One of the things I have most enjoyed about the Month of Letters Challenge is the mail that my character Jane gets. It has been not only fun, but actively helpful to write letters in her voice. One of my readers just posted about receiving the response to her letter. Check out this awesome thing
Sending letters as Jane Read More »
We begin with a definition of Historical Fantasy that allows us narrow the topic and differentiate it from Alternate History. When we say historical fantasy we mean “adding magic to a historical period we want to write in.” We offer some examples of this, talk about why it’s popular right now, and then talk about
Writing Excuses 7.7: Historical Fantasy » Writing Excuses Read More »
Today is my 43rd birthday. Because I like to give party favors when I throw a shindig and can’t have an actual birthday party today, I’d like to offer you a virtual party favour. This is my novella “Kiss Me Twice,” which appeared in Asimov’s magazine in the June 2011 issue. Edited to add: Hurrah!
I am 43 today. Have a novella as a party favor. Read More »
Poor Mary. Even after recording an entire season with Brandon, Dan, and Howard, she still scratches her head sometimes and asks herself “why?” “Why does Dan say ‘these marshmallows are delicious’ in a funny voice? And why do Brandon and Howard think it’s funny?” “Why” indeed. In this particularly self-indulgent episode of Writing Excuses we take
Writing Excuses 7.6: Behind the Marshmallow » Writing Excuses Read More »
On the first day off from the Month of Letters Challenge, I thought I would report in on how it was going. So far I think it is going really, really well. I should pause here to say that I did not expect this to go viral but, lo, it has. I have no idea
I am delighted that my story has been picked for the new anthology WILFUL IMPROPRIETY: 13 Tales of Society and Scandal (to be published in the US by Running Press. This is a Victorian YA anthology that takes a fine look at the social restrictions of the period. Having already seen the proof, may I
Sale! “Mercury Retrograde” to Ekaterina Sedia’s anthology Willful Impropriety Read More »
If you are a writer seeking an agent AND participating in the Month of Letters Challenge, let me tell you about a neat thing. My agent, Jennifer Jackson, is offering to respond with letter to one randomly chosen query letter per business day. That’s right. A personal response, mailed back with feedback on either the query
The Month of Letters Challenge featuring my agent Read More »
So, people who are new to following me on Twitter sometimes wander in when a game of #marygoround starts up and are justifiably confused. Allow me to explain. I have had some extraordinarily bad travel karma. It ranges from things like being delayed for two days coming home, to an airline stewardess being so severely
What is #marygoround Read More »
The Guardian has written an article, “Writers bid to revive letter-writing,” about the revival of letter writing. I’m interviewed about the Month of Letters Challenge along with Rumpus editor Stephen Elliot, and publisher Scott Pack who are also bringing back letter writing. Also… The Guardian. Eep.
Writers bid to revive letter-writing | Books | guardian.co.uk Read More »
I feel like this is the little challenge that could. I had thought that I was going to issue a challenge to my readers and that it might spread a little beyond that. To say that I am stunned by the reception that my Month of Letters Challenge has received would be to understate it quite
Welcome to the first day of The Month of Letters | A Month of Letters Read More »
I have been a little nervous, waiting for the official reviews to start coming in. Library Journal has this in their current issue. May I just say, whew. Kowal, Mary Robinette. Glamour in Glass. Tor. Apr. 2012. c.336p. ISBN 9780765325570. $24.99. FANTASY At the start of 1815, newly married and eager to explore her gifts
Library Journal review of Glamour in Glass Read More »
The current Battersea Bridge crosses the Thames and is an iron structure. In the days of The Glamourist Histories, it was still a wooden bridge and the oldest remaining wooden bridge crossing the Thames. This painting is from 1840, so twenty-five years after the events in Glamour in Glass, but looking very much the same.
Glamour in Glass: The Battersea Bridge Read More »
Dan and Mary were joined by Sam Sykes at World Fantasy, and invited him to talk about sensory writing, which he had recently discussed in a workshop. The heart of the discussion is which senses (typically beyond sight) to include as we write. Sounds, smells, tactile information, and even tastes are necessary to engage the reader.
Writing Excuses 7.5: Sensory Writing » Writing Excuses Read More »
It is also tempting, watching that last very long sentence, to see how long I can make a single sentence without either resorting to semi-colons, which is a form of cheating since it combines two sentences into one, or to parentheticals that contain entire other sentences, (although I will grant that a parenthetical such as
265 words sentence OR how a writer avoids a problematic scene Read More »
I have just realized that Jane, from Shades of Milk and Honey should participate in the Month of Letters Challenge. So, she is. If you want to write to her, address correspondence to: Mrs. David Vincent P.O. Box 221298 Chicago, IL 60622 I will tell you, as a teaser, that she will be writing back to you with
Write to Jane from Shades of Milk and Honey Read More »