by Kevin L. O’Brien
Automation is defined as technology that performs work with little or no human assistance; automatic machines are known as automatons. It actually predates the Middle Ages, in that the Greeks knew about and used automated systems as early as 300 BC: examples include Hero of Alexandria’s automatic doors and fountain, and Ctesibius’s robot owl.
by Diane Morrison
“Hey, I’m looking for advice. My character lost a limb in the last fight. Does anyone know about writing amputees?”
by KJ Kabza
A legitimate publisher approaching an author, rather than the other way around, is both very flattering and very rare. But because of its rarity, the experience had a downside: I had been convinced it could never happen to me, so I was not ready in case it did.
The SFWA Board of Directors and the Nebula Awards Committee are pleased to announce an extensive update to rules for the Nebula Awards®, including the Ray Bradbury and Andre Norton Awards, effective November 15, 2018.
News from DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival: You’re invited to the NYC PREMIERE of WORLDS OF URSULA K. LE GUIN.
The Givers Fund is accepting grant requests for this cycle. The deadline for this year’s grant requests is December 1, 2018. Any forms received after that date will be automatically deferred to next year’s grant cycle.
by John Walters
When we experience setbacks as writers, especially one after the other seemingly with no end in sight, how do we keep from becoming overwhelmed with despair? Here are a few things that work for me that I hope you find helpful.
by Stephen Sottong
One of the problems when writing any SF story is keeping the technology reasonable enough that the reader can suspend their disbelief and focus on the story rather than being rudely pulled from the plot by preposterous violations of the laws of nature.
by Lauren Roux
We wanted to reach out to the Science Fiction Writers of the world and offer up our expertise to answer any questions you might have about the regolith on the Moon, some of the ices that might be there, and what it’s like to actually handle the lunar soil that is not only dry, but statically charged.
by Kevin L. O’Brien
It should be pointed out that while it is easy to pattern a quasi-medieval fantasy society after medieval Europe, European society of the Middle Ages didn’t just appear out of nothing. It grew from antecedents and so was based on a foundation of varied traditions, and there is every reason to believe that a fictional society would be the same way.
by Clay Johnson
I’ve never been good at outlining before I write. If I know where the story is going, then the fun part is already done, and the writing becomes a chore. But this new thing, where I tell her a chapter, then think on it, smooth out the edges, and write it down, forced me into a mid-range style of outlining that really works for me.
