Storytelling is (sometimes literally) my bread and butter. I lean towards games with strong story emphasis. I often value story of spectacle in movies and television. I write stories in the hope they will be enjoyed by others. A question, however, has occurred to me: is it possible for a game or novel or film… Continue reading Too Much Story
Category: Writing
Let Your Characters Speak
“Because I say so.” How many times have we heard that phrase? Parents say it to children. Employers say it to their employees. Unfortunately, writers also say it to their characters. When a character does something that seems entirely unreasonable, or makes a sudden change to their behavior based on little more than impulse, or… Continue reading Let Your Characters Speak
From the Vault: Why I'll Never Grow Up
I am exhausted. Today’s been one of those days where time seems to stretch out like taffy in front of me, and while the amount seems small from one angle, it’s incredibly long from where I am right now. Tomorrow will be different, and better. But for now, here’s an entry from a few years… Continue reading From the Vault: Why I'll Never Grow Up
Dimensional Characters
Weeks after seeing it twice, I find myself still thinking about Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Not just because of how its events will change future Marvel movies and TV shows, but also because its writing is so rock-solid. I’ve examined it from multiple angles, like a tourist circling a free-standing work of art in… Continue reading Dimensional Characters
From the Vault: On The Fringes
The Friday 500 returns next week, when I’m not quite so wiped out. In the meantime, let’s talk again about character death in fiction! When I watch a good television program or film, one with a narrative that builds its characters and takes the plot in ways one might not expect, I feel the dichotomy… Continue reading From the Vault: On The Fringes
From the Vault: The Video Game Singularity
I’m on my way to Boston for PAX East this morning. While I make my way through several states on what are certain to be lovely roads, have a look at my thoughts on the lines between video game developers and video game players, and what might happen if they get blurred. I feel we… Continue reading From the Vault: The Video Game Singularity
500 Words on Chuck Wendig
Courtesy terribleminds If you don’t know who Chuck Wendig is by now… First of all, watch this. Second of all, what the hell is wrong with you? I’ve worshipped at the Altar of the Terriblemind more than once. It involves sacrifices of coffee, whiskey, tacos, and an outpouring of creative swears while dancing naked under… Continue reading 500 Words on Chuck Wendig
Do What You Gotta
It’s an unfortunate truth: we don’t all have the luxury of doing what we love all day, every day. Some do, and that’s wonderful. The world needs more people who come fully alive and do what they love for the benefit of others as well as themselves. I support them wholeheartedly. But we can’t all… Continue reading Do What You Gotta
Create Fearlessly
I think it’s normal for creative types to experience a measure of jealousy in the entertainment they enjoy. “Why didn’t I think of that?” “How do they do that?” “What are they doing right that I’m doing wrong?” So go the thoughts one can have when consuming media in line with what one wants to… Continue reading Create Fearlessly
Breaking The Ice
You might think, from the title, that this is going to be another post about Netrunner. As much as I could ramble about cyberpunk card games until the post-apocalyptic cows come home, I want to talk more about the weather. No, not the weather in Night Vale, that’s yet another post. Lately the weather where… Continue reading Breaking The Ice
