Blog Posts

On Delayed Mourning and the Origin of 42Cobras

It hurts when the people we care about die. That pain is in no way lessened when it takes us longer than normal to learn the horrible truth of a loved one’s passing.

Pen Beats Sword: When Government "Secrets" Were Foiled by Art

The US Government works really hard to keep their secrets safe from prying eyes. And sometimes bored writers with a quirky idea will just go and reveal those secrets to the world without even meaning to.

The Oddity of Country Music Sequel Songs

Prepare to investigate the secret history of country music sequel songs!

The House of Zahn

Jamie is new in town, so he doesn’t really know the legends of Old Man Zahn’s house. He doesn’t have years of terror built up in him. Perhaps that’s why it was so easy for him to walk into the house that terrified the other boys and see first-hand the terror that is the House of Zahn in this new short fiction from Adam Wynn.

Jurassic Lightyears and Autopsying Unnecessary Sequels

Three recent releases serve as great examples of how to make necessary sequels or unnecessary sequels. Guess which two serve as the examples of unnecessary sequels.

Why Everyone Is Wrong About the Enemy in Top Gun: Maverick

Everyone on the Internet is talking about why Top Gun: Maverick never explicitly names the enemy nation. That’s because it doesn’t really matter.

Your Interpretations Are Wrong

Authors, artists, and creators of all kinds spend hours considering how their words and their work will affect an audience. Shouldn’t the audience take just as much care considering their interpretations?

Defending the Necessity of Objectivity in Journalism

Journalism without objectivity is journalism without credibility, and that is journalism that does not deserve to shape the future.

Dog and Monkey Show

Some people get their pleasure in life from pretending to throw a tennis ball for a dog. Those people are horrible human beings. Don’t be that kind of person.

Don’t Show, Don’t Tell: The Power of Suggestion in Fiction

There is a common rule in storytelling that says “Show, Don’t Tell.” However, sometimes doing neither one is actually much better.

A Matter of Perspective

We hardly ever think about how the character receiving the benefit of the main perspective in a work matters, but that one simple detail shapes everything about how the audience experiences the chain of events that makes up the plot.

Mary Sue Who?

What’s a Mary Sue? Am I one? There’s a lot of confusion about this topic, and just as much anger. So I will definitively answer the questions surrounding two recently accused Mary Sue’s by saying…maybe?

Assembled: The Marvel of Long-Form Storytelling

I want to talk about Endgame. I want to talk about all the incredible moments that will make fans stand up and cheer or want to weep. Both exist. And perhaps in a couple weeks I’ll delve into a more spoiler-unfriendly review. This isn’t a review so much as it is a letter of appreciation.

Staying on Brand and Other Questions I Can't Answer

So much of everything we do today revolves around branding. Especially when it comes to cementing your “personal brand.” But how does "building your brand" really fit into God's plan? Is that what we are called to do? Is that who we are called to be?

The Humanity of Good Sci-Fi

Sure, sci-fi needs to look cool and show us something new, but truly legendary sci-fi needs to show us something human.

Mary Poppins and the Delight of Musical Theatre

Mary Poppins Returns is a very silly, predictable movie, but it is the right kind of silly and predictable, which makes it a great musical. And like all great musicals, it is quite delightful.

The Dilemma of Characterization and "That Character Wouldn't Do That!"

It’s a harsh reality to get slapped in the face by disappointment when someone we love lets us down. It’s even harder when that person is fictional.

We Should've Seen It Coming

Truth be told, George Lucas’ later mistakes in the Star Wars prequels were all our fault. We should’ve seen it coming.

What Walks at Night

Though his side of the bed was normal, Willard quickly realized that his wife’s side of the bed was horrendously shredded and slimy. Willard did not focus his energy on that side, though, as he continued to scan the room for the cause of the sound and the damage to his wife’s side of the bed. Standing by the window, watching the moon as if looking out from an aquarium, there stood a great horror.

Why Sequels Are So Often Doomed to Fail

Sequels are like playing the lottery and, just like in the real lottery, you have better odds of being stabbed in the eye by a passing pirate captain than you do of winning.