Category: Intergalactic Medicine Show
How Do Mixed Marriages Work? When fans marry non-fans (and even fans of different fandoms)
A look at the problems that fans encounter in their relationships, and some advice on how to overcome these issues.
Hello World: Leaving MMOs for tabletop games
Despite a variety of computer platforms and compelling multiverses — each of them pouring millions of dollars into vast advertising campaigns — quieter board and card games still have their fascination. And players are still playing.
When Your Book Becomes a Movie: Pitfalls, Rewards, and Volkswagen Beetles
Is having a book adapted a good experience for the author?
Don’t Quit Your Day Job: The financial reality of writing science fiction and fantasy
Writing novels may not the best way to make a living. A look at the financial reality of authorship.
Why Do People Not Read Science Fiction? Reading From Only One Side of the Brain
Why does speculative fiction not appeal to mainstream readers? The answer, “It just doesn’t interest me” does not interest me. So after years of observation, I’ve drawn a few (non-scientific) conclusions. The answers are more complex than a choice to avoid the science fiction section of the bookstore.
Introducing Readers to the Genre: Converting Readers in One Short Story. Or Not.
What is it about science fiction and fantasy that does not appeal to the average reader? Is it a preconception about adolescent choices and an over-reliance on spaceships and dragons?
Why Do We Read Science Fiction? Does Personality Influence Reading Choice?
Why do I read science fiction and fantasy? It turns out the answer may be in my psychological makeup.
When Book Reviews Go Bad: Negative Reviews and How to Cope
Nobody likes a critic, particularly an author who is on the receiving end of a negative and very public judgment. While some authors can shrug off a poor review with ease, other authors feel as judged as the book itself.
Expanded Universes, Contracted Books: A Look at Media Tie-in Novels
I’m currently reading Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, which is a comic book based on the two video games that are based on the extended universe of the science fantasy sextology. Although it captures the flavor of the Star Wars universe, it’s about as far removed from the original series as pasteurized processed cheese-food product is from cheese.
Fan Fiction, Part Two: City on the Edge of Copyright Infringement
“Being a fan is like being in love,” says Lynn Karlsson, a fanfic writer. “You just want to eat, sleep, breathe, and love these characters, and spending time with them is the most engaging thing that you think of.”