by James Patrick Kelly © 1988 by James Patrick Kelly, First published in The Bulletin of The Science Fiction Writers of America You don’t believe in writers’ workshops — never have. Maybe you had a bad experience in college. Some reedy creative writing type sneered at sci-fi and said you probably ought to think about […]
Edited by Lewis Shiner Second Edition by Bruce Sterling NOT COPYRIGHTED Introduction by Lewis Shiner This manual is intended to focus on the special needs of the science fiction workshop. Having an accurate and descriptive critical term for a common SF problem makes it easier to recognize and discuss. This guide is intended to save […]
by David Alexander Smith Theme and meaning. Does the story move us? So we emerge from our fictional journey emotionally engaged, or wiser than we went in? Do we remember the story after we’re done? Along the way, does the story force us to think? Do we re-examine, or see afresh, things we take for […]
by David Alexander Smith Those of us who’ve been in the Cambridge SF Workshop for some time have developed an approach to critiquing that we find serves us well. These principles — our Critiquing Manifesto — help us work together to create the best fiction we can. 1. Why Are We Here? Often workshops founder […]
by David Smith This is only a partial list of the terms we have found most useful in critiquing sf. The glossary is issued now and then … but it is a living document. Amendments are welcome. If you use additional terms, or have better examples than those listed here, please suggest them. Action outline […]
Article by Elizabeth Moon on advice for novice writers. Novice writers have to take some responsibility for their own careers. The good information is NOT that hard to find. The novices who don’t find it–and don’t find it repeatedly–are resisting the truth.
For 100 years Franklin Cavanaugh has fought against the Elite of God and their attempts to control all scientific research through the Church of Eternal Life. Living past 300 years is not enough; they want immortality. Anyone who opposes them dies.
Ruthanna Emrys is the author of A Half-Built Garden, Winter Tide, and Deep Roots, as well as co-writer of Tor.com’s Reading the Weird column. She also writes radically hopeful short stories about religion and aliens and psycholinguistics.
