Kameron Hurley's Blog, page 42

Murdering my Darlings

I've reached the point in RAPTURE where I'm excising a bunch of stuff I really liked. I mean, it's not all vital to the plot or the story or anything, which is why I'm cutting it, but man – it's stuff I like.

See, when I'm thinking about a book I'll often write little snippets of dialogue and disjointed scenes and then toss them into the manuscript file at the end for incorporation later. Then, as I put the book together, I pull from the pool of scenes and dialogue as they occur in the story. ...

Genderblindered: “We’re both queens. So who will hang out the laundry?”

I read an old proverb once that went, “We’re both queens. So who will hang out the laundry?”

I think this is an important point that a lot of seemingly imaginative fiction fails to take into account when creating societies.

I was on a panel about women in combat at Epic Confusion when Scott Lynch brought up the fact that he often wrote in female guards and background characters in traditionally masculine roles without making a big deal about it. The idea was, to paraphrase, that equality was ju...

Genderblindered: "We're both queens. So who will hang out the laundry?"

I read an old proverb once that went, "We're both queens. So who will hang out the laundry?"

I think this is an important point that a lot of seemingly imaginative fiction fails to take into account when creating societies.

I was on a panel about women in combat at Epic Confusion when Scott Lynch brought up the fact that he often wrote in female guards and background characters in traditionally masculine roles without making a big deal about it. The idea was, to paraphrase, that equality was...

What It’ll Be if You Listen to Them All

I just read something this week from somebody who said their goal this year was to write something that would “win some kind of award” next year.

See my head explode.

If you are writing books to get awards, you may want to rethink your priorities.

I hate awards seasons. I hated awards season even during years I didn’t publish anything. It’s kind of starting to look a little ironicthat I hate awards seasons, I know.But here’s why I do:

When I first started writing stories for publication, I wrote...

What It'll Be if You Listen to Them All

I just read something this week from somebody who said their goal this year was to write something that would "win some kind of award" next year.

See my head explode.

If you are writing books to get awards, you may want to rethink your priorities.

I hate awards seasons. I hated awards season even during years I didn't publish anything. It's kind of starting to look a little  ironic that I hate awards seasons, I know. But here's why I do:

When I first started writing stories for publication, I...

Because unless you get hit by a bus, life goes on

Who wouldn't want to get hit by this cute bus?

Jeff VanderMeer had an interesting post up awhile back that got me to thinking. I don't remember if it was on his blog or Facebook, and I can't find it now, but it had to do with how, over time, writers tend to fall by the wayside, overcome by the biz, by personal tragedy, by regret, by challenges, by success, and any other number of things that can knock you out of the writing and publishing business. After a time, as more and more folks fell...

The Library: Where the Worldbuilding Comes From

This is just what I picked up today, and doesn't include my existing TBR pile. Note that some of these will end up being crap. That's what the first pass is for.

The Self-Sabotaging Writer

Death by the pen. Truly mightier than the sword.

When I first started writing violent, feminist-y things, people told me, "Nobody's going to buy that. People won't read that. You won't ever sell a million copies. You're a niche writer.  You'll just be a marginalized writer. So long as you know that, it's cool. Maybe you should write some YA instead."

And, you know, I accepted that. I accepted it rather blindly, because hey, that's what it's like when you write stuff that isn't mainstream...

RAPTURE Cover Proof

Just got the OK to share the cover proof for RAPTURE. Purdy, eh?

 

Epic ConFusion Reading Lists – Race/Gender/Class & Non-western Fantasy/SF

At Epic ConFusion this weekend, I was on a couple of panels where we also gave some reading suggestions to the audience. Afterward, I had an attendee come up and ask if I could actually write up my list somewhere so she could access it later.

Well, folks – you ask, I deliver.

Below is a very, very, very abbreviated reading list that I just pounded out top-of-mind before the panel. There is a massive epic ton of good stuff out there.  For more, visit The Carl Brandon Society and Feminist...