Found this on my page at SFF Chronicles. Scanned it years ago and put it up there, lost the original painting along the way. Must date from 2008-ish. As I’ve mentioned on this blog before, I like to sketch/scribble my way into a novel. Helps find the mood. Check out SFF Chronicles. Great forum. And […]
Read more "Old Watercolour"The idea of writing a historical novel absolutely terrifies me. Hats off to anyone who does. I love history but the trouble is the people in history insist on leaving piles of written evidence around and, before you know it, you’re researching beeswax candle-making in late 17th century Cleethorpes just so you can write your […]
Read more "Historical Novel? No Fear!"As no doubt you ragged-yet-noble few who visit here regularly or follow me on Twitter will know, I have a night job I work at alone. Though not without its downsides (The scope for office flirtation is pretty much limited to winking at the drinks machine for instance) one perennial upside is the fact I […]
Read more "The Beastie: My iPhone/Microsoft Foldable Keyboard set up."“About time! I’ve been trying to make you read it these last twenty years!” So texted my pal Matt when I mentioned I’d started reading Red Army by Ralph Peters. It was he who’d sent me a copy. I’d mentioned I needed to engage with military (science) fiction in order to better handle my next […]
Read more "Elegy For A War That Never Was: Red Army by Ralph Peters"There’s a weird Fight Club side to writing novels, I’m finding. If I can’t think of the right word I leave a mark and move on because I don’t want to slow myself down as I’m banging fresh story out. However, I do this in full knowledge a future Jim months from now will stumble […]
Read more "Writers against themselves"You never see/read any cyberpunk futures where people have cutlasses. Which is weird because in practice they’re the same thing as katana: a one-sided shortish sword mainly intended for slashing with. Or, it’s just been suggested to me, an Indian tulwar. Which, like a cutlass, has better hand protection than a katana. A near-future full […]
Read more "Katana and Science Fiction"Tim Susman is a speculative fiction author who lives in sunny San Francisco (If you’re not familiar picture Clacton-On-Sea with classier burger joints and wider roads). Like a lot of authors in this digital age he’s recently branched out into having more than one name. Those of you into the anthropomorphic, or ‘furry’, literature scene will no […]
Read more "Author Interview: Tim Susman (aka Kyell Gold)"“If you’re going to try, go all the way. otherwise, don’t even start. if you’re going to try, go all the way. this could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs and maybe your mind. go all the way. it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days. it could mean freezing on […]
Read more "Roll The Dice"The world is plump with writing similes but I don’t suppose another will harm. Anyway, this one I find useful. Writing–writing with serious intent–is a longboat. Or a trireme if your fancy leans classical, or a dromon or a galleass. The main thing to picture here is a ship with both oar and sail. Inspiration […]
Read more "Writing Is A Longboat"