Category Archives: Writing Journal

There is only one choice for the new World Fantasy Award

Most readers of this blog will already have read the news that, after a long debate within the community of fantasy writers and readers, H P Lovecraft is to be replaced as the face of the World Fantasy Award. Not everyone is taking the news gracefully, not least critic S T Joshi who performed anContinue reading “There is only one choice for the new World Fantasy Award”

Gus. A case study in Sad Puppy ignorance.

The Sad Puppies are, once again, frolicking in my twitter feed after WIRED magazine’s take on the 2015 Hugo awards was republished in an extended form. It’s a good read, followed by the usual tail of comments with members of the Mad Harpies “movement” publicly humiliating themselves by repeating the same old tired excuses forContinue reading “Gus. A case study in Sad Puppy ignorance.”

Open Thread : How can writers protect themselves from social media?

As some of you will know, I took a week week long sabbatical from social media last week. I’ve done this four times this year, each time for one to three weeks. For reasons I’ll come to, I find it essential. I love social media. Twitter is my favourite platform, it connects me with hundredsContinue reading “Open Thread : How can writers protect themselves from social media?”

REVIEW – The End of All Our Labours

Will the world end in fire? In ice? Or grey goop? A review of The End of All Our Labours by Potassium Cockburn. I am, on the issue of humankind’s near future, an optimist. As humans we have a historic tendency to predict the worst, and yet our history has been one of steady progress.Continue reading “REVIEW – The End of All Our Labours”

Urban Fantasy : more than just sex with were-leopards

The numinous. The weird. The fantastic, or even the spiritual. Whatever name it goes by, humans have a profound need to glimpse some greater reality beyond our mundane existence. And there’s nowhere more mundane than a modern city, where everything down to the light fittings is human-made, and even the darkest alley is under CCTVContinue reading “Urban Fantasy : more than just sex with were-leopards”

Three hard earned lessons on building a Patreon

This was originally published as part of my regular newsletter, which you can sign up for here. Over the last 4 months I’ve built up my Patreon account from $18 to $176 and with luck it’ll carry on growing ;) Here are three lessons I’ve learned. 1. Getting new backers is hard! But worth it.Continue reading “Three hard earned lessons on building a Patreon”

Science Fiction is a global language describing our shared future

First published as part of the Impakt Festival 2012. In 1873 Jules Verne described the remarkable possibility of a journey made around the world in only eighty days in his pioneering science fiction novel. Less than a century later the same journey could be made in less than eighty hours. The facility of science fictionContinue reading “Science Fiction is a global language describing our shared future”

This is why Amazon’s ebook lists are full of crap

Recently I was talking to a friend who reads intensely, but has no interest in or knowledge of publishing. He’s a coder, who reads a half dozen non-fiction books a week. This is the kind of reader the industry needs. He’s also the kind of reader who until last year bought ebooks and print exclusivelyContinue reading “This is why Amazon’s ebook lists are full of crap”

Sorry Jonesy, but I can write for The Guardian AND love Terry Pratchett

Written with the support of my most excellent patrons. I never had the good fortune to meet Terry Pratchett, but I’ve been reading his books since I was eleven. My favourite Discworld tomes – Mort, Small Gods and Going Postal – have been read a half dozen times each at least. I also hold aContinue reading “Sorry Jonesy, but I can write for The Guardian AND love Terry Pratchett”

What is geek culture’s big problem with criticism?

This essay was written with the support of my patrons. If you find value in my writing, please consider becoming one of my backers on Patreon. Or if a regular donation isn’t possible, you can purchase my short story collection. I do understand why people often react poorly to cultural criticism. If I was in a dark,Continue reading “What is geek culture’s big problem with criticism?”

I answer questions on digital marketing for Leicester Writes

My old home city, the wonderful multicultural metropolis of Leicester, has a festival called Leicester Writes. Despite being far away on the Indian sub-continent I will be taking part, with a live Q&A on Twitter about indie publishing and digital marketing. Join in! *** Twitter Q & A with Damien Walter JUNE 25, 2015 /Continue reading “I answer questions on digital marketing for Leicester Writes”