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Tag: neil gaiman

  • February 10th, 2016 10:05pm


    just-kertwanging-you-brother:

    Mr. Gaiman, how can I get past the self-loathing I feel whenever I read something that I have written?

    Write more. And remember that everyone who writes anything good wrote a lot of bad stuff first. You are learning, be kind to yourself, just as you would be kind to anyone learning to do something hard, like juggling or ballroom dancing or surgery. Learn from your mistakes, and get better, and one day you’ll write something you won’t loathe.

    (Also, it’s fine to dislike something you’ve written. But don’t dislike yourself for having made it.)


  • May 13th, 2013 10:35am

    Rebloggable by request: Write People.

    neil-gaiman:

    Hi Mister Gaiman! I’m a young, 22 year old writer currently working on a novel that I intend to feature a strong, female lead; however, as a male, I often find myself out of my element. I was wondering if you had any suggestions—are there any books/authors you might recommend that you feel write strong females rather well? Preferably in the sci-fi and/or fantasy genres. Thanks!

    I don’t know how to answer this, other than, go and talk to women. There are lots of books you can read with strong women characters but ten minutes talking to a woman will give you more than you’ll get from a hundred books, whether the books are written by men or by women.

    Talk to them about what they like and don’t like about the way they are represented in fiction. Talk about hopes and dreams.  Ask any interesting but embarrassing questions you’ve ever wanted to ask but were too male or too shy or too sensible to ask. 

    And then, when you’ve done all that, remember that the most important thing to do is to write people who feel like people, and that women are people.

    (Also, find out what the Bechdel test is. It is your friend.)


  • March 24th, 2013 11:33pm

    Of all organs, the tongue is the most remarkable. For we use it to taste our sweet wine and bitter poison, thus also do we utter words both sweet and sour with the same tongue.

    — Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book (via o-ver-ture)

  • December 31st, 2012 9:15pm

    My New Year’s Wish

    neil-gaiman:

    It’s a New Year and with it comes a fresh opportunity to shape our world. 
    So this is my wish, a wish for me as much as it is a wish for you: in the world to come, let us be brave – let us walk into the dark without fear, and step into the unknown with smiles on our faces, even if we’re faking them. 
    And whatever happens to us, whatever we make, whatever we learn, let us take joy in it. We can find joy in the world if if it’s joy we’re looking for, we can take joy in the act of creation. 
    So that is my wish for you, and for me. Bravery and joy.

  • December 4th, 2012 5:19pm

    ctforum:

    Neil Gaiman backstage at the “Vision & Brilliance” Forum on Saturday, December 1. 

    Gaiman joined Neil deGrasse Tyson and Neri Oxman, with moderator John Dankosky. In this backstage interview he talks about what it is like to be on stage with this panel and also answers a question from a young, aspiring director.