By Kevin Paul Tracy This is not going to be a popular opinion with a lot of people out there, including many aspiring writers. In answer to the question, “Can you teach someone to write?” my answer is yes…and no. I firmly believe you can teach someone to write, but you cannot teach anyone to…
Author: Kevin Paul Tracy
WAR IN FICTION
By Kevin Paul Tracy I’ve spent the past three posts discussing elements of politics in fiction, somewhat focused on world-building, which is often considered an activity of the speculative fiction writer, but I submit is also a job for any crafter of mysteries, adventures, thrillers, etc. who wants to provide a solid plot line that…
POLITICAL INTRIGUE IN FICTION
By Kevin Paul Tracy This month’s post builds on the ideas in February’s post with thoughts on infusing fictional politics into your fiction. In that post I refer to the root of all politics, economics, and how ultimately it is commodities in high demand – oil, gold, the spice Melange – and the need to…
MORE POLITICS IN FICTION
By Kevin Paul Tracy After writing last month’s column on infusing your fiction with real-world politics, I thought I’d address this month’s column to how to infuse fictional politics into your fictional world. In fiction it is often necessary to build a world as a stage on which the events of your novel or series…
POLITICS IN FICTION
By Kevin Paul Tracy I’ve recently been inundated with fiction manuscripts to critique that contain a fair amount of political commentary. I’m not referring to the kind of politics you find in Game of Thrones or The Wheel of Time or TV’s Defiance – those are internal, fictional intrigues that apply only to the fiction…