How the Copyright Bots Kept Us From Seeing Neil Gaiman Receive His Hugo for DOCTOR WHO!

What? There’s “copyright bots?” WTF?

How copyright enforcement robots killed the Hugo Awards – by  Annalee Newitz

Last night, robots shut down the live broadcast of one of science fiction’s most prestigious award ceremonies. No, you’re not reading a science fiction story. In the middle of the annual Hugo Awards event at Worldcon, which thousands of people tuned into via video streaming service UStream, the feed cut off — just as Neil Gaiman was giving an acceptance speech for his Doctor Who script, “The Doctor’s Wife.” Where Gaiman’s face had been were the words, “Worldcon banned due to copyright infringement.” What the hell? read article

Strong Female Characters Trump Sexual Violence

…Nonviolently, of course. (Hence our use of the word “trump” in the title, instead of “beat,” “kill,” etc. Ah, it’s good to be entitled enlightened. Excuse the Freudian slip.)

Study: We Benefit From Seeing Strong Women on TV – by Lindsay Abrams read article

How Writing for Publication Really Works

We love the titles of this writer’s (Nathan Bransford) books. Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow. Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe. Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp. Someday we’re going to have to read them. Till then, we have this:

The Publishing Process in GIF Form – by Nathan Bransford

At first you’re thinking of writing a novel and you’re all…

But then you have an idea! read article

What Does It Mean To “Know How To Write?”

We’re moving onto The New Yorker’s turf now. Watch out, Sports Illustrated, you could be next!

EVERYTHING IS FICTION – by Keith Ridgway

I don’t know how to write. Which is unfortunate, as I do it for a living. Mind you, I don’t know how to live either. Writers are asked, particularly when we’ve got a book coming out, to write about writing. To give interviews and explain how we did this thing that we appear to have done. We even teach, as I have recently, students who want to know how to approach the peculiar occupation of fiction writing. I tell them at the beginning—I’ve got nothing for you. I don’t know. Don’t look at me. read article

TV Reality Vs. TV Fantasy

by Theresa Wiza

Arthur Godfrey & Alan Funt, who were big deals once upon a time

When Alan Funt’s Candid Camera television program made its debut in 1948, Funt unknowingly created the reality TV genre. From that first hilarious peek into the human spirit came shows like America’s Funniest Videos, Ashton Kutcher’s Punk’d, and more.

The same year Funt debuted Candid Camera, Arthur Godfrey showcased struggling artists in his Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. read article