Tag Archives: Writing

Hard Won Writing Pointers

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Gene Stewart

Old writing adage:  “I am not I, he is not he, they are not they.” Never mention anything until it’s necessary. Then do so as obliquely or as concisely as possible. Pick a single story line to follow through. A … Continue reading →

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“Lovecraft, Howard, and the Rest of Us, or: Is It Wong To Be Pulpy?”

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Gene Stewart

  Bailed out of DAUGHTER OF THE DRAGON, 1931, with Anna May Wong and Werner Toland, which kicked off a TCM tribute to Wong, and this led to some thoughts about racism, pulp, and quality. Toland played Charlie Chan, most … Continue reading →

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REH, HPL, ERB, & Me

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Gene Stewart

  Started reading a collection of Robert E. Howard stories and must say, he was better than I’d recalled.  I’ve always liked his work, from Conan, Solomon Kane, and Bran Mak Morn and beyond.  The variety, depth, and the bravura … Continue reading →

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Writers Write

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Gene Stewart

Graham Greene wrote 1500 words a day, each morning, then played the rest of the day. Wrote them in a leather journal using a fountain pen.   Hemingway squeezed out words by the tens and hundreds, using a pencil in … Continue reading →

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Journal Silence

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Gene Stewart

Bad writing deserves harsh review. To maintain some semblance of cultural standards is why review exists. Many today think “review” means an unconditionally positive blurb from friends, and any critique is “hate” or “revenge trolling” or what ever. That’s childish, … Continue reading →

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Shadowed Life Memoirs

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Gene Stewart

Some Random Creepy Autobiographical Stuff: Small taters but true:  I was in the kitchen preparing the post-pills snack I’m supposed to have.  The floor was clear.  I know this because I’d dropped a fork.  Went into the living room to … Continue reading →

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Critics & Especially Horror These Days

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Gene Stewart

Written in response to a writer angry about critics: So someone sneered at your latest work of fiction, calling it “mere horror”. You immediately hate all criticism. That leads to a problem. You’re no good as a writer without good … Continue reading →

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What Suits the Audience

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Gene Stewart

I watch SUITS. I see how it is manipulative, simplistic, and shallow, using every cheap soap opera trick to jerk the feelings of sappy open-mouth viewers. Every move is obvious, predictable, and as familiar as your own discomfort. I realize … Continue reading →

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A Day Closely Approaching Winter

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Gene Stewart

Stone Sea – A Socratic, Aristotelian, or Possibly Asimovian Dialogue for A Day Closely Approaching Winter # Cold winds blow leaves and sparrows through crowds of desultory shoppers. A Writer, shoulders slumped, hands in pocket, head hung low, slouches out … Continue reading →

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Making Things Is Better Than Re-Arranging or Breaking Things

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Gene Stewart

I write most of my stories for their own sake, with audience being a secondary or tertiary consideration after-the-fact. Art for art’s sake, I guess.   “Money, for gods’ sake,” as 10CC cited.   Thing is, as my eldest son … Continue reading →

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