Since launching this blog in 2008, the Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust has shared numerous posts aimed at helping writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror improve their craft. With so much content over so many years, it’s easy to miss things, so this month we’re highlighting some of the blog’s most viewed posts.
Interviews
From May 13, 2018: Odyssey Graduate Rebecca F. Kuang talks about her writing process before and after Odyssey, outlining a novel trilogy, her debut novel The Poppy War, and more.
From March 10, 2012: Literary Agent & Guest Lecturer Jennifer Jackson offers advice on approaching literary agents and describes what she looks for in new writers.
From February 14, 2016: In Part 1 of a two-part interview, Author & Guest Lecturer N. K. Jemisin talks about her growth as a writer and how to make a story “grabby.” In Part 2, she discusses her influences and writing schedule, as well as the importance of learning from critiques of other writers’ work, not just your own.
Posts by Odyssey Graduates
From July 13, 2014: In “What is ‘Interstitial,’ and Is It Contagious?”, Ellen Denham explores what makes a work of fiction interstitial and the benefits intersitiality offers writers.
From December 2, 2018: In “The Revision Machete”, Derrick Boden describes how an Odyssey Online class, “Getting the Big Picture” with Barbara Ashford, helped him develop and apply the “revision machete” process to his writing.
From October 13, 2019: In “How to Create a Novel from a Short Story”, Linden A. Lewis shares how feedback during the Odyssey Writing Workshop helped them turn a short story into their debut novel, The First Sister.
Posts by Odyssey Director Jeanne Cavelos
From April 12, 2015: In “Tracking Your Character’s Emotional Arc”, Jeanne explores the concept of emotion arcs and how they can be used to make your scenes more powerful.
From September 8, 2013: In “Manipulating Pacing and Organization”, Jeanne uses a chapter from George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones to analyze how to manipulate pacing and organization for greater impact.
From March 9, 2014: In “Staying Motivated and Productive”, Jeanne offers advice on ways to keep yourself writing more consistently.
Guest Lecturer Q&A Excerpts
From April 10, 2023: Author and Guest Lecturer Nancy Kress discusses the importance of persistence, being open to feedback, and character motivation.
From March 13, 2023: Author and Guest Lecturer Mary Robinette Kowal talks about trusting your own taste in order to develop your voice as a writer and her process for incorporating feedback without losing that voice.
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