Opening lines that grabbed us and wouldn't let go
A great opening line is a promise. It sets the tone, raises a question, creates a voice. It makes you need to read the next sentence. Here are some SFF openers…
Posts tagged: fantasy
Clear filter ×
Villains we love to hate (and what makes them unforgettable)
The great villains stay with us. Sometimes more than the heroes. What is it about certain antagonists that makes them unforgettable? ## The charming ones…
Trust your reader
One of the hardest lessons for science fiction and fantasy writers is learning to trust the reader. You've invented this incredible world. You understand its…
One word at a time
I've always believed that the best way to understand something is to build it. When I wanted to understand political ideology, I built Political Circle. When I…
Magic systems we love (and what makes them work)
There's a particular pleasure in understanding how magic works. Not just accepting 'it's magic' but grasping the rules, the costs, the limitations. When a…
A guide to fantasy subgenres
Fantasy isn't one thing any more. The genre has fragmented into dozens of subgenres, each with its own conventions, tones, and reader expectations. Finding…
Why we love science fiction and fantasy (and what that says about us)
There's a particular feeling that drew me to SFF as a child and keeps me here as an adult. That sense of stepping through a door into somewhere impossible. The…