How Not to Build a Cinematic Universe
In early December, DC Films announced its updated slate of comic-book movies in development, and it looked a little different from the...
The Horror
Does it make sense that a pacifistic vegan, someone who cries watching factory-farming videos, should be such a devoted fan of horror...
The Dragon Roars
An earlier post on this blog explained how I get many writing ideas from my reading, and in this post I can provide proof-positive of...
10 Fave Lit-Flick Ladies
In the classic 1987 film Throw Momma from the Train, Larry the creative writing teacher is reading the titles of the books his students...
Writ with Wit
Q: What do you call it when a woman in labor yells, "Couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't, didn't, can't!"? A: Having contractions....
Artistic License to Kill
The arts have been misrepresenting history for as long as there has been history or the arts. Some people might say, "Well, history is...
The Magic Influence of Fairy Tales
A shelf on one of the groaning bookcases in my home library is packed with hardcover books collecting fairy tales, folktales, myths, and...
Villain as Hero
Because of a huge backlash by consumers and politicians against horror and crime comics, the four-color publishers got together in 1953...
Kids' Stuff
"You have to write the book that wants to be written," stated Madeleine L'Engle. "And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups,...
Grab Hold of Your Tale
I'm a man of my word. Or words, actually, because I'm a writer. My preference is for putting English-language scribbles down on paper and...
