How to Get Published

by Al Kalar
One of the pieces of advice I give writers is, “join a writing workshop”. No, not a one-day “become a best-selling author” given by Famous Writer. I’m talking about a peer-to-peer workshop that’s really a club.

Well, I do follow my own advice. I’ve been a member of an online workshop since the late 90’s and I learned a LOT. I still learn more on a regular basis, but I also dispense advice (everyone does from the day they join).

This last weekend, I critiqued a submission from one of our members. The writer is a big fan of “classic” pulp science fiction and decided to write his book in a similar style, including a rather lengthy “foreword”. I took him to task over the forward (it violated my favorite “rule”: get right into the story, explain later if at all). I also objected to the fact that he started with four separate story lines (part of the reason for the forward). (more…)

by Al Kalar

The movies

You’ve seen it dozens of times, most often in a disaster movie.

Picture by Shane H

• The opening scene is on a businessman in a meeting. For whatever reason, he has to get out of the meeting and fly somewhere.
• The next scene is a happy little family.  Well, maybe not too happy since the two pre-teen kids squabble all the time.  They’re getting ready for their vacation at Fun World in another state.
• Then the fighting married couple.  He’s a traveling salesman looser and she’s a shrew.  He storms out of the house with his luggage. Does it contain a bomb? (more…)