Tag Archives: creativity

The middle of the year

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Brian Bixby

Tomorrow is July 1, 2014. Summer officially began with the equinox on June 21. Midsummer Night, June 23, I sometimes sit back with a good drink and read Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I have to admit I didn’t do it … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The writer’s happy lament; or, writer’s block as an aid to writing

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Brian Bixby

I have been suffering from writer’s block for a month. It’s not that I couldn’t write. I just couldn’t write anything that felt good. That, as it turns out, was a valuable warning sign. It told me I needed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Martha's Children, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Writing to offend

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Writers have an almost unlimited opportunity to offend their readers: sex, violence, race, religion, politics, profanity, gender, class, and so on. Americans in particular live in a society that officially encourages freedom of speech, and at the same time says … Continue reading →

Posted in Reading fiction, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The imaginative editor: Lessons in writing, part 4

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Every writer needs an editor. Writers need someone to read what they wrote to see if the audience will understand and appreciate the writing. Trusted readers who can offer incisive criticism serve much the same purpose. Get yourself an editor, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dragon Lady, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Chekhov’s gun control: Lessons in writing, part 3

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Brian Bixby

In discussing writing with some other bloggers, we have recently been mentioning “Chekhov’s gun.” This is a rule cited by Russian author Anton Chekhov that if you include a gun in a story (Chekhov referred to a play), someone ought … Continue reading →

Posted in Dragon Lady, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Stories as constellations: Lessons in writing, part 2

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Some people will tell you it’s characters that drive a story, others that it’s plot. A few will even claim it’s ideas. Truth is that it’s none of these. It’s connections. Your story is made up of how you connect … Continue reading →

Posted in Dragon Lady, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Panzers and plodders: Lessons in writing, part 1

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Brian Bixby

They’re the two types of writers. Didn’t know that? Neither did I. Found this out when I was at Arisia, the Boston sci-fi/fantasy convention in January. You see, my hearing, like James Thurber’s eyesight, sometimes plays tricks on me. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Chapter 23, the end of “The Dragon Lady of Stockbridge”

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Chapter 23, “‘ . . . but what we are becoming.’,” concludes The Dragon Lady of Stockbridge: A Tale of Magic in the Gilded Age. What has happened to Rebecca’s body? And what is Abigail going to do about it? It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Dragon Lady, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

After the convention, a prospective writer’s report

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Yours truly went to Boston’s four-day sci-fi/fantasy convention, Arisia, this weekend. I did it partly as a fan, but mostly as a prospective writer (i.e., someone who wants to actually make some money and get some recognition for writing). My … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Summer vacations on Winnisquam

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Brian Bixby

In The Dragon Lady of Stockbridge, and in a related blog post, I’ve written about how the wealthy of the Gilded Age erected “cottages” of up to one hundred rooms to spend part of their vacation time. It’s made me reflect … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Reading fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments