COMMITMENT ISSUES

1. The author is working on too many projects to finish one. It’s far better to complete one manuscript than to go halfway on two. Most publishers won’t consider an unfinished novel manuscript from an inexperienced author.

2. The author is unwilling and/or unable to set time aside for writing. Alternately, perhaps the author sets aside a regular time, but is not consistent about actually using it. If you put aside one hour per day for writing, you can pretty easily write 1-2 pages. (Actually, I’d like to phrase that more confidently. If you can sit down for an hour and do nothing but write, you WILL write at least 1-2 pages. If you can do 1-2 pages a day, you will have a manuscript drafted within 6 months). If you’re writing at your computer, I’d recommend turning off the Internet because I find it tends to reduce productivity.

Continue Reading »

…especially when they are taping you.  A lesson learned too late for one false accuser.

By the way, how bat**** crazy do you have to be to convince your boyfriend to take the precaution of secretly taping a conversation with you?

Why use the Steelers as the stand-in for Gotham’s team?  Maybe they couldn’t get any other football-playing rapist* for Batman to strangle on such short notice?

*Never proven in a court of law, but Batman isn’t much into legal niceties (like verdicts).  Double points if he does Roethlisberger with a Terrible Towel.

Problems with Psychic Heroes is an interesting article with a lot of good points, but I think most of these pitfalls can be easily avoided.

1. Mind-reading doesn’t need to be an instant problem-solver. Psionics (specifically telepathy, from which most other non-physical mental capacities stem) probably shouldn’t be as simple as just turning on a power and using it.  It’s not like finding a particular product at a grocery store, is it?  It isn’t very likely at all that what the psychic is looking for will be neatly packaged, labeled and sorted.  Consciousness just shouldn’t work that neatly, at least not for your average (or even slightly above-average) psychic.  The mind is an extremely complex, living network of constantly shifting thoughts and emotions, memories and awareness. It’d probably be dangerously easy to get lost if you didn’t know exactly what you were doing.

2. If the telepath does recover the secret/information/weakness, it doesn’t have to be the ultimate trump card it’s commonly made out to be. For example, maybe the psychic uncovers only a piece of the larger puzzle. It’s pretty uncommon that a hired goon will have a full grasp of his master’s grand scheme. Also, a psychic police officer might learn who the killer is, but that doesn’t count for anything unless he can prove it in court with actual evidence. Having the information is one thing, but applying it is something else altogether.

3. With most superhero-types, the same trick isn’t likely to work as easily a second time.  Perhaps non-psychic characters can learn how to defend themselves against psychic attack.  For example, in “Only a Dream,” Batman mentally overcomes Dr. Destiny.  Also in Justice League, Lex Luthor acquires a power-nullifying device that enables him to overcome Grodd’s mind-control. Alternatively, the X-Men’s Emma Frost has been depicted shifting into diamond form specifically to block an attempted telepathic intrusion, despite being a psychic herself.

Continue Reading »

If you’d like to write a guest article for Superhero Nation but aren’t quite sure what to write, here are a few ideas.

Continue Reading »

• Six Vital Signs of a Healthy Plot.  I see a surprising amount of manuscripts without wants/goals.  Things just sort of happen around the main character.  Also, please leave us in some doubt as to whether the main characters will be able to accomplish their goals.
• Ten Rules for Manuscript Evaluations.  This article is targeted at thriller authors, but I think most of it applies regardless of genre.  Hat-tip: Linda Gerber.
• You’re Kind of a Big Deal–don’t lose your guts when the going gets tough.  Hat-tip: Janet Reid.
• Identifying the Strengths of Your Work.
• Elevator Pitches: Dos and Don’ts.  Some helpful thoughts if you have 30 seconds of an agent’s time.
• 45 Flaws of Inexperienced Authors (Part 1)
• 45 Flaws of Inexperienced Authors (Part 2)