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George R.R. Martin Doesn’t Owe You His Books

June 4, 2025May 30, 2025 by A.B. Channing
George R.R. Martin always looks a little like he lost his way home to Middle Earth, though I don't think he was ever friends with Tolkien. His taste in clothing is impeccable. And the dwarves would be proud of that beard.

What happens when an author leaves readers hanging, then calls them out? Drama.

Categories Author Life, In The News Leave a comment

The Last Mile Trial: Why Finishing A Series Is So Damn Hard

June 5, 2025May 29, 2025 by A.B. Channing
A road with tight switchbacks winds up a mountain beneath you. Driving that would probably give you vertigo, and walking it would probably give you blisters. Luckily, you're a camera drone.

Stuck on those final books? Welcome to the club, friend. I’m so sorry.

Categories Author Life, Personal, Writing Advice Leave a comment

Your Fictional Matriarchy Isn’t Inclusive

June 5, 2025May 24, 2025 by A.B. Channing
A chess queen stands disdainfully before the fallen king-piece at her feet. The game is won, but her reign has only just begun.

Pink patriarchy makes great gender revenge. It’s not so good at inclusion.

Categories Representation, Worldbuilding, Writing Advice Leave a comment

Writing An Identity I Struggle To Love (Because It’s Mine)

June 5, 2025April 2, 2025 by A.B. Channing
The silhouette of a man stands alone on a rocky outcrop beneath the skeleton of a gnarled desert tree. Behind and over them both is a sky full of stars.

No one is above internalized bias. I am no exception.

Categories Author Life, Personal, Representation Leave a comment

How To Write Casual Representation

June 5, 2025March 11, 2025 by A.B. Channing
A protester holds up a sign that reads, "I understand that I will never understand, but I stand with you." The world could stand to hear this message daily.

It’s entirely possible to write an identity you don’t share. Here’s how to do it well.

Categories Representation, Writing Advice Leave a comment

10 Ways To Identify Your Queer Characters Without Labels

June 5, 2025February 28, 2025 by A.B. Channing
A young woman looks into the camera, smiling faintly. She has long, dark hair and a wide-brimmed hat that the lesbians would love. Rainbow light reflects across her face. It is unclear whether she's standing behind a suncatcher, sneezed into a pot of pixie dust, or just woke up very gay today.

Just paint rainbows on their foreheads. How hard can it be?

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When Should You Reveal That Your Character Is Queer?

June 5, 2025January 17, 2025 by A.B. Channing
The night sky lights up with a stunning display of multicolored fireworks. If you look closely, they're being launched from a castle wall... but most people who see this image visually will probably miss that part!

Where do you plant that rainbow flag, on a scale of “page one” to “is this even relevant?”

Categories Representation, Writing Advice Leave a comment

The Strengths and Shortcomings of “Just Write A Person”

June 5, 2025December 29, 2024 by A.B. Channing
An ordinary person with a great fashion sense carries shopping bags up a snowy driveway towards a house. The house has a really nice sunroom out front. It looks like a ship's bridge. I want a sunroom like that.

It’s good writing advice… kind of.

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How To Write They/Them Pronouns in Third Person

June 5, 2025December 6, 2024 by A.B. Channing
A person you can't see holds up a small whiteboard to show you. They got their hands on the colored whiteboard markers again. In rainbow letters, they've written, "Hello, my pronouns are." After this is a blank line, meant for pronouns. Nothing is written on it. It is also rainbow.

Group settings? Reflexive verbs? Name exhaustion? Read on!

Categories Representation, Writing Advice Leave a comment

12 Ways To Worldbuild Queer Inclusion In Fantasy

June 5, 2025November 24, 2024 by A.B. Channing
You've walked straight into a fairytale. Before you is a footbridge made of logs, arched elegantly over a pond. All around it is a lush garden. Trees dressed in purple flowers spread their branches over dense, grassy purple plants. It looks like the sort of place for a picnic, provided the fairytale pond isn't swarming with mosquitos.

Fantasy is a genre of endless possibilities. Queer inclusion can be one of those.

Categories Representation, Worldbuilding, Writing Advice Leave a comment

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Recent Posts

  • George R.R. Martin always looks a little like he lost his way home to Middle Earth, though I don't think he was ever friends with Tolkien. His taste in clothing is impeccable. And the dwarves would be proud of that beard.
    George R.R. Martin Doesn’t Owe You His Books
  • A road with tight switchbacks winds up a mountain beneath you. Driving that would probably give you vertigo, and walking it would probably give you blisters. Luckily, you're a camera drone.
    The Last Mile Trial: Why Finishing A Series Is So Damn Hard
  • A chess queen stands disdainfully before the fallen king-piece at her feet. The game is won, but her reign has only just begun.
    Your Fictional Matriarchy Isn’t Inclusive

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  • Representation (8)
  • Worldbuilding (2)
  • Writing Advice (8)

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