NOTE: This column is about Mary Sues. Yes, in some cases people have varied definitions. The one I use is, simply, an "author's pet" who does not necessarily have to be a self-insertion, but does get preferential treatment that strains or breaks continuity. Thus for this column I use it entirely in a negative context.



Dark Mary Sue? Most people would feel Mary Sues are quite dark enough as it is. Many an author or game-master is afraid to create a new character in fear of ...

There's a R in the month, so I can talk about oysters. All authors, especially authors of speculative fiction, are asked, "Where do you get your ideas?" ...

QUESTION: I want to write religion in my continuity. What do I do?
ANSWER: Write it. ...

Parallel Earths are a classic element of writing, almost as commonly accepted as aliens, faster-than-light-travel, magic, and cyberspace. Indeed, my entire Xai project is based on the idea of parallel worlds - so it's a subject close to my heart and a few other vital internal organs

Writing parallel Earths however is more difficult than it seems. It's easy to slap a few changes on our world or on a particular time period - but this doesn't mean it produces a consistent, coherent, or believable ...

This is a more "warm and fuzzy column" than some of my more technical ones. I suppose I can break with tradition now and then. Everyone needs balance.

I've addressed "attitude" in worlds and concepts, but rarely attitudes in authors. But there is one that I'm going to talk about and how it relates to worldbuilding.

The attitude than an author should "play god" in their worlds and stories.

Let's just say I think it's a bad idea.



LET THERE BE SPITE:
To put it simply, to put it bluntly, taking the attitude that you're ...