Author Archives: Eric Rampson

The Calculus of a Great Sentence

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Eric Rampson

I HATE the idea that there is some formula that will yield a great story. Sure, there are blueprints out there that will allow you to make a story. And, depending on your talent with the actual language, it may even … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Where Are Your Feet Planted?

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Eric Rampson

I once got into a fairly heated argument with my friend David (well, we’ve had many heated arguments, if I’m being honest). We were on the crowded porch of the dorm during one of our Residencies for grad school, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Boredom Is Part of the Process

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Eric Rampson

A friend recently posted a question to the Facebook group dedicated to our MFA program. She was looking for guidance in the face of 20 or so unfinished stories, for advice on how to get herself to finally finish them. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Genre: A Screed (Or “You Got Superheroes in My Cancer Memoir!”)

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Eric Rampson

Genre, man. What a total fucking bummer. And I’m not talking about Sci-Fi, Horror, Romance, Mystery. I’m not even talking about those hybrid mofos, super-intense-niche-genres like High Sci-Fantasy Alt History, where TechnoMage Winston Churchill battles Scion of Cthulhu Adolf Hitler. (Note … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Why? (or Some Thoughts on Rhetorical Questions in Fiction)

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Eric Rampson

In manuscripts that I’ve been reading recently—workshop pieces, early drafts from friends, etc.—I’ve been noticing a LOT of rhetorical questions in the narration. Things like, “What would my sister think of me?” or “What could I possibly do?” Now, sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft Discussion, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sentences I Love #2

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Eric Rampson

There are sentences I read that stop my heart. Used to be that’s as far as I got: “Damn, that’s a great sentence. Come on heart, get moving.” Since I’ve been studying writing, which means also practicing the art/skill of … Continue reading →

Posted in Sentences I Love, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Pics or It Didn’t Happen

Posted on October 16, 2015 by Eric Rampson

(A couple days ago, the Jersey Devil was all over my social media feed due to some blurry “sighting” photo being shared. I wrote this in response.) My iPhone wakes me, my Twitter blowing up, dingdingdinging, like the bell at … Continue reading →

Posted in Short Fiction | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Sentences I Love #1

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Eric Rampson

There are sentences I read that stop my heart. Used to be that’s as far as I got: “Damn, that’s a great sentence. Come on heart, get moving.” Since I’ve been studying writing, which means also practicing the art/skill of … Continue reading →

Posted in Sentences I Love | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Here Comes the Helicarrier: On Satisfying Chessiness and Cheesy Satisfaction

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Eric Rampson

Unsurprisingly, I saw Avengers: Age of Ultron at 11pm on the Thursday before opening (the first “midnight” screening at our local theater was at 7pm—this irritated me until I attended my first post-40 late-night opening [which will also be my … Continue reading →

Posted in Storytelling | Leave a comment

It Follows

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Eric Rampson

If you really want to conjure up a ghost Cultivate a space for the things that hurt you most —The Mountain Goats, “Outer Scorpion Squadron” Horror stories need their audience (readers or viewers) to believe in the unreal aspects of … Continue reading →

Posted in Storytelling | Leave a comment