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More Writer's Resources

The Tips section is now a haven for featured off site content. There are numerous resources on the web that cover grammar, plotting, scenes, and characterization. And most of them are copyrighted to their site. Those with free circulation are stored on site, others will open a new window off site.


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Tips on Writing Military Science Fiction - retired Marine, William S. Frisbee Jr.
Using a combination of personal experience and comparisons to fiction, he goes in depth on things like The Psychology of Killing, types and styles of Combat Operations, and martial and miltary fighting arts in Battle Field Karate.
Amazing insights. And a tiny look into the training involved in over riding the human nature not to kill; it's all a must read.

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At The Back Fence is a writer's of romance site, but for all writers, you just can't beat their discussions on characterization. They disect characterization the way we do our fandoms. Some newsletters of note:

#59 Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know
What are your definitions of the alpha, beta, and gamma hero? Surely there is a range of behavior in each archetype, but there should be a point of demarcation as well.

#71 Beautiful Heroines, Handsome Heroes, Does Hair color affect the Heroes' character?
Readers expectations of character looks, cliche beauty, and does dark hair really equal dark persona versus the happy blond.

#80 The Male Brain, Too Good to Be True Hero, and The Buddy Romance
Ah, the Buddy Romance (not slash related). In fandom, this is often key in any relationship, since who knows the character better then their best friend, or the person they've grown up with. This article isn't nearly long enough.

#96 Hot, Hot, Hot, Emotional Content, Reality

#100 Let's Talk About Sex, Editing Love Scenes, The Big Mis

#63 All About Heroes, Hero Archetypes

#78a Archetypes... or Sexual Stereotypes

#78 Focus on Heroines, Female Archetypes

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Help, I'm Going Hoarse! Don't Lose Your Voice in Critiques - Becci Clayton

What is a Heroine? - Caro LaFever
'She must have a kernel of her personality that the reader can grab onto and say; "I understand where she's coming from."

When First Person is the Last Person You Need - Moira Allen
Excellent article on the pitfalls of writing in first person, and how to overcome them.

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Fanfic Symposium
Criticism and the Lost Art of the LOC by Lorelei Jones - Curious about criticism and feedback on fanfics?
When Beta and Writer Collide (and Why They Should) by Miriam Heddy - Good examples why you should disagree.
The Gatch/Botp community doesn't seem to suffer from politics as much as many other fandoms do. Nevertheless, politics exist on even the smallest levels. The Fannish Potlatch: Creation of Status within the Fan Community by Rachael Sabotini, is an excellent look at the fan community.
Delusions Are Grander by Miriam Heddy
HURT/COMFORT: A CONFESSION AND CELEBRATION by Renae
Foreign Language in Fanfiction by Lelia Mellini

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Loompanic Books - If you've ever wondered how to hunt humans, live off the wild, create a secret identity, and do any number of things I won't print here. Politically incorrect articles, and controversial books that you won't find by any big publishing companies. If you're easily offended, you should skip the articles, and if you're really sensitive, then don't go there at all. But if you've ever wondered and been afraid to ask... then it might just be the place you're looking for.

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Character Charts - An expanded form for writing about your character and what makes them who they are.

Cheatsheets - Itemized lists covering the basic types of plots, intimate gestures, and words to watch out for.

The Turkey City Lexicon - workshop primer
Humourous take on writing devices used in sci-fi and fantasy writing that can also be applied to standard fiction.

Writerisms and Other Sins - C.J. Cherryh
'Writerisms: overused and misused language. In more direct words: find 'em, root 'em out, and look at your prose without the underbrush.'