Tag: books
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Decoding fiction age categories from middle grade to adult
Confused about the exact differences between Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult fiction? Whether you are a reader searching for the perfect sci-fi or fantasy adventure, or a writer figuring out where your manuscript belongs, this guide breaks down the age categories, themes, word counts, and content guidelines you need to know.
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Where to find real science to build your sci-fi worlds
How do you make a fictional galaxy feel completely real? YA author Kristen Pham breaks down the secret to believable science fiction. From NASA space travel logistics to bleeding-edge DARPA military tech, discover the best real-world resources to ground your next sci-fi novel in actual science.
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How the world building in Scythe changed the way I write
I’ve been in a total book hangover since turning the last page of the Scythe trilogy. You know that feeling where the real world looks a little blurry because you’re still half-submerged in the one you just left? As a writer, I spent most of the series reaching for my highlighter—not just for the plot,…
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Sidekicks with main character energy
As a writer, there’s a secret, terrifying, and exhilarating thing that can happen while you’re drafting: a character you intended for a minor role walks into a scene and refuses to leave. They show up with a fully-formed voice, a riveting backstory you never planned, and a perspective so compelling it threatens to derail your…
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Meet a few of the youngest stars of YA fantasy & sci-fi fiction writing
Do you ever have a story in your head that feels so huge, so epic, that you think, “Who am I to write this?” It’s a feeling a lot of writers have, especially when they’re young. But some of the most groundbreaking, imaginative, and successful books in recent years were written by authors who weren’t…
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Beyond the pale elf: 5 fantasy recs with representation
You know that feeling when you start a new video game and get to the character creation screen? All those sliders for hair, skills, and cool backstories? For the longest time, it felt like the character creator for fantasy novels had only one preset model available. You know the one: floppy hair, probably raised on…