Burt Helm and Max Chafkin studied award-winning articles and found that the following qualities prevail among them:
1. Write no less than 6500 words.
2. Ditch the present tense. It is finally, mercifully, out of fashion.
3. In general, avoid anecdotal ledes, nut grafs, kicker quotes and foul language.
It may also be heartening to know that the word “cocksucker” has never appeared in any story that has either won or been nominated for a feature writing prize.
Ah, almost forgot.
4. Be male.
I've known Literary Agent/author Eric Smith as an editor and friend for about a decade now; I even wrote a review of his most recent novel, the delightful Don't Read… READ THE REST
Acclaimed sci-fi/fantasy publisher John Joseph Adams has announced the return of Fantasy Magazine, after being shuttered for nearly a decade. Here's the official history, according to the press release: Fantasy… READ THE REST
Somewhere between discovering The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Hellblazer, I fell deeply into love with early-to-mid 20th-century detective fiction. It was a world of smart men who mean… READ THE REST
Dessert cheesecake wafer bear claw fruitcake. Fruitcake chupa chups donut candy canes marzipan. Apple pie sweet roll tart chocolate cake macaroon marshmallow carrot cake gummi bears sweet. Pastry sugar plum… READ THE REST
We all know vital information about ourselves and our private digital accounts can be compromised by cybercriminals. However, many would be frightened to know just how compromised they and their… READ THE REST
While mosquitoes have certainly earned their title as the deadliest animal on earth, their impact on most of our lives is usually a lot less consequential. But even though they… READ THE REST
