by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 9, 2014 | Blog
I usually keep the conversation light, focused on writing and games and horses and TV shows and movies. But the torture report which was published today (and keep in mind this is a mere 20% of the actual report a 500 page summation of a 6700 page report that is classified) is harrowing, horrific, stunning and a detailed look at how we lost our moral compass and our way after 9/11. I am sickened and furious. Torture was rejected at the very founding of our country by GeorgeWashington. When...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Dec 3, 2014 | About Writing
Most people who know me know that I’m a big proponent of the outline or the story break. I think it helps you meet deadlines and not fall into seductive dead ends that look good at first then you write a hundred pages and realize you’ve been dumped in a swamp. The argument against the outline is that it’s rigid, a straight jacket, confining. But it’s not. If you know the big scenes and the ultimate end of the book there is still plenty of room to move and breath and...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Nov 20, 2014 | About Writing
I’m closing in on the end of the first book in the space opera series — THE HIGH GROUND. I knew in a general way what the big action sequence was going to be, but I’m almost there, and it’s crunch time. A general sense wasn’t going to be good enough. I needed specific scenes. So I grabbed the cards, assigned a colored pen to my two POV characters, and another color for my antagonist, and settled onto the floor in front of the board and started tossing up...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Nov 20, 2014 | TV & Movies
Overall I’m really enjoying both ARROW and THE FLASH, but before I sing their praises I need to complain about a couple of things. THE FLASH is squicking me out over Barry’s romantic mooning over Iris. They were raised from childhood as siblings. The research indicates that normal humans don’t fall in love with their siblings, and this rule holds true even when they are unrelated by blood. Basically the studies found the close association creates sexual aversion. And over...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Nov 16, 2014 | TV & Movies
It a rather marathon session I finished watching the second season of ARROW last night. I still really like the show, in particular Stephen Amell — Oliver Queen, Willa Holland — Thea Queen, David Ramsey — John Diggle, and Emily Bett Rickards — Felicity. I also have a soft spot for John Barrowman — he’ll always be Captain Jack from Dr. Who and Torchwood and he makes a fun villain in ARROW. I really, really wish they had a lawyer on their writing staff...
