Tag Archives: Conan

LEST WE FORGET THE ART

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Philip Athans

I’ve been writing a lot lately about what we can learn from the old pulp magazines, about grabbing your readers in the first paragraph, and lots of stuff about action and adopting an active writing style. And now I’ve started … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, horror novels, how to write fantasy, how to write fiction, how to write horror, how to write science fiction, Publishing Business, Pulp Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels, SF and Fantasy Authors, transmedia, Writing, writing advice, writing fantasy, writing horror, writing science fiction, Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

SEPARATING THE AUTHOR AND THE WORK, THE ARTIST AND THE ART

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Philip Athans

Bill Cosby, rapist Michael Jackson, child molester H.P. Lovecraft, racist You know I don’t watch the TV news, so I’m happy to report that I have done no wallowing in the sick spectacle that has become of the once venerated … Continue reading →

Posted in Arron of the Black Forest, Books, creative team, horror novels, how to write fiction, monsters, Publishing Business, Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels, SF and Fantasy Authors, transmedia, Uncategorized, Writing, writing advice, writing horror, Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

WRITING MONSTERS

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Philip Athans

At last it can be revealed in all its glory: my upcoming book from Writer’s Digest: Writing Monsters. Picking up where The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction left off, at least in the case of monsters, this book … Continue reading →

Posted in Anime, Arron of the Black Forest, Books, comic books, creative team, Dungeons & Dragons, fantasy movies, horror movies, horror novels, how to write fiction, monsters, Publishing Business, RPG, Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels, science fiction movies, Science Fiction Story, SF and Fantasy Authors, transmedia, Video Games, Writing, writing advice, Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

SOME COPY TIPS

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Philip Athans

Cover copy, sell copy, catalog copy, web copy . . . the reality is that unless you, your editor, or some other helpful soul writes this, your book will forever be overlooked. Though yes, it is possible to present a book without … Continue reading →

Posted in Arron of the Black Forest, Books, creative team, Dungeons & Dragons, E-Books, horror novels, indie publishing, NaNoWriMo, POD, Publishing Business, Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels, SF and Fantasy Authors, transmedia, Writing, Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

ARRON’S LONELY BLOG

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Philip Athans

If you still haven’t heard of Arron of the Black Forest, that’s my fault, not yours. How do we rectify that? Well, first off, you can click over to the Arron of the Black Forest blog. Here’s a taste of … Continue reading →

Posted in Arron of the Black Forest, Books, creative team, E-Books, Publishing Business, Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels, SF and Fantasy Authors, Writing, Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

STEP ONE ERRATA & ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Philip Athans

Is there such a thing as a perfect book? If there is, I haven’t read one, let alone written one. One of the things I’d hoped to accomplish with this blog was not just to promote the book but to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Publishing Business, Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels, SF and Fantasy Authors, Writing, Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

THE FANTASY AUTHOR’S EXERCISES III: A ONE-PAGE SYNOPSIS

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Philip Athans

This series of posts was inspired by an edit. Cut out of the final edition of The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction was a short appendix that began with this paragraph: We’ve learned a lot over the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Publishing Business, Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels, SF and Fantasy Authors, Writing, Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

DON’T APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING FUN

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Philip Athans

I began the day with a sense of intellectual terror—I didn’t know what to write about for this week’s Fantasy Author’s Handbook post. I want to recommend Jane Yolen’s exemplary Take Joy, but don’t have my copy of it on … Continue reading →

Posted in Dungeons & Dragons, Publishing Business, Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels, Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

BOOKS FOR FANTASY AUTHORS III: MY TEN FAVORITE FANTASY NOVELS

Posted on November 11, 2009 by Philip Athans

From time to time I’ll recommend—not review, mind you, but recommend, and yes, there is a difference—books that I think fantasy authors should have on their shelves. Some may be new and still in print, some may be difficult to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, characters, Dungeons & Dragons, E-Books, how to write fantasy, how to write fiction, indie publishing, monsters, Publishing Business, Pulp Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels, SF and Fantasy Authors, transmedia, Writing, writing advice, writing fantasy, Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

HI CONAN, IT’S ME, PHIL

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Philip Athans

On the cover of Conan the Barbarian King-size Special Issue, #1, in a red circle, it says: “SPECIAL ACADEMY AWARD ISSUE! TWO OF THE GREATEST CONAN SAGAS EVER TOLD!” A pretty compelling claim, but it wasn’t the awards that drew … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, comic books, Publishing Business, Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels, SF and Fantasy Authors, transmedia, Writing, Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments