Scott Batson's Blog
November 2, 2026
What Fantasy Authors Told Me About Drawing Maps
I drew my fantasy world before I knew the story. Later, I asked working authors whether I'd wasted my time.
October 28, 2026
I Read Dune at 15 to Look Smart. I Reread It as a Dad.
Teenage me saw a story about becoming a hero. Adult me found a story about the people who have to watch him
September 18, 2026
August 17, 2026
The biggest problem in self-published fantasy isn't bad prose
It's pacing—and even successful books get it wrong. Here's how to spot it in your own work.
August 3, 2026
Did George RR Martin Kill Epic Fantasy?
Why Larry Correia's viral attack on George RR Martin isn't really about The Winds of Winter
July 13, 2026
Klara and the Sun Isn’t About AI. It’s About Loving Someone Who Will Outgrow You
The trailer looks beautiful. But it’s missing the quiet devastation that made Ishiguro’s novel unforgettable.
June 10, 2026
Writers Keep Making Characters Blind, Then Giving Them Superpowers
From Daredevil to Dune, speculative fiction loves disability. As long as it doesn’t actually disable anyone
SFF Writers Keep Making Characters Blind, Then Giving Them Superpowers
From Daredevil to Dune, speculative fiction loves disability. As long as it doesn’t actually disable anyone
May 1, 2026
What to do with your failed short stories?
Some advice from someone whose written, failed, and published short fiction
February 13, 2026
Are Fantasy Adaptations Too Woke?
Ask any online critic, and the reason why so many fantasy adaptations bomb is that they are too liberal. Is it true?
