Golden Age of Fantasy and the Big Three

I remember Orson Scott card saying that this is the Golden Age of Fantasy. I'm inclined to agree.
In today's genre, we are finally beginning to see writers of color and Epics steeping away from the eurocentric enviroments and mythologies. With Chris Kastensmidt, I'm seeing Brazil/Africa. With Aliette de Bodard, I'm seeing Mexican fantasy come to life. But it's not just the racial and enviromental contexts that have changed.
The familiar tropes have "bent" as well. We all know of the dark tones that Epic Fantasy has decided to turn, and how Brandon Sanderson turned one of Fantasy's traditional tropes upside down, but we have more authors. Joe Abercrombie twists and tears at the role of the hero with his (dar I say?) anti-heroic heroic fantasy trilogy "The First Law". Scott Lynch comes out with an interesting way to use the well-loved thief trope in his "Gentlemen Bastards" sequence. Even Sam Sykes and N.K. Jemisin have discussed on the role on the chosen one.
Yes, the shelves are still shadowed by Tolkien's influence, but THIS IS the Golden Age of Fantasy.
Which leads me into an interesting question. I was looking a A Dribble of Ink the other day, reading an interview Aidan Moher did with Daniel Abraham for his forthcoming book, The Dragon's Path, and noticed how he said that the Big Three in Fantasy were Rothfuss, Lynch, and Martin.
Now, I did not criticize, but I pondered, who did I think were the Big Three? Well, I thought Rothfuss, Sanderson, and Abercrombie were today's Big Three.
Who do you think are the Big Three?

Goodbye, Short Stories

With the advent of the Nebula Awards, I decided to take a peek at the list and read some free stories. Now, the first stories I've read (but alas, I am not close to finishing any one), "Ponies" and Amal El-Mohtar's (May she win the John W. Campbell award!) "The Green Book", I decided to hold of on the novellaa and novellete.
I've always been one for short stories and flash fiction, and as you guys might know, Epic Fantasy. I can tolerate the length of an Epic Fantasy depending on the quality of the story, but me and works over 4000 words...its always been a bit of trouble. But then I read two stories on that list, remembered a few novellas/novelletes that I loved, and am eager to read more.
Christopher Kastensmidt's "The Fortuitus Meeting of Gerard von Oost and Olodura" had my mind running as I'm essentially reading a Sword and Soul story by a non-Black man (needless to say, I friend requested him on Facebook immediately)! Aliette De Boddard's "The Jaguar House, in Shadow" was another great read! Today I will download "The Sultan of the Clouds", read Ted Chiang's Nebula nominated novellete, and all the others on that list. I also read Tobias Buckell's "The Fall of Alacan" on Subterranean Magazine, which is a prequel to his novella "The Executioness" (it should be noted, that Paolo Bacigalupi's "The Alchemist", a novella set in the same world, is nominated for the Nebula for best novella). I remembered the thrill I had reading Ted Chiang's "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate", Yoon Ha Lee's "The Territorialist" and yesterday, read her story "Ghostweight" for a second time.
Needless to say, I'm beginning to love novellas/novelletes.
Which brings me to the fact that now I want to write them. I feel grounded in short stories and flash fiction. Also, in sorts, I feel limited. I've never written anything decent over 3000 words, and, honestly, the thought of writing something between 7000-20000 words scares me. But, I have to write it sooner or later, right? If I want to write novels, one day, then I must try for a novellete, and then a novella, right? I've thought that my attempts at a novellete be at 7000 words, max (the original plan was 8000 words as per SFWA requirements for "Best Novella", but I'm not even professionally published, so who am I kidding?). Reading more novelletes/novellas will also help me understand structure and most importantly, how to keep an audience interested. So, for now, it's goodbye to the short stories until I feel grounded in novelettes. Till then!

Fan Fiction kills Creativity

I have several friends who are into anime (I myself am not a strong anime/manga fan as I was in my earlier years). At my old high school, we had a "Japanimation" club-everything Japanese, but mostly anime. These were my friends. Many of them, I included for a short time, have written fan fiction. I know one girl who continously creates "projects" for her fan fiction. I recall asking her why she does not just be original. I guess this was the wrong question to ask as I should have asked why does she not be creative and stay away from pre-created works.
Now, I am not all against fan fiction, however, if you are earnestly trying to become a *real* writer, then you must rely on your creativity and imagination. It does no good to write in pre-conceived ideas. How then can you work your literary muscles? A story by you is much memorable than a story in another person's setting.

Through My Alter-Ego's Eyes: Thoughts on First-Person Narrative

The first first-person narrative prose I've read was Twilight. Since then, two years ago, I've been traumatized to read another first-person. The Magic of Recluce healed the wound a bit (I was forced to read it, buying it and realizing later that it was FPN, and already too late in returning it.), but I was still scared. Every story I read from Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Clarkesworld, etc. that was in the FPN, I turned the other cheek.
Until Saladin Ahmed.
I've said this so many times, but his story "Mister Hadj's Sunset Ride", was written in the FPN, and I absolutely love it. I've read some works by Nnedi Okorafor, and I loved it. Soon, I started reading, and eventually writing in the FPN.
Trying to write poetic lines in the Third-Person Narrative is hard. Even after writing in the TPN for years, it's hard. When writing FPN, it's easier, fun, and my lines come straight from the heart.
Yes, it is limiting to one character, but using the FPN can give other characters a sense of history and mystery. This too, is why I love FPN.
When writing in the FPN, first, be familiar with it. Just don't write about "I" and "Me", have the character talk, think, move, act, and share his or her philosophy. Read Saladin Ahmed, Nalo Hopkinson, N.K. Jemisin.
Writing in the FPN can be so rewarding, especially when it comes to characterization.
Alright, that's the end, now either comment or get off my blog!
Kudos!

The Universal Question Important for the Ways of Life: How do I write?

Well, maybe not universal.
This question I see in two ways.
Q: How do I write?
A1: Well young Padowan/Genin/or whatever noob you are(please don't be offended), you must write! How can you become a better writer if you don't write? Make some time to write everyday, even if it's 30 minutes to an Hour. Write a scene, some lines of dialogue, a description. Look at your room and describe your room, but don't TELL ME what's in your room, SHOW ME.
A2: Read! Most people who have told me I must read to be a better writer never told me the simpler way of saying it(though now I think about it, it's pretty simple now). When you read other fiction, you are studying how the writer writes. Your eventually going to start writing like the writers you read, but this is okay. I find myself reading Charles Dickens and Yoon Ha Lee more because I love the prose and the poetry-like writing. Every writer is different though! Read the genre of your choice to see the trends of that genre, read non-fiction like history, mythology, the news, etc. to come up with ideas for your story!
You see that reading has a great power over your writing. Also by reading, you learn new words and start to "thin out" what you like to read and by doing this, you start to know who your audience is. Well you guysl till next time.

Creating a Race, Part2

Last time, I talked about my process of creating your very own Fantasy race. Of course, your race is your race, and you can do whatever you want with it. Well, this is for people who can't really create their own races, but still love Elves and Dwarves.
Now, I think creating a race of Elves and Dwarves is harder than making your own. After Tolkien, people used Elves and Dwarves to no end. Whenever me, as a reader, think of Elves, I think of the following characteristics:
-Pointy Ears
-Tall
-Fair skin
-Beautiful
-Live in forests
-Blonde hair(or brown/black)
Whenever I think of Dwarves, I see:
-Short
-Axe-weilders
-Miners
-Long Beard and lots of hair
-Drinkers
You see the problem? This formula for creating Elves and Dwarves has been used countless times in the past. In the early days of Dungeons and Dragons, they were guilty for this. Most people who read, and see the appearance of the Elf, will think of these characteristics, much like if the reader sees a Dwarf coming along.
People say that these are over-done. Not entirely so.
Let's take a look at Brooks and his Shannara series. Yes, their are Dwarves, but their origins are what stand out. *SPOILER* The origins of Shannara's Dwarves are the result of Humans who fled underground during a nuclear fallout, and over the course of years, have become Dwarves.
So, looking at this, I still see potential in these races if the writer puts some time into it.
We all know about how Dwarves like to mine, but did we know that they are ancestor worshippers? In Norse mythology they are.
Or how about that Humans who die can become the fair Elves, and yet they are seen, can pass through walls? Or how about the African Wakyambi Elves who have tails, dark skin, and live in the clouds?
My point here, is that their are tons of myths AROUND THE WORLD about Elves and Dwarves, so showing something new in these races IS NEVER A BAD THING! In fact, it gives life to your genre, and you earn much more respect. To have your Elves and Dwarves really shine, try combining the myths of all the Elves and Dwarves. Try mixing Norse Dwarves' association with death with the African dwarf Biloko's carnivorous appetite. Or think of why would Elves hide in mounds instead of a forest. Speaking of mounds, what about a graveyard or a place where many people died? Elves are associated with death too you know.
So, writing the Elf and Dwarf is never a bad thing, one just has to put the time and research into it. Till next time guys.