fiction classic Logan's Run, is one of the most prolific writers in a field of prolific writers. In this interview, he talks about his early short stories, his friendship with Ray Bradbury, and his many collaborations with Dan Curtis - as well as his training as an artist and illustrator, biographies of mystery writers Dashiell Hammett and Max Broad, and brief career as a sports car racer.
Part One
Part Two

The Man Who Sees Tomorrow: An Interview with Grand Master Frederik Pohl by Michael McCarty and Connie Corcoran Wilson
      Frederik Pohl has been writing science fiction for longer than most of us have been alive; he's published over a hundred books and many more short stories, and edited magazines like Galaxy, If, and Worlds of Tomorrow - winning three Hugos and multiple Nebulas in the process. In this interview, he talks about China, science fiction fans, bad movies, and his new short story collection.

Creeping Inside the Father of All Modern Action Novels: An Interview with David Morrell by Michael McCarty and Connie Corcoran Wilson
      David Morrell, former literature professor and creator of John Rambo in First Blood, joins RE to talk about Creepers, his new novel about urban spelunking; his time on a Mennonite farm; and why yellow alert is a useful thing.

Someplace to Be Flying: An Interview with Charles De Lint by Michael McCarty
      Charles De Lint is one of the biggest names in contemporary fantasy. In this interview with Michael McCarty, he discusses his Newford chronicles, his work with illustrator Charles Vess, his friendship with author Dean Koontz, his book reviews for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, and alternative approaches to fantasy.

Interview with Michael A. Burstein by Sharon Dodge
      Six-time Hugo Award nominee Michael A. Burstein gives an exclusive RE interview and discusses his writing style, his Jewish perspective on science fiction, and why he should always listen to his wife.

GENERAL WRITING ADVICE

Writing Visual Dialect in Fiction by Tony Burton
      Standardized spelling is the magic trick that lets readers and authors know they share a vocabulary. But let's face it - different people pronounce words differently, and a fieldworker from Cornwall is unlikely to use American collegiate English. What can authors do to make words on the page sound the way they do in the air, without alienating readers? Tony Burton, author of "Bluetick," opens up his writer's toolbox.

Verisimilitude and the Competent Con: Research for Fiction by Hanne Blank
      Where's the line between telling a tale and talking nonsense? Hanne Blank breaks down the process of research, the writing of story logic, and the blending of fact and fantasy.

Writing Negative Space by M. Thomas
      Writing is hard enough - and knowing when to stop writing can be even harder. M. Thomas takes the reader through scene cutting, sentence pruning, careful selection of dialogue, and the idea that what you leave out can be as important as what you put in.

Zen and the Art of Telling Versus Showing by James Lyn
      We've all heard the adage "show, don't tell." But why not? What makes showing more important - and when is telling the better choice?

Beyond the Looking Glass: How to Write Meaningful Description by Judith Tarr
      How much description is too much? Novelist Judith Tarr explains how an author can tell the difference between description that moves the story along, and description that stops it cold.

Writing Realistic Dialogue by AJ Grant
      Many stories are made or broken by their dialogue. Realistic dialogue is sloppy, informal, and often uninformative - the opposite of the way we are taught to write.

He Said; She Said by Dr. Nathan Dodge
      What makes a writer effective in writing fictional dialogue? Why is it that some authors can make a conversation come alive while others cannot seem to avoid a stilted, unrealistic cast to every exchange of characters?

Writer's Block by Moira Russell
      The myths that surround writer's block can prevent a writer from moving past it. Find out more about common hang ups and how to get around them.

GRAMMAR AND PROOFREADING

Usage: The Nice and Exacting Practice of Using the Correct Words Correctly by Jennie Worden
      Have you ever wanted to say "fairly unique" - or wanted to throttle someone who does? Usage has sparked some of the fiercest debates in writing, and for good reason; as writers, we need words to mean what we think they mean. Grammarian Jennie Worden explains how to research controversial constructions.

Getting Down The Details by Sharon Dodge
      Apostrophes unnerve you? Homophones concern you? Try this easy, informal guide to correcting basic grammar mistakes even good writers make.

Common Grammar Problems for Non-Native English Speakers by Janine M. Lodato
      An ESL teacher with more than 20 years experience provides a list of the most common grammar mistakes for non-native English speakers, and concise explanations of how to fix them.

How to Edit a Story in a Way That is Helpful to the Author by Romie Stott
      Sometimes, even the best writers are bad editors. This article will tell you how to provide useful criticisms without being tyrannical; what authors should expect from editors (and vice versa); and what common story problems most authors miss but you need to catch.

CHARACTER CREATION AND STORY DEVELOPMENT

Characters on the Couch: Depression by AJ Grant
      Wars, gunfights, predatory monsters, alien invasions, displaced populations, doomed kingdoms - genre fiction's strong themes lend themselves to strong emotion. But how do you keep characters' depression realistic, nuanced, and above all, readable? Staff Writer AJ Grant continues her series of psychology primers for writers.

Characters on the Couch: An Introduction to Psychology by AJ Grant
      Are your characters depressed? Phobic? Hallucinating? As authors, we know we should understand our characters as well as possible, but the brain is a complicated organ, and psychology can be a forbiddingly complicated science. Staff writer AJ Grant tells you what you need to know in a new series about mental illnesses that commonly appear in genre fiction.

Utilizing the Unexpected by Elizabeth Bear
      Just because most speculative fiction books star young white men doesn't mean yours has to. Campbell Award-winner Elizabeth Bear invites you to walk on the wild side and reap the benefits of characters who are none of the above.

The Politics of Dancing by Elizabeth Bear
      Politics aren't only a factor in court; they're a part of everyday family and social life. Yet most authors find intrigue daunting and overwhelming. Elizabeth Bear explains in simple unintimedating language how to write intrigue that happens anywhere - at court, in the military, or at an average high school.

Aliens at the Office Christmas Party: How to Write Subtle Discrimination by Romie Stott
      Most genre fiction deals with a collision of cultures: humans and aliens, dwarves and elves, vampires and werewolves, cowboys and Indians. How do you write a relationship that's neither open warfare nor perfect symbiosis, but something in between?

Still Seeking Chloe and Olivia: How to Write Strong Female Characters by Sarah Monette
      Decades after feminism became mainstream, the most common female character is still the girlfriend in peril. Why does this bias exist, and what can writers do to overcome it? If you don't believe there is still a problem with how women are portrayed in genre fiction, this article will open your eyes.

Outside the Box: Bringing Life to Your Story's Location by James Lyn
      Location is often relegated to an afterthought, particularly in short fiction, where every word counts. But a thorough understanding of a story's landscape can provide a great deal more than imagery, from mood to motivation - not to mention simply keeping the reader informed of exactly who and what is where. Learn how to develop a location as thoroughly as any character.

Making Neologisms Work in Speculative Literature by Ekaterina Sedia
      Speculative fiction authors are often faced with the daunting task of creating new names for things that have never existed before. How can you know what will work and what won't? Author and scientist E. Sedia discusses language development, human perception of sound, and scientific naming conventions.

Villians with Internal Codes by Romie Stott
      Not all villains are inconsistent, moustache-twirling, black-cape-wearing psychopaths. This article explains how to write believable, motivated villains that are as well-developed as your heroes.

World Building by Romie Stott
      Authors of speculative fiction consistently set their stories in worlds which have never existed. This article will help inexperienced authors understand the sorts of questions that are raised by changes in technology, history, religion, magic, and other aspects of society, and will serve as a checklist or brainstorming tool for more experienced world builders.

Achieving Freshness in Fantasy by Elizabeth Bear
      Elizabeth Bear, author of Hammered, discusses the problem of fantasy "clones" and how to replace them with inventive and individual ideas which nevertheless remain faithful to the genre. In this humorous but incisive article, she explains how to avoid cliché and create a truly memorable new work.

Saving Mary Sue by James Lyn
      Every author puts a part of him- or herself into a story, and every hero possesses abilities which are somehow extraordinary. How much is too much?

RESEARCH

Is the Matrix Really Green and Black? A Writer's Intro to Hacker Culture by Ciro Faienza
      Cell phones and the Internet are such common features of our daily lives that it's difficult to write science fiction without including a measure of cyperpunk. But our conception of hackers is founded more on film noir than the reality of phreaking and 2600 meets. This article takes you behind the computer screen with an overview of hacker culture, lifestyle, and attitude. It's not what you might think.

Superluminal by Paul Lucas
      The main barrier to interstellar travel is the vast distance from one star to the next, and the universal limit known as lightspeed. This hasn't stopped science fiction authors from imagining ways to speed up the process, and here Paul Lucas takes us through the main theories behind faster-than-light travel, their origins, and their scientific underpinnings.

You Are When You Eat by Romie Stott
      People were eating almonds as early as 10,000 BC. Ice cream came before lemons. Pickled limes were a fad in 1869. What your characters eat says volumes about their social class, their lifestyle, and their country's alliances. Get the scoop on eating habits throughout the ages.

How Not to Be Turned Into a Frog by AJ Grant
      Witchcraft isn't just the province of cauldron-stirring hags; it's also an increasingly mainstream religion. Learn how to add a little reality to your urban fantasy as staff writer AJ Grant walks you through the basics of modern-day Wicca and Neo-Paganism.

Bustin' Caps, Bashing Heads, and Bloody Knives: Writing Realistic Violence by Romie Stott
      Most of us aren't willing to argue for the last piece of pie, much less spend our days brawling on street corners; to most of us, fighting is an abstraction. Superhero movies and martial arts flicks are of little help with their unbreakable characters and superhuman stunts. How, then, to accurately write fight scenes? Romie Stott goes beyond the question of weapons into the adrenal response, perceptions of fights, and human fragility in this detailed article.

They Stake Dead Guys, Don't They? by AJ Grant
      Vampire myths existed all the way back in ancient Egypt, and before. But the modern vampire is very different from his forebears. AJ Grant explains when and why audience expectations changed, and how to write a vampire that will satisfy today's reader.

The Zetar Hypothesis by David Bartell
      In space, no one can hear you breathe. Scuba divemaster David Bartell explains how humans and diseases respond to unusual nitrogen and oxygen pressures, with a special focus on the medical applications of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO).

English for Time Travelers, part one: The Past by Evelyn Browne
      When you travel through time, more than the clothes change. Evelyn Browne takes us on a whirlwind tour of Old English, Middle English, and Modern English - what to look out for, how to research, and ways to make archaisms comprehensible to the modern reader.

English for Time Travellers, part two: The Future by Evelyn Browne
      In the second part of her essay on linguistic change through time, Evelyn Browne focuses on the unkowns of the future. Find out the difference between slang, argot, pidgin, and creole; how not only new words, but new forms of grammar are coined; and how to make sure you stay comprehensible (and entertaining) to your readers.

Chores, Minerals, and Phalanxes: Adding Historical Flavor to Your Fiction by Xina Marie Uhl
      Even fantasy needs a touch of reality. Take a tour through four entertaining history books that will add depth to your fantasy quests, westerns, and adventure stories.

WRITING EROTICA

When a Man Loves Another Man by AJ Grant
      Male/male erotica is a healthy and growing market among both gay men and straight women. AJ Grant tells you the basic mechanics of gay sex, how to choose the right vocabulary for your market, and what tends to appeal to different audiences. (Warning: This article may not be appropriate for younger readers.)

How to Write Sex by James Lyn
      Sex can be intimidating, even for experienced erotica writers trying something new. Find out the best methods of research - and how to figure out what kind of scene you really want to write.

Chains of Words: Writing Sadomasochism by Meredith Schwartz
      Everyone's a little kinky. Find out how to write for and about BDSMers even if you've never experienced the culture yourself.

Writing Erotica by Mathilde Madden
      Thinking about becoming a professional erotica writer? Novelist Mathilde Madden explains the ups and downs of being an erotica author and offers tips for writers new to the genre.

SUBMISSIONS AND MARKETING

How to Sell a Story by staff
      Sure, we've talked about the the finer points of craft; we've even let you into the secret slush monkey world, where our slush reader told you what merits a quick rejection at RE (and other places). But what about what actually sells a story? What do publishers (or at least this publisher) really want to see? The inside scoop from the RE staff.

Confessions of a Slush Monkey
      What do slush readers really love - and really hate? And how do you get past them into the hands of an editor? RE's own slush reader (or slush monkey, as the reader prefers) gives the inside scoop on a slush reader's process.

Goodbye, Gentle Reader by Karl El-Koura
      A long time ago in our own fuzzy memories, some of us felt we owed the author or his works some loyalty - whether it was to Sweet Valley High novels or Asimov himself. But the gentle reader once expected (if indeed he ever existed) is long gone - and here, El-Koura offers ways to survive the tough audience that's in store for your fiction.

Five Reasons Not to Self Publish by Janni Lee Simner
      Self publishing can be an alluring option for frustrated or beginning authors. But publishing is about more than getting your name in print: it's about getting your story read. Find out about the advantages of established publishers, and why you should hold out for one.

Promoting Your Work and Yourself by Steven Manchester
      Getting a book published is only half the battle - now you have to convince people to read it. Novelist Steven Manchester provides a checklist of steps you can take to promote yourself and your work, whether it's self-published or backed by a major imprint.

The Rewards of Rejection by Shaunna Privatsky
      Around this time of year, our New Year's resolutions to "get published" are challenged by the first wave of rejection notices. But it doesn't have to be bad news. A companion piece to "Why Do You Think They Call It "Submission"?"

Why Do You Think They Call It "Submission"? by Diana J. Wynne
      A personal story from the front lines of the struggle for publication. If you live in dread of photocopied rejection notices, you are not alone. A companion piece to "The Rewards of Rejection."

Letter from the Editors: On Being a Better Author (and Submitting Well) by Sharon Dodge and Romie Stott
      The editors of Reflection’s Edge receive hundreds of fiction submissions a month; most are rejected for the same few reasons. This article gives you the inside scoop on what they are and how to correct them.

OPINION

Why Review Books?: My Sort-of Manifesto by Mathilde Madden
       Upon joining RE as a staff reviewer, Mathilde Madden had one request: let her introduce herself to the readers. Being generally accomodating people (and delighted to read almost anything she writes), we said "sure - just say something nice about us, and don't try to convince anyone to join a cult." We're not so sure she managed the second one; her passion for books is kind of infectious.

A Cliché by Any Other Name by Bruce Golden
      Are clichés all wet, or do they leave you high and dry? Can they be short and sweet, but in it for the long haul? Science fiction author Bruce Golden gives us a tour through Clichéland in this April Fool's special.

Doing Tolkien Wrong: Why Fantasy Shouldn't Follow in Tolkien's Footsteps by Sarah Monette
      Tolkien is the gold standard of fantasy fiction, if not its basis, as mile-long lists of paperbacks and whole gaming industries can attest. But at what point does this imitation cease to help the writer and the audience - or does it ever help at all?

Letter from the Editors: Why Genre Fiction? by Romie Stott
      The editors of Reflection's Edge have been asked both why they champion genre fiction and why they chose to represent so many genres that are not traditionally thought to have an overlapping fan base. This is an attempt to answer those questions.

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