Hey everyone! And farewell, also.
When I started writing this newspost I went looking for the first one I ever did. It turns out it was in November of 2013 - that’s over three years of Friday newsposts! I don’t think I’ve ever kept a paying job that ...

Hippie Van’s last-ever newspost
HippieVan at 12:00AM, Jan. 27, 2017The Hated - Part Two
Banes at 12:00AM, Jan. 26, 2017
The Hated, part two: Heroes we hate
Last week I blathered on a bit about villain Protagonists. These are evil, or “bad” characters who get to be Protagonists!
But what about more traditional heroes, or supporting characters are written to be the “moral compass” or “voice of reason”, or just ...
The Hated - Part One
Banes at 12:00AM, Jan. 19, 2017
art by Sandy Jarrell
The Hated, Part One - Villain Heroes
I've picked up all the “new” versions of the Archie universe and enjoyed them to different degrees for the most part. Sometimes there are a few laughs. Or some nice artwork. Or just the fun of seeing the characters ...
Nemesis
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Jan. 14, 2017
Just the name inspires awe, a level of attention and gravity. Because it was a name before it became a noun: she was the ancient Greek goddess of revenge and retribution against those who committed any kind of hubris.
In stories though, a character that takes the position of nemesis ...
Quackcast 299 - Self Insertion of Characters
Ozoneocean at 12:00AM, Nov. 29, 2016 LISTEN!
Art by Ozoneocean
In Quackcast 299 we expand on an idea from Tantz's Saturday newspost about inserting your personality into your characters when you write them. But not only that, we chat about how a work of fiction by a writer can be like a darkly faceted diamond ...
Your Self-Insert is Everywhere
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Nov. 26, 2016
I came across a little blurb the other day about Mary Sues, and fanfiction, and how the writer of a fanfiction is basically writing a fantasy, inserting themselves as the character at the center of attention, immaculate, glittering and perfect. Basically everything you want to smack into a different galaxy ...
Constructing Suspense
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Nov. 19, 2016
Everyone loves a good thriller, a titillating mystery, a tale full of twists and turns (that make sense), something that challenges you to find the answer before you’re given it at the final act.
I’m not sure how many like sitting down to construct them.
Don’t get ...
Stuck In The Middle
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 17, 2016
Stuck in the Middle - Midpoints
I've often found the Midpoint of a story difficult to find and difficult to write.
It's one of the big three pillars in story structure, and it's the
most subtle.
The Midpoint doesn't have the “dragged into a new world” of ...