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Discovery Writing vs Outlining: Is One Better?
Have you heard of pantsing? No, not the physical act of taking off your pants, but rather a writing technique known as “pantsing.” I and many other authors prefer to call it discovery writing. Discovery writing is a popular approach for some creative writers who prefer to let their imagination flow freely, without the constraints of an outline. This writing technique can be especially effective for certain types of writers, who thrive on the excitement of discovering their story as they go. But it often gets a bad rap as being the “wrong way” to write. I bring up that last point because outlining is pretty straightforward. It’s easy to…
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Speculative Fiction: An Exploration of a Literary Genre
Speculative fiction is a genre of fiction that explores and expands upon worlds beyond our reality. It is a genre that combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and sometimes horror to create an alternate reality that is believable, but not necessarily real. This genre has a rich history, with roots in myths and legends, and has become a staple of modern literature. At its core, speculative fiction asks the question, “What if?” It takes the familiar elements of our world and twists them in ways that challenge our perceptions of reality and challenge our understanding of the world around us. It can be a way to escape reality, but it…
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Low Fantasy: A Genre That Goes Beyond Magic and Dragons
Low fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that focuses on grounded, realistic stories set in a fictional world that often lacks the grandeur and spectacle of traditional high fantasy. Despite this, low fantasy can still offer rich, thought-provoking tales that challenge our perceptions of the world. The main characteristic that sets low fantasy apart from high fantasy is its minimal use of magic and mythical creatures. Instead, low fantasy is driven by human motivations, relationships, and the consequences of choices made by characters. The world itself is often a character in a low fantasy story, with a rich, detailed setting that is both believable and potentially fantastical. However, it is…
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Book Review: In the Shadows of Castles, by G.K. Holloway
It’s the 1060s, and William of Normandy is establishing a new and brutal regime in England, but there are those who would defy him. As Norman soldiers spread like a plague across the land, resistance builds, but will it be enough to topple William and restore the rightful king to his throne? The English have the courage to fight, but the Normans, already victorious at Hastings, now build castles seeking to secure their tenuous foothold in these lands. And what of the people caught up in these catastrophic events? Dispossessed but not defeated, their lives ripped apart, the English struggle for freedom from tyranny; amongst them, caught up in the…
