Archive - The Real Story

How Much Should an Artist Care About "the Market" — Or Even the Audience?

Writers who don't care at all annoy me almost as much as those who care too much.

Jul 26 •

Brent Hartinger

I Have a New Novel Coming Out!

It took me long enough.

Jul 17 •

Brent Hartinger

June 2025

My Agent is Circulating My Graphic Novel. I Think It's Great!

I mean, of course I do. But how she and I got here is a pretty interesting window into my creative process in 2025.

Jun 7 •

Brent Hartinger

May 2025

I'm Calling It: It's Officially Pointless to Try to Break In As a Writer Using Traditional Methods

But when God closes a door, He opens a window.

May 18 •

Brent Hartinger

April 2025

As a Writer, You Can't Please Everyone. Also, You Shouldn't Even Try.

What is "success" anyway? And what's the *point* of writing?

Apr 29 •

Brent Hartinger

March 2025

People Don't Want to Go to Parties Anymore — and Other Signs the World is Coming to an End

Americans' current obsession with social media and "therapy culture" isn't going to end well.

Mar 22 •

Brent Hartinger

What the Salmon in the Creek Below My House When I Was a Kid Taught Me About Fighting Fascism

When I was twelve years old, I had the mother of all teachable moments.

Mar 1 •

Brent Hartinger

February 2025

Demi Moore Will Win the Best Actress Oscar. To Be Successful in 2025, Writers Need to Do What She Did.

Use social media to tell a great story.

Feb 14 •

Brent Hartinger

January 2025

There's No Such Thing as an Overnight Success. (Or IS There?)

A career in the arts is one of the only professions where your life can be completely transformed in an instant.

Jan 18 •

Brent Hartinger

December 2024

I Hate Many Things About BACK TO THE FUTURE. It's Still a Great Movie.

It just goes to show that if you get some things *really* right, you can screw up a lot of the rest.

Dec 19, 2024 •

Brent Hartinger

November 2024

Spectacle Without Story is Boring

Every time a new Jurassic Park movie comes out, I think, "Even if it sucks, it will still have cool dinosaurs!" And every time, I'm bored anyway.

Nov 21, 2024 •

Brent Hartinger

October 2024

In Fantasy Novels, Should Metaphors Only Be Things That Exist Within the Fantasy World?

The work of J.R.R. Tolkien asks an obscure question, but it opens up a fascinating discussion.

Oct 30, 2024 •

Brent Hartinger

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