Why aren’t there any stand-alone SciFi novels anymore? Last year, the first week of December, I finished the book I was reading. It was an analysis of the U.S. Constitution. I wanted to find out… I’m just weird. Let’s leave it at that. I posted on my Twitter account asking for suggestions from the #WritingCommunity.Continue reading “What happened to stand alone SciFi novels?”
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Am I writing for a 1960’s audience?
Am I writing for the 1960s/1970s audience? My Science fiction novels tend to be stand-alone military science fiction novels, mostly having to do with an invasion. I asked for recommendations of a book in that genre and sub-genre and found that there were none as a stand-alone novel. There are plenty of series, but noContinue reading “Am I writing for a 1960’s audience?”
Hello 2021!
Can you believe it? We made it. We survived 2020! It was so long ago, and yet it feels like it all happened just last week. Oh, wait. 2020 was last week. I’d love to have a motivating, elegant, erudite quote to describe 2020. I don’t. I do have one, though. It comes from “DeepContinue reading “Hello 2021!”
2020, we are about to say goodbye
Well, that’s a wrap. Man, this year was tough. 2020, you were not what I expected. I had a lot of stress, personal loss, and a lot to do this year. I finished two novels, but could not publish either of them. I had three novels professionally edited (finished one in 2019). I learned, theContinue reading “2020, we are about to say goodbye”
Book Titles
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare. What are you up to, quoting the Bard of Avon, you ask? I’m glad you did. I have discussed book covers in another one of my posts. How they are veryContinue reading “Book Titles”
Stand-alone vs Series
Much like being in combat, if alone, you better have your act together, you have to be “the whole package”, or you are going to get creamed. If part of a series, or a group, or a squad, then you have others to help you out. What does that have to do with writing, youContinue reading “Stand-alone vs Series”
Are TROPES bad?
Tropes, and the advice that may or may not be good What is a trope? You ask. Well, a trope is defined as any type of figure of speech, theme, image, character, or plot element that is used many times. Usually, the word refers to the widespread use of such things as irony, metaphor, juxtaposition,Continue reading “Are TROPES bad?”
Thick Skin
When I come across a request online for a comment or a review, I always try to frame my answer in a positive way. I’ve posted requests on Facebook (TJManrique) and Twitter (@ManriqueTJ) for helpful comments about my cover concepts, my web page, my web page content, and other components of my writing journey. TheContinue reading “Thick Skin”
Alien Negotiations
“Do you get my point now?” The knife had gone in through the eye, buried to the hilt. The enormous fighter fell to his knees, and then face forward to the ground. Unmoving. Dead. The alien delegation showed little if any emotion. They were stoic at the best of times. Indifferent most of the time.Continue reading “Alien Negotiations”
Brick and Mortar vs Online Bookstores
I’ll start with an anecdote. Back when the dinosaurs walked the Earth, 1964 or 1965, I saw Disney’s version of Jules Verne “20,000 League Under the Sea”, the 1954 film. I loved it. Of course, the next week when my friends and I played, they wanted to be either Ned Land or Captain Nemo. Me?Continue reading “Brick and Mortar vs Online Bookstores”
T.J. Manrique Author 