Andrew Moore's Blog, page 43

Addendum

They can of course be mechanical wings or else made out of energy.

A Productive Plot Development

Worried about how to carry on an ongoing story? Have the main character or another major character grow wings. Think of the possibilities, and don't think of a justification, because nobody cares.

The Problem with Bows

Bows (the weapon) are easy to confuse with bows (the gesture of respect), both common elements of fantasy. Only the most confident author is unafraid to use both to their fullest extent.

Olko's Space Saga

It was upon returning from the successful sack of the facility on Proteus that a certain asteroid caught the attention of Olko. "That asteroid there, what fame does it have?"
"None at all, Olko," told him the other rocket barbarians.
"I will give it some by my visit then," he said, veering off, and his fellows laughed behind him and continued on their way.
Olko inspected the surface with a plunder-seeking eye and found a tunnel that was no more natural than peace. Deeper he penetrated into the asteroid and found within a belt troll's home.
"Go on your way," the troll told him. "Go on your way and live a bit longer."
"The rule I took up the moment I left atmosphere," Olko answered, "was to leave with something new in hand and never without."
"You want treasure, but I will give you a new way to follow your rule. You will leave with your teeth in your hand if you are stout, and if you are frail, I will send you on your way with a push, your body that is."
The combat began. The troll was passing strong and his thermal claws tremendous in their might, but Olko had his pile bunker which had pierced rockets in flight and comets on their path. The troll breathed out his life with these words.
"Go then with your treasure. It is below. Take the cursed ship Ringtaker, seize all the plunder you like, and revel in what you will pay for it! Ha!"
"A troll's last prophecy is ever true, but I will not shrink." Olko flew forth from the troll-hangar at the controls of such a ship as must terrorize a hundred moons, and did.Finis

Psychology and Cover Design

If your book's cover shows a bunch of people reading your book, everyone else will want to read it too. Think about it.

Addendum

The other innovation, which is a camera button readers can press to switch perspectives on the scene, is so far impractical becuase writers are unbelievably lazy. AI, however . . .

Fresh Fields of Technological Inquiry

Already experiments are being conducted in selectable difficulty levels for books. The effect? The enemies get more HP. More research is necessary.

2024 Roundup

It's the future, so it's time to declare which was more prophetic: Cyberpunk as a genre or Dick Tracy? Well, people still don't have cyborg implants as a regular thing but they do have watch/phone/computers, so that settles that. Let's check in again around 2081 to see how things are going. I expect great things from steampunk.

Decorative Reminder

When your hero is hitching a ride on a wagon, and don't pretend that doesn't happen in your story, remember to describe the ridiculous or garish ways the owner has decorated it. You know what people do with their trucks. You know.

The Latest Monster

Double bees that have two stingers, one on each side. You can use that one for free so long as you're grateful.