“It just seems to me that, from Ballard to Herbert, SF was on a mission to invent and explore unknown fresh new psychologies. It was a fascinating, daunting task. We were on to something- and we lost the nerve to do it.” There’s nothing less interesting than something which only exists to please you. AndContinue reading “SF & Fantasy need to stop being so damn eager to please”
Category Archives: Writing Journal
The Tao that can be told is not the true Tao
I’ve been re-reading the Tao Te Ching this week, inspired to return to the ancient text by my review of Ursula Le Guin’s selected stories for my Weird Things column at The Guardian. The text is one of Le Guin’s favourites, and a life long influence over her writing and philosophy. I first read itContinue reading “The Tao that can be told is not the true Tao”
Beta Readers wanted for Lost Things
I am working on a fiction project called Lost Things, and am quickly reaching the point where feedback from readers would be useful and constructive. If you have a little time to spare, and would like to see what I’m working on before anyone else, then email me at damiengwalter@gmail.com and I will get backContinue reading “Beta Readers wanted for Lost Things”
My Kitschy Predictions 2012
The Kitschies are among my favourite speculative fiction awards for the simple reason that they give awards to very good books. Last year I nailed A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness as the winner. So this year I’m going to take a wild stab at predicting the whole shortlist (!) How will I do? BlackbirdsContinue reading “My Kitschy Predictions 2012”
British Fantasy Awards 2012 Results
The British Fantasy Awards have been announced. I was happy to be invited to be a judge this year. It was fun, and I got to read a bunch of good books. or re-read in many cases! Here are the winners: Best Novel (Fantasy): Jo Walton’s Among Others Best Novel (Horror): Adam Nevill’s The RitualContinue reading “British Fantasy Awards 2012 Results”
Social media only makes critics more influential
Here’s a not widely discussed fact. Some of the established publishers we now recognise were set up in part as elaborate tax dodging ruses by wealthy people whose real business interests were elsewhere. A little publishing house could run at a loss and still help make a profit by reducing the tax bill. And ifContinue reading “Social media only makes critics more influential”
How to work with theory without snuffing out your creative spark
I spent much of the last weekend live-tweeting from Weird Council, an academic convention on the writing of China Mieville. Many clever people were in attendance, many clever things were said. I only understood about half of them but felt quite good about getting that much. As a good friend of mine says, if moreContinue reading “How to work with theory without snuffing out your creative spark”
Live-writing challenges the writerly ego…which is a very good thing
The rules were simple. Keep to the scheduled study hours, always wash your mug, and under no circumstances touch the coltan. So far Aidan had kept a clean sheet on all counts. Now he was planning to commit the only serious possible infraction. And that did not mean coffee rings on work surfaces. Aidan’s RockContinue reading “Live-writing challenges the writerly ego…which is a very good thing”
My Apple iPhone 5 Prediction
I don’t often comment on tech issues, but I’m a real gadget buff and keep a close eye on tech news. The Apple event scheduled for 12th September is creating the usual vast storm of media interest, possibly even more than usual. Most people are certain a new iPhone 5 will be announced. Some peopleContinue reading “My Apple iPhone 5 Prediction”
Why Sense of Wonder sucks
Many writers of fantasy fiction describe their work in terms of its ability to evoke a ‘Sense of Wonder’ in the reader, and go out of their way to find sources of ‘wonder’ to energise their stories. This is self-defeating in the most serious kind of way. Stories that attempt to create a ‘Sense ofContinue reading “Why Sense of Wonder sucks”
What do we do about Lovecraft?
The more I think about the issue, the more concerned I become about the honouring of H.P.Lovecraft in Horror, Fantasy, SF, weird and speculative fiction. The argument has come to the fore again in my mind because of the furore at Weird Tales, which also roughly coincided with Lovecraft’s birthday. Lovecraft’s racism is not widelyContinue reading “What do we do about Lovecraft?”
Weird Tales editor has insulted us all
The genres of SF, Fantasy, Horror and other styles of the fantastic have changed a lot in recent years. Those changes, to my mind, have been hugely positive. And if I can identify one cause at the heart of those changes it is this: diversity. To use the Hugo and Nebula awards as a benchmarks,Continue reading “Weird Tales editor has insulted us all”
Damien Walter 