Adam Heine's Blog, page 23
August 10, 2012
Avenger Pigeons
These guys came out of a very odd conversation between me and Susan Quinn. Something about a way to get paper copies of her books past Thailand's Swiss cheese postal system -- like armored carrier pigeons.
You've seen Avengers, right? If not, why the heck not ?
And if you have, can you please tell Authoress why she needs to see it? (And whether she really needs to see all the movies leading up to it. I vote no, provided she gives me twenty minutes to explain the origins of the four main c...
August 8, 2012
First Impact: The Eyelet Dove by Lindsay Kitson
Time for another First Impact critique. Remember you are eligible to win a 10-page critique from Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, if you share your thoughts in the comments. Your critique doesn't have to be long, just useful!
If you want your material critiqued, send it to firstimpactAE@gmail.com. Details here.
Thank you to Lindsay for submitting the back cover copy of her Dieselpunk novel, The Eyelet Dove.
Keep in mind all this is just my opinion. If it doesn't feel...
If you want your material critiqued, send it to firstimpactAE@gmail.com. Details here.
Thank you to Lindsay for submitting the back cover copy of her Dieselpunk novel, The Eyelet Dove.
Keep in mind all this is just my opinion. If it doesn't feel...
August 6, 2012
Speculative Fiction: A Diagram
Following up our conversation a couple weeks ago, I present Adam Heine's Official Definition of Speculative Fiction:
1. Speculative Fiction is an umbrella term covering everything that is either science fiction or fantasy.
2. Science Fiction and Fantasy are the two main branches of speculative fiction. Sometimes they overlap.
3. Horror is fiction intended to frighten or scare. It could be sci-fi, fantasy, both, or neither.
4. Magical Realism is not sci-fi, but to quote Terry Pratchett, it...
1. Speculative Fiction is an umbrella term covering everything that is either science fiction or fantasy.
2. Science Fiction and Fantasy are the two main branches of speculative fiction. Sometimes they overlap.
3. Horror is fiction intended to frighten or scare. It could be sci-fi, fantasy, both, or neither.
4. Magical Realism is not sci-fi, but to quote Terry Pratchett, it...
August 3, 2012
Why Your World is Boring
(remix)
I'm always surprised when someone who loves fantasy tells me they haven't read The Lord of the Rings. I mean, this book is
fantasy. And it's awesome! Why have so many people not read it?
I'll give you three reasons: world-building infodumps, plot-stopping
songs, and unintelligible languages.
Listen, I know these are what make LotR what it is. I KNOW. But you have to
understand that for a first-time reader -- someone who is totally
unfamiliar with Middle Earth -- these parts are bo...
I'm always surprised when someone who loves fantasy tells me they haven't read The Lord of the Rings. I mean, this book is
fantasy. And it's awesome! Why have so many people not read it?
I'll give you three reasons: world-building infodumps, plot-stopping
songs, and unintelligible languages.
Listen, I know these are what make LotR what it is. I KNOW. But you have to
understand that for a first-time reader -- someone who is totally
unfamiliar with Middle Earth -- these parts are bo...
August 1, 2012
First Impact: The Show Must Not Go On by J. Kaitlin Adams
Time for another First Impact critique. But first: July's winner, who gets to choose between $10 for Amazon/B&N OR a 20-page critique from me, iiiiiiiis . . . Stephanie Scott! Congratulations, Stephanie.
And for August, we have a special prize: a 10-page critique from my agent, Tricia Lawrence! To be eligible, all you have to do is share your thoughts in the comments of any First Impact post this month. Your critique doesn't have to be long, just useful!
If you want your material critiq...
And for August, we have a special prize: a 10-page critique from my agent, Tricia Lawrence! To be eligible, all you have to do is share your thoughts in the comments of any First Impact post this month. Your critique doesn't have to be long, just useful!
If you want your material critiq...
July 30, 2012
Why Are Movies Based on Video Games SO BAD?
This is not a rant. This is SCIENCE.
First, all the data (culled, of course, from my beloved Wikipedia). Click to embiggen.
Some facts:
Movies based on video games have an average Rotten Tomatoes score of 18 out of 100. None of them got higher than 42.
Most (72%) had a budget of $50 million or less.
Most (68%) made less than $100 million at the box office.
It should be no surprise then that half of these movies did not make a profit.
So that's pretty bad (relatively; I mean I wouldn't...
First, all the data (culled, of course, from my beloved Wikipedia). Click to embiggen.
Some facts:
Movies based on video games have an average Rotten Tomatoes score of 18 out of 100. None of them got higher than 42.
Most (72%) had a budget of $50 million or less.
Most (68%) made less than $100 million at the box office.
It should be no surprise then that half of these movies did not make a profit.
So that's pretty bad (relatively; I mean I wouldn't...
July 27, 2012
What Makes a Character Funny?
I'm still trying to figure out funny. It seems like just another kind of voice: once I get my head in it, everything kinda flows. When I put the right kinds of characters together, funny just sort of happens.
But not all my characters end up funny, and I can't always figure out why. This is my attempt to figure out certain types of characters that make humor easy to write.
SELF-DEPRECATING
"You know me. Just when I'm getting a grip on something Fate comes along and jumps on my fingers." --...
But not all my characters end up funny, and I can't always figure out why. This is my attempt to figure out certain types of characters that make humor easy to write.
SELF-DEPRECATING
"You know me. Just when I'm getting a grip on something Fate comes along and jumps on my fingers." --...
July 25, 2012
First Impact: Mourn Their Courage by Victoria Dixon
Time for another First Impact critique. Remember you are eligible to win $10 for Amazon/B&N OR a 20-page critique from me if you share your thoughts in the comments. Your critique doesn't have to be long, just useful!
If you want your material critiqued, send it to firstimpactAE@gmail.com. Details here.
Big thanks to long-time reader Victoria Dixon for submitting the first page of her Chinese historical fantasy. Keep in mind all this is just my opinion. If it doesn't feel right to you...
If you want your material critiqued, send it to firstimpactAE@gmail.com. Details here.
Big thanks to long-time reader Victoria Dixon for submitting the first page of her Chinese historical fantasy. Keep in mind all this is just my opinion. If it doesn't feel right to you...
July 23, 2012
Spec Fic, Sci-Fi, and Other Ambiguous Terms
"Speculative fiction" is hard to define, mostly because nobody agrees on the meaning. Broadly, there are two useful definitions, but to understand them, we have to take a brief (BRIEF!) look at the history of science fiction.
1. About 100 years ago, people called science fiction a thing.
2. About 80 years ago, sci-fi hit what's considered it's "Golden Age."
3. About 60 years ago, a LOT of people were writing sci-fi. Not all of it was good.
(Told you it was brief.)
It was around this time t...
1. About 100 years ago, people called science fiction a thing.
2. About 80 years ago, sci-fi hit what's considered it's "Golden Age."
3. About 60 years ago, a LOT of people were writing sci-fi. Not all of it was good.
(Told you it was brief.)
It was around this time t...
July 20, 2012
Embarrassed AT-AT
Oops...hope nobody got hurt.
Cross-posted from Anthdrawlogy's Hoth week (part of a whole Star Wars month). If you want to see a much cooler AT-AT, check out fellow Anthdrawlogian Charles Eubanks' take on Eadward Muybridge.
So what's your favorite Star Wars quote? Mine is when Han Solo calls Leia, "Your highness-ness."
Okay, go.
