J.S. Morin, author of the Twinborn Trilogy

The 5 Keys to Seamless Worldbuilding

by J.S. Morin | Jan 20, 2015 | Worldbuilding | 1 Comment

When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all. -God Entity (Futurama) One of the biggest mistakes in worldbuilding is...

Great Scott! It’s the Future

by J.S. Morin | Jan 8, 2015 | Sci-Fi Commentary | 0 Comments

Back in 1989, Back to the Future Part II came out in theaters. Unlike its retro predecessor, this movie looked ahead to the future, which arrived...

Sci-Fi Time Capsule: Back to the Future Edition

by J.S. Morin | Jan 6, 2015 | Movies & TV, Sci-Fi Time Capsule | 0 Comments

This week in a special edition of Sci-Fi Time Capsule, a look back at the Back to the Future trilogy. This is not a seminal time-travel movie. Jules...

New Year’s Resolutions for 2015

by J.S. Morin | Jan 1, 2015 | Checking in | 1 Comment

The theme of this year's resolutions is "Taking My Own Advice." So, looking back on what I blogged about in 2014, what should I focus on for 2015?...

My Holiday Book Acquisitions

by J.S. Morin | Dec 30, 2014 | Checking in | 0 Comments

Well, Christmas 2014 has come and gone, and my relatives have once again piled me with books to get next year's reading started. As I continue my...

How to Handle Surprises

by J.S. Morin | Dec 23, 2014 | Prose and Cons | 0 Comments

Most people like surprises. For this discussion, we're going to ignore the ones who don't. We're also going to skip discussing unpleasant surprises,...

Review: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

by J.S. Morin | Dec 19, 2014 | Reviews | 1 Comment

Should you go to see The Battle of the Five Armies? This is really the core question any review ought to help answer, so that's the one I'll try to...

The Twelve Days of Fantasy

by J.S. Morin | Dec 16, 2014 | Fantasy Commentary, Musing & Brain Teasers | 0 Comments

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3 Tips on How to Write a Setting

by J.S. Morin | Dec 9, 2014 | Prose and Cons | 0 Comments

Without a setting, your story takes place on a blank stage, with characters and actions without a backdrop. But how to go about presenting your...

Sci-Fi Time Capsule: Fringe “Safe”

by J.S. Morin | Dec 4, 2014 | Movies & TV, Sci-Fi Time Capsule | 0 Comments

This week in Sci-Fi Time Capsule, the spiritual successor of the X-Files, Fringe. Season 1, Episode 10 is "Safe," which is about a bank robbery...

5 More Self-Editing Tips

by J.S. Morin | Dec 2, 2014 | Prose and Cons | 0 Comments

A while back a gave a list of tips for authors who wanted to edit their own work before sending it out to an editor. Well, here are 5 more tips for...

Movie Review: Hunger Games, Mockingjay Part 1

by J.S. Morin | Nov 25, 2014 | Reviews, Sci-Fi Commentary | 0 Comments

So, I've gone to see Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Pt 1) and braved the opening weekend crowds to do so. To to be up front about it, I haven't read any...

Sci-Fi Time Capsule: Futurama “Space Pilot 3000”

by J.S. Morin | Nov 20, 2014 | Movies & TV, Sci-Fi Time Capsule | 0 Comments

This week in Sci-Fi Time Capsule, the best sci-fi cartoon ever: Futurama. When you've created a cultural icon with the weight of The Simpsons,...

3 Tips to Remove Yourself From Your Dialogue

by J.S. Morin | Nov 18, 2014 | Prose and Cons | 1 Comment

Have you ever read a book where every character sounds the same? How about one where the main character has a set of beliefs that they work into...

Sci-Fi Time Capsule: Total Recall

by J.S. Morin | Nov 13, 2014 | Movies & TV, Sci-Fi Time Capsule | 0 Comments

This week in Sci-Fi Time Capsule, Total Recall. Despite all the trappings of a summer action movie, including star Arnold Schwarzenegger, it has...

The 3 P’s That Will Help Your Writing Career

by J.S. Morin | Nov 11, 2014 | Prose and Cons | 0 Comments

More people want careers in writing than actually have them. Many are trying to bridge the gap between wanting and having. There is no magic formula...

Sci-Fi Time Capsule: The Fifth Element

by J.S. Morin | Nov 6, 2014 | Movies & TV, Sci-Fi Time Capsule | 1 Comment

This week in Sci-Fi Time Capsule, The Fifth Element. I've seen this particular movie more than most (probably even more than its fair share). It...

What is November?

by J.S. Morin | Nov 4, 2014 | Prose and Cons | 0 Comments

November is the 11th month of the Julian and Gregorian calendars (or the ninth if you want to use the Roman one). It is the home of Election Day,...

Sci-Fi Time Capsule: Quantum Leap “M.I.A.”

by J.S. Morin | Oct 30, 2014 | Movies & TV, Sci-Fi Commentary, Sci-Fi Time Capsule | 0 Comments

This week in Sci-Fi Time Capsule, a poignant episode of Quantum Leap: "M.I.A," from the Season 2 finale (Episode 20). A lot of Sam Beckett's...

What Makes a Starship Lovable?

by J.S. Morin | Oct 28, 2014 | Prose and Cons, Sci-Fi Commentary | 6 Comments

The names make you nostalgic. The sight of one stirs dreams of adventure and excitement. Hearing someone talk about them makes you wish you could be...

Sci-Fi Time Capsule: Firefly “Jaynestown”

by J.S. Morin | Oct 23, 2014 | Movies & TV, Sci-Fi Time Capsule | 0 Comments

This week in Sci-Fi Time Capsule, one of my favorite episodes of Firefly: "Jaynestown." How do you choose just one episode from a series filled with...

Who Would Win a Fight Between …

by J.S. Morin | Oct 21, 2014 | Fantasy Commentary, Musing & Brain Teasers | 0 Comments

One of the hallmarks of obsessive fandom is the crossover combat "what if" scenario, pitting two iconic characters from different universes against...