Ian Martyn's Blog, page 8
February 24, 2016
What would aliens make of us?
Since becoming an author and a blogger I look at the world and human society in a different way. I have become more of an observer, I think about it more. If I’m going to write about it, I have to. Then, being a science fiction author I tend towards wondering what this might mean … Continue Reading →
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February 17, 2016
We are someone’s ancient history
I’ve been reading quite a bit of historical fiction recently, which as I blogged on some time ago, I think is a good source of inspiration for a science fiction writer in that it describes very different worlds to the one we live in today. I’ve enjoyed the Bernhard Cornwell series The Last Kingdom set … Continue Reading →
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February 9, 2016
A travelling writer’s blog
Not to be confused with a travel writers blog. Last summer I took the bold move to write a blog while on holiday rather than preparing one in advance. Bold because a) will I find something to talk about? and b) the risk of holiday brain freeze. But it worked. The first of those holiday … Continue Reading →
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February 2, 2016
A challenge to celebrity and well-known authors
This blog challenge is inspired by two things: 1) I am trying to read and review more self-published authors, which I feel is only fair if I’m asking others to read and review my books. In doing so I have come across books by self-published authors which, to me, are equally as good, if not … Continue Reading →
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January 27, 2016
Monthly science highlights – 6)
When I started these monthly blogs six months ago it was a bit of an experiment. First, I wasn’t sure if I could keep it going, but if anything every month I come across more things, in blogs and news that I follow, than I can include. Second, if anyone would be interested, but you … Continue Reading →
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January 20, 2016
Science fiction and science – chicken and egg?
So the chicken and egg conundrum, which comes first? I think the same is true of science and science fiction. I was reminded of this by the recent pictures of the Spacex reusable booster coming back to earth and landing like a space rocket form a 1950s science fiction movie (not so successful though in … Continue Reading →
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January 13, 2016
5 more reasons for writing and reading short stories
Some time ago I blogged on the value of short stories to a fiction writer, any fiction writer i.e. they shouldn’t be viewed as some lesser form of the writing craft or inferior. If anything they have to be more focused, tighter than a full length novel. Recently I seem to have come across more … Continue Reading →
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January 6, 2016
A writer’s resolutions for 2016
OK, I make writing resolutions every year. Do they help? Yes, I think they do. It’s good to focus your mind at the beginning of a new year on what you would like to achieve, concentrate on, what you know you can do better. The key is to look at them occasionally. Have I ticked off everything … Continue Reading →
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December 30, 2015
My monthly science highlights – 5)
My monthly eclectic mix of science highlights have proved popular in 2015 so I’ll continue in 2016. As a science fiction writer I scan for such things a) because I’m interested and b) because you never know what might spark that next (potentially blockbusting – we can hope) story. So here is the pick of what … Continue Reading →
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December 23, 2015
25 things I’ve learnt in 2015
As we approach the end of the year it is natural to look back. For me it’s not just about what has happened in the last year, it is about providing inspiration for the future. So here we go – some of the, at times, rather random, things I’ve learnt in 2015: 1) Writing is … Continue Reading →
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