K. Marvin Bruce

From the earliest days writers have invented words.  Two of the masters in this art were Shakespeare and Dr. Seuss.  I should, of course, add Lewis Carroll.  Those who live by the word, die by the word.  It seems only fair that they should help create their own means of execution. My writing partner Fantasia and I like to discuss words we’ve invented.  I pepper them into my stories, and since publishers tend to eschew truly creative works, most of the heat is felt by me alone.  It’s truly sad, because, in the most modest way possible, I like to think that some of those words add flavor as well as heat. Some time ago I began keeping a list of invented words I’d used, or intended to use.  Since my stories are about as likely to see publication as the Whig party is to win in 2016, it seems fitting to share a few of my favorites.   One class of made up word I use is the modified real word. An example of this occurs in my story “Initiating an Apocalypse” where the word “

The part-time writer has a limited supply of time.  Although I try to be consistent with the piece of my day dedicated to writing, I also find myself the victim of inspiration.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I’d finished four novels.  I’ve begun far many more than that. The works I abandon, like children I love, are never intended to be neglected.  I write by inspiration.  Writing is like having a favorite food; if you eat it every day it soon loses its intensity.  Most of what I write reflects my current Muse.  Apart from days when I just have to force myself, my writing is based on that charmed idea at present in my head, beguiling me with possibilities. I’m currently working on a new novel.  I began it about two weeks ago.  At the time I was in the middle of another novel.  Well, “middle” is a bit generous.  I’d actually written the first chapter and a half, and I’m still in love with the idea.  Like a wanton man, I’ll find my way back eventually and hope she’s still

I confess.  I’m a self-taught writer.  Actually, I’ve been taught by the hundreds of people whose books and stories I’ve read.  Technique, more properly speaking, is what I taught myself. From my earliest days I wanted to be a writer, but didn’t say so for two reasons: 1) it sounded a little too arrogant, and 2) it sounded a little too much like John Boy Walton.  But write I did. When it comes to laying out plots I often stumble.  The overall trajectory of a novel is clear in my mind from the beginning, but as I write things begin to morph: the character I thought I knew intimately turns out to be somewhat of a diffident stranger, I resolve crises too quickly, an event I never anticipated enters the story. Am I writing or being written? I’ve heard of writers who spend vast amounts of time sketching out their plots in meticulous detail.  These are the writers, I expect, who don’t have to work cruddy little jobs to keep their sorry-assed spirits hitched to their weary h

While The Passion of the Titans will be my first published novel—something about which I’m very excited—it is far from the first novel I’ve written.  It comes in at number four.  Nestled between my master’s degree and doctorate was my first completed novel.  Written while I was largely unemployed, trying to help my new wife make ends meet, I plunked out a clunker that I only ever very briefly considered sending out to publishers.  I’ve still got a copy somewhere. I find that it is important to keep copies of even failed writing attempts. My first attempted novel dates back to about seventh grade.  I was a sickly child and while home from school with one bout of flu or another, I began writing a somewhat developed, multi-chapter story.  As a somewhat more mature writer, years later I ripped the pages in half in embarrassment.  As an even more mature writer, years later I taped them back together. I began work in ernest on a novel while teaching.  My experience seemed to be cr