Archive - The Real Story

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

September 2024

The Secrets to Being a Successful Writer

And more importantly, how the hell do we writers make any money?

Sep 29, 2024 •

Brent Hartinger

August 2024

I Started Going Bald at Age 19, and It Was Incredibly Traumatic. But Now I'm Glad It Happened.

And no, it's not because I learned an important Life Lesson™.

Aug 3, 2024 •

Brent Hartinger

June 2024

May 2024

A Career in the Arts Isn't a Normal Job. It's More Like Being a Professional Athlete.

The hard is what makes it great.

May 5, 2024 •

Brent Hartinger

April 2024

What Do We Do with Older Books and Movies That Offend Modern Sensibilities?

Should they be edited? Given warning labels? Censored?

Apr 10, 2024 •

Brent Hartinger

March 2024

Is It Still Worth It for Writers to Put Up with All the Bullshit?

The system used to work. I'm starting to wonder if it still does.

Mar 9, 2024 •

Brent Hartinger

February 2024

It's Hard to Write Stories Set in the Past. But Some Writers Do It Better Than Others.

The past is far more interesting than some recent projects make it seem.

Feb 28, 2024 •

Brent Hartinger

January 2024

I've Realized Something Big About My Writing Career — and There's an Interesting Take-Away for Aspiring Writers

My work in traditional media was always a cold, hard slog. But every time I embraced new media, I found massive success.

Jan 24, 2024 •

Brent Hartinger

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