"Why We Write the Story: The Political Nature of Narrative," forthcoming in Narrative Power: Encounters, Celebrations, Struggles (Aqueduct Press, 2010)

Start with an author in a room. In a moment, this author will begin writing. Hir fingers will tap out percussive rhythms or determine the loops of graphite swirls. Letters will become words will become paragraphs will become pages will become – if all goes well – a piece of creative work in the form of a narrative.

"How to Deal with Racist and Sexist Material in Workshop," in The Wiscon Chronicles: Volume 2 (Aqueduct Press, 2008)

Most of the racism and sexism I see in workshop is of this variety: women and brown people omitted, or turned into what a friend of mine calls snap-together story pieces. Everyone writes into these clichés from time to time. It’s not, in itself, a problem. It’s not a sin. It doesn’t make one a bad person. It’s one of those things that is part and parcel of trying to create worlds and characters whole cloth from one’s head. Purchase online.

"Welcome Back to the Beginning," in The Wiscon Chronicles: Volume 1 (Aqueduct Press, 2007)

Last year, feminist science fiction fans gathered in Madison to celebrate the thirtieth Wiscon. A lot of things have changed in thirty years – there are more women in political positions, third wave feminism has made more space for the voices of women of color, feminist blogs have made networking on the internet both easier and less personal. Yet, thirty years after the first Wiscon, a question that should have been settled long ago remains a hot topic. Does sexism exist in science fiction? Purchase online.

REVIEWS

Review of N. K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (Orbit Books, 2010)

Review of Alaya Dawn Johnson's Racing the Dark (Agate Bolden, 2007)

Review of Cat Rambo's Eyes Like Sky and Coal and Moonlight (Paper Golem Press, 2009)

Review of Gail Carriger's Soulless, book one of the Parasol Protectorate (Orbit Books, 2009)

Review of David Ellis Dickerson's House of Cards: Love, Faith and Other Social Expressions (Riverhead Books, 2009)

ARTICLES

"Student Ambassadors to Australia" in Faces Magazine: People, Places and Cultures, May 2005

"The Play's the Thing" in Odyssey Magazine, Wired World issue, September 2004

"Weighing Self-worth" in Odyssey Magazine, Weighing in! issue, May 2004

A number of articles in Paintball Sports Magazine, Paintball 2 Xtremes, Scenario News, Claws in Creativity, N2 Arts, The Music and Sound Retailer, 2002-2005

Header illustrations by Sam Weber (left and right) and Fantasio (center).