This appears in the opening paragraph of which famous science fiction book?
“A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct. This every sister of the Bene Gesserit knows. To begin your study of the life of Muad’Dib, then, take care that you first place him in his time: born in the 57th year of the Padishah Emperor, Shaddam IV.
— from “Manual of Muad’Dib” by the Princess Irulan”
If you know the answer, post away in the comment section below!
Filed under artists, Can You Tell Me?, genre writing, Science Fiction, writing
Filed under artists, genre writing, Indie Artists, Poll, Serial Writing, Web Fiction, writing
Our guest post today is by Valerie Johnston who talks about something that affects many people, and how writing can help.
Those with mental health disorders like bipolar may find that they often feel alone, confused, and depressed by their lack of control over thoughts and emotions. Often, those feelings can become so overwhelming that they don’t know where to turn. While there are many different approaches to dealing with the symptoms of mental health disorders, one solution that has proven to be effective is writing as a form of creative expression.
In fact, in a fairly well-known case, a woman who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (manic depression) for years began writing her own blog about her condition, her thoughts, and anything she felt like. Since she began her blog, she continues to condone writing as a manner of better dealing with mental health. Why does putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard have such a direct effect on mental illness? There are several reasons why artistic creativity can work.
Expression without Judgment
Almost anyone who suffers from a mental health disorder will indicate that they often feel lonely. Because of their disorder, they separate themselves from others in fear of constant criticism or judgment. Unfortunately, there are outsiders who think conditions like clinical depression or bipolar are signs of weakness. They are not weakness. Anyone can be affected by mental health disorders, no matter how strong or weak they may be.
Someone who feels alone or too often criticized because of their disorder will be able to express themselves – their thoughts, hopes, dreams, and emotions, without feeling like they’re being judged.
Organizing Thoughts
Another problem that people with mental health disorders may deal with would be disorganized thoughts. They may have trouble focusing on daily tasks, and this can interrupt their work life as well as their personal one. By writing down the thoughts, they may find it easier to put them into some type of organization. This can make it easier for them to put that organization to work in the rest of their lives.
Releasing Emotions
People who suffer from bipolar disorder have the most trouble controlling their emotions. They may go through episodes of severe depression when they feel hopeless or even suicidal. They will also go through episodes of uncontrolled elation. These are called “manic” episodes and they can be dangerous too since the person may make poor decisions, may forget things they’re supposed to do, or may even specifically put their life in danger.
Often, a bipolar person feels that they have to bottle up their emotions and not show the episodes from which they suffer. By keeping those feelings to themselves, they may eventually not know how to deal with them anymore. By writing and creative expression, they can get those emotions out on paper or on the computer screen. This release may be just what they need to get through an episode.
Understanding the Mind
The mind works in mysterious ways to most of us. It can go from extreme happiness to sadness in an instant even for healthy people. For those suffering from bipolar or clinical depression, these severe changes in emotion can be amplified to a point that their lives are ruled by this aspect of their mind. Often, the mind simply needs a controlling factor or something that forces it to think in a different way.
Through creative expression, someone with emotional or mental health disorders can ease a number of their symptoms. The writing process forces the brain to think in a more organized manner. It also allows the person to feel like they have an emotional release for their feelings. It can even make them feel less alone and judged, even if no one ever reads what they wrote.
Thank you, Valerie! If you have any questions for Valerie feel free to use the comment section below.
Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news.
Filed under Guest Post, Mental Health, writing
Artistic Crossroads is looking for writers for guest posts and interviews! Interested? Then review the pages above for guest post guidelines and interviews. I’m also looking for someone who will be a regular contributor along with me on this site. You can also send your ideas/topics to me at ericahart71@gmail.com!
Filed under Guest Post, Interview, writing
I searched the internet for the right definition of what Science Fiction is; but, there were very few choices to pull from. Here is one I liked:
“Science fiction allows us to understand and experience our past, present, and future in terms of an imagined future.” —Kathryn Cramer, The Ascent of Wonder (1994)
Let’s turn to Wikipedia to look more closely to what “science” entails:
” ‘Science’ refers to the body of reliable knowledge itself, of the type that can be logically and rationally explained.”
In order words, you need to have physical evidence to support that this particular hypothesis is true, and not junk science; however, not everything can be physically proven. In the past (not so much now), this was where philosophy came in; hence, could this hypothesis be “logically and rationally explained” by using observations and assumptions that could be supported through experimentation?
Science fiction is different from Fantasy in that it is based on possibilities, whereas Fantasy is well, not (entirely) possible.
For those who grew up during the 1950s and 1960s, how many Science Fiction stories have you watched (Star Trek anyone?) or read where certain technology has been taken and made into reality today? Does any specific gadgets come to mind?
Those who write Science Fiction are fascinated with the seemingly unlimited possibilities, with what mankind can accomplish when using various forms/areas of science whether it be for good or for evil. There are those who write to explore the many possible outcomes through alternate worlds or timelines (what would our world be like if Germany had won World War II?), or explore the consequences of various types of technology (what would our world be like if computers took over, and mankind became either slaves or extinct?).
Science is a very broad field which provides writers with almost endless choices for story ideas when writing fiction.
Filed under genre writing, Science Fiction, writing
Many probably think that zombies and Christmas wouldn’t go very well together; but there are some out there who beg to differ:
2. Silent Night of the Living Dead (coming December 2013) Synopsis: “A zombie outbreak plagues a small English town on Christmas Eve.”
Walter Shillington is with us today to talk about other publishing options that writers have. If you have any questions for Walter, feel free to leave a comment below.
(Note: Due to computer issues, the post below didn’t align as it should.)
PUBLISHING THROUGH AMAZON KINDLE
At some point every writer feels that their time has come. They’ve learned the ropes, practiced their
techniques and honed their skills. They are confident of their ability and ready to take the plunge.
Traditionally an author, ready to be published, would find an agent and work to secure a lucrative
contract with a reputable publishing house. If successful, the writer could begin work on his next book
while his publisher edits the first novel, designs the cover and places the book into bookstores.
It’s an expensive proposition for a publisher to take on a new author. They must be fully confident
in his ability and convinced that he will continue to produce over the life of his contract. The average
publishing houses already represents many established writers and, unfortunately, adds few new
authors each year.
For those with time and patience, I’d advise checking around for an agent or sending a letter of inquiry
to the various publishing houses. It will take months – maybe years – but that doesn’t mean you can’t
work on your second novel while you’re trying to sell the first. The time won’t be wasted.
For those who can’t wait or have a drawer full of rejection letters, there is another way. You can
become an independent writer and publish with the aid of companies such as Amazon, Apple, KOBO
and Smashwords.
These companies will make your work available at no cost to yourself. Those that purchase your novel
will pay the company and a healthy commission will be passed onto you. Note that books printed by
these companies are printed on demand and, therefore, are more expensive than a traditionally printed
book. EBooks are produced relatively inexpensively.
I publish through Amazon Kindle and this article will concentrate on Amazon and their methods.
Before a writer makes the decision to publish he should ensure the following steps are complete:
• He is entirely satisfied with his novel.
• The book has been edited by a competent editor. This could be a professional editor, a school
teacher or a university graduate who has majored in English.
• A book cover has been designed with the specific intention of drawing potential readers.
Specifications required by Amazon Kindle can be found here.
• A description of the book’s contents has been composed. This must be no more than 4000
characters in length. The potential customer uses this outline to help decide whether or not to
purchase the novel. Time spent preparing this description will not be wasted.
• The writer has pinpointed his target audience and has decided upon a price point.
• If necessary, a unique ISBN number should have already been acquired. Before a book can be
sold in a tradition bookstore, it must have an International Standard Book Number.
• The author is prepared to spend a great deal of time promoting his work.
The next step is to create an Amazon account at kdp.amazon.com. Choose the option to
Signup. Submit your email address and select I am a new customer. At this point you will be prompted
to register. Once registered, Amazon will provide you with a Bookshelf and a Reports section. The
Bookshelf lists your books and the Reports section is used to track sales. It is important to read through
the information pertaining to Kindle Direct Publishing to ensure you fully understand how the system
works.
Then navigate to your Bookshelf. Select Add New Book. This will bring you to the page used to submit
the book’s details. Each section of this form provides information that guides you through the various
steps.
During this process you will upload your book file and book cover to their server. Once the form is
completed, select publish. Within twelve hours your book will be offered for sale throughout much of
the world.
It’s a great feeling to be published but, remember, that is only half the job. Be prepared to spend
countless hours promoting your work. If no one knows your novel exists, it will be lost among the
millions of available on Kindle.
Walter Shillington is authors the popular weekly serial, Difficult Times – An Alien Invasion Serial.
His new book, which encompasses the entire first season, can be located here. His website, Walter
Shillington’s Author’s Workshop, contains numerous articles aimed toward the novice writer.
Filed under Guest Post, Publishing, writing
Here are some of the most notable horror fiction out there:
1. The Watcher by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
2. The Thing on the Doorstep by H. P. Lovecraft
3. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
4. The Island of Doctor Moreau By H.G. Wells
5. Dracula by Bram Stoker
6. Afterward by Edith Wharton
7. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
In your opinion, what makes a story a horror fiction?
Filed under genre writing, Horror, writing
For this blog’s next interview, I’d like to introduce Mel Trent, author of Patient Zero as well as several other science fiction and poetry books.What do you write? Poetry and urban fantasy with occasional forays into science fiction and more traditional fantasy.
What seems to be the recurrent theme(s) in your stories? Anger. It’s a powerful motivator, and the outcome of actions based on anger can go either way.
If you could be any character of any books, who would it be? It’s almost impossible to answer this with one character, so I’ll go with my current fictional crush – Istvan, from Kathe Koja’s Under the Poppy. He’s charming, he’s gorgeous, he’s talented, he’s smart, he’s
tough, and he has a hot boyfriend.
Do you name your Muse(s)? No. He’s just Muse.
Which do you prefer: traditional, self publishing, or both? Both have positive attributes, both have drawbacks. I think it depends on what your goal is. Self-publishing through Lulu has worked for me just as a way to say, “Look, I wrote an actual, physical book!”
What is the one advice you would offer to a new writer? Be a student of the craft—write and read everything you can, and never stop being a student.
Do dreams inspire your writing ideas? Absolutely, but more so as single images than as a whole. Dreams, when I try to narrate them, lack real narrative structure. Images from dreams, such as a group of men plugged into some kind of power station to act as human batteries (used for the last NaNoWriMo I participated in), are easier to work with.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Let’s see. I see myself being five years older. That’s about it. I don’t plan well. I don’t
know what I’m doing five minutes from now much less five years.
Who is your favorite author? Why? There are many, but Samuel R. Delany might be at the top of the list. You don’t see the gay black man’s perspective in science fiction, and I love the fact that he’s willing to take a good hard look at gender, equality, sexuality and
humanity while wrapping it all up in science fiction packages that are every bit as well written as any “literature.”
What is your favorite quote? Why? ”If you did not write every day, the poisons would accumulate, and you would begin to die, act
crazy, or both.” –Ray Bradbury. Because for me it’s very true, although sometimes, I like to let the poison build for a few days before I let it out.
Thank you for visiting us, Mel! 
Want to read more about her? Visit her blog, The Thoughtful Trickster.
Also be sure to check out Mel’s storefront at Lulu for Patient Zero as well as all her other books!
Filed under Cult, genre writing, Interview, writing
What seem to be the common characteristics among books that attained “cult” status? From everything I’ve read about cult fiction, it’s the readers who determine whether a book is cult or not as “cult fiction” seems to be a reader-generated genre rather than industry-generated.
Now, what does that really mean?
Industry-generated genres would basically encompass specific areas such as Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Drama, Mystery and Romance; and, in each of these areas can be further broken down into subs such as Detective Mystery, Paranormal Romance, and etc.
Whereas a cult book can come from any given areas above but had somehow garnered a following not because of its genre or plot or characters, but because something within its words, whether intentional or not by the author, grabbed a hold of its readers and they suddenly want to eat, drink, and breathe anything and everything that has to do with this particular book.
Thomas Reed Whissen in his Classic Cult Fiction: A Companion to Popular Cult Literature described the process of how a book becomes cult fiction:
“…these books had, in some mysterious way, been written exclusively with them in mind. They would become wildly enthusiastic about a current favorite, reading and rereading it, borrowing and lending it, broadcasting their enthusiasm to others, discussing it eagerly among themselves, carrying copies around with them, adopting the attitudes expressed in the book, speaking its language, affecting its pose, proselytizing its message. Gradually the book would catch on–to the surprise of everyone, including the publisher–and become a bestseller. Printing after printing would be exhausted as the word spread and curiosity grew.
People who ordinarily did not read were reading the book. People who told themselves they ought to be reading something else were reading the book. Critics could denounce or ignore the book, and curiosity would only mount. And if, as sometimes happened, the book was condemned–or, better yet, banned–excitement would intensify. Eventually the fever would break and interest decline, until the next cult book came along. These books, books of such intense and immediate appeal, inspired their generation, and to read them today is to gain tremendous insight into an era that continues to intrigue, baffle, even exasperate not only cultural historians but those who were cult followers themselves–not to mention those who merely lived through it and were never quite sure just what was going on.”
Whissen later went on to say that an author can not intentionally write a cult book:
“What distinguishes cult literature from other literary genres is primarily that a book acquires cult status on the basis of reader response rather than the author’s intention. Whereas an author can deliberately intend to write a novel of mystery or romance or fantasy, no one can set out to write a cult book intentionally. Whether or not the book becomes a cult favorite depends entirely on factors no author can control. The reading public will make what it wants of the book, and if it chooses to ignore a book, there is no way that book can inspire a cult.”
So then, are there any common attributes that are shared by various cult books? Again, I haven’t been able to find any definitive answer to this. Since cult fiction is basically a reader-generated genre, the attributes and reasons a book strongly resonate with its readers are as varied as the personalities and interests of its readers. I believe that these attributes are more likely psychological ones rather than physical which make it that much more difficult to nail down specific elements that make up what is known as cult fiction.
Filed under Cult, genre writing, writing
I’ve searched the internet for a precise answer to this question, but so far I’ve yet to find any.
Let’s turn to the Merriam-Webster dictionary to see what the word cult means:
a. “great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (film or book).”
b. “the object of such devotion.”
c. “usually a small group of people characterized by such devotion.”
In essence, a cult is a following (usually small) of people who are devoted or loyal to a cause, person, or work. Something about that work or person resonated strongly with the individual, and changed his or her way of looking at things.
The best explanation of what a cult fiction is was given by Sam Leith:
“…the sort of that people wear like a leather jacket or carry around like a totem. The book that rewires your head…gives you a way of thinking about your self as a woman, or a voice in your head that makes it feel okay to be a teenager; conjures into being a character who becomes a permanent inhabitant of your mental flophouse.” (Sam Leith, taken from Telegraph.co.uk., 4-24-08)
Here’s a small list of examples of cult fiction:
1. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
2. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
3. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
4. The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
5. Dune by Frank Herbert
Which work of cult fiction changed your way of thinking?
Do you write web serials, or always wanted to try? Have you ever participated in NaNoWriMo and like to try something different?
Check this site out then:
Filed under Serial Writing, Web Fiction, writing
For the Blog’s inaugural interview let me introduce to you, WALTER B SHILLINGTON, author of Difficult Times, An Alien Invasion Serial:
If you were to introduce yourself to a group of strangers, what would you say?
Until recently I would have described myself as retired and mentioned my twenty-nine years employment as an electronic technician. Now that my weekly serial is in full swing, I introduce myself as a writer. For me the switch occurred the moment I sold my first episode. A total stranger considered me a writer; that was good enough for me.
How long have you been writing?
I dabbled as a teenager, and then gave it up to concentrate on my military career. Since retirement I have written two unpublished novels and authored a number of technical reviews for The Hub. These projects taught me the basics and provided the experience necessary to fine-tune my craft. I now write a weekly serial which follows the adventures of a man struggling to survive amid an alien invasion.
What do you write?
I normally write Science Fiction. Typically, this type of story is based in the future, using unknown technology and undiscovered locations; the perfect genre for lazy writers who avoid research.
Once my present story ends, I plan to write about a private detective who sets up shop in a small town. A serial of this type, while requiring a complicated plotline, would be fun to write.
Did you always believe you were meant to be a writer? Or was this some accidental discovery?
I’ve always wanted to write.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what kind of music?
I’m not great at multitasking. The radio stays off.
What are you currently working on?
I write the weekly serial, Difficult Times. It’s a briskly paced, science fiction adventure and is available on Kindle.
If you could be any character of any book, what would it be?
I’m sorry, I can’t think of an answer for that.
Do you name your muse(s)?
I assume you refer to my source of inspiration. I take a long, brisk walk every morning, using the time to work out plots and dialogue. When I sit at the computer and write, the air is heavy with smoke. My muses are an unlikely pair; fresh air and cigarettes.
What is the one advice you would offer to a new writer?
Editing is the key. I spend three days writing an episode. The next day or two, I rewrite. I’m ruthless. If a word, sentence, or even a paragraph does not directly contribute to the story, it is deleted. I’ll read the story aloud. If a section sounds uneven, I’ll reword it until the paragraph feels as smooth as silk.
The following day I edit the material again. I check for small stuff like overuse of certain words or paragraphs where all sentences tend to be the same length. At this point it is useful to have someone else look over your work. Friends and family can help but they tend to be too nice. Join a local writers group or a website such as Scribophile. Ask them to tear your story apart.
My final edit occurs on publishing day. I write two months ahead, which means I haven’t glanced at this material in weeks. This is good because I examine the work with fresh eyes. I’m still shocked at the number of improvements made each time I perform the final edit.
Do dreams inspire your writing ideas?
Sadly, I seldom remember my dreams. When I do, they never make sense.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I expect success. I’ve worked hard to lay the groundwork, and continue to perfect my craft every day. The steady improvement in readership increases my confidence; that’s the beauty of writing a weekly serial. I plan to rise to the top of the best seller list within five years.
What do you think the future holds for serial fiction?
The outlook is bright. On one end you have the novice writers who set up a blog and publish their episodes for free. Those that read these installments can provide valuable feedback that allows the blogger to increase their skills.
On the other end you have the experienced writer who publishes well-edited installments on sites such as Amazon and Kobo. The individual episodes provide little income but they introduce the writer and their work to the general public. Then, when these episodes are bundled into a larger eBook, representing a season, they should sell quite well.
Any additional comments or advice you’d like to add for our readers?
Every writer understands the importance of the opening. If the reader browses through the first few lines of a book and finds little to attract his attention, he puts it aside and moves on.
So how should you start your book? Would background information, designed to bring the reader up to speed, be appropriate? Could a strong physical description of the lead character, or of the setting, fit the bill? What about action, dialogue, or even a verse from a poem?
There is only one rule. The opening must grab the reader by the throat and drag him into the story. Background information can work but, unless carefully composed, will be written off as a boring history lesson. Physical description is fine, provided you keep it short. Most writers tend to use action and dialogue, combined with crisp vivid description.
Remember, this is just the opening of a lengthy story. You will have plenty of time to explain what’s going on, build your characters, and advance the plotline. Don’t do it here. Use this space to hook your reader.
Thank you, Walter, for visiting with us today!
Check out Walter Shillington’s serial, Difficult Times, at Amazon! 
Filed under Interview, Serial Writing, writing
