by Melinda Snodgrass | Jun 8, 2014 | About Writing
I’ve discovered something about writing today. I’ve discovered what’s really hard. Especially when you are not in a contemporary setting, but instead creating a future world. If you’re writing a historical you can research and there are answers to tiny niggling questions. You don’t get to do that in your own future history. You have to make it up whole cloth, and damn it slows you down. I’m working on my space opera and the first book is set at the...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Jun 7, 2014 | About Writing
So, I ran across this pompous, annoying, infuriating, fug-headed article on Slate. The title alone should tell you all you need to know — against_ya_adults_should_be_embarrassed_to_read_children_s_books.html. Among her many complaints is that YA books give readers a “satisfying” ending — as if that is a bad thing! Happy, sad or somewhere in-between I think the failure to deliver a satisfying ending to “stick the landing” if you will is a near crime on the...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Jun 7, 2014 | General
And while we’re on the subject of good deeds — I hope folks remember that if you make a donation to a range of charities that are listed on my website under the title Doing Good I will send you a signed copy of any book of your choice. That includes Wild Card books signed by George as well as a lot of other writers, my Edge books, and the Phillipa Bornikova urban fantasy books.
by Melinda Snodgrass | Jun 7, 2014 | General
My dear friend George R.R. Martin is backing a little world changing action on behalf of the NM Wolf Sanctuary and the Food Depot here in northern NM. It’s like a kickstarter on a sight called Prizeo. If you make a donation you are entered for the grand prize — a trip to NM for you and a friend, a day with George, and a helicopter ride out to the sanctuary to meet the wolves. The site going great guns so if you want to do something for hungry wolves and hungry humans drop over...
by Melinda Snodgrass | Jun 2, 2014 | About Writing
So a new fight has erupted in science fiction over the fact there have only been 4 women given the Grand Master award by SFWA. One should keep in mind that there have only been 30 given thus far. You can find a list here Grand Masters. (Apologies for it being a Wiki entry, the entry over at the SFWA site is out of date.) In addition the recipient has to be alive to receive it and have had a major impact on the field. When this award was first instituted it was understandable that the...
