I don't get asked very often where my ideas come from - but that's probably mostly because I don't talk much about my writing. It is one of those stereotypical questions, however, and lacking in other ideas this week I will speak to it a little bit. I am an informationophile - I love to learn. I absorb information, sights, sounds, stories and thoughts like a sponge, and it all percolates around my brain until it spits out something new shiny and (hopefully) unique. Small things, big ... Read more »
Blog
Identifying Themes
So I'm sure everyone reading this has had an English class where they were instructed to find the themes in some grand piece of literature. I'm also sure most of us rolled our eyes and went about BSing the paper as best as we could. Outside of actual literature writers, most authors aren't actually trying to put themes in their books. I'm what is disparagingly referred to as a 'genre writer' - I write SF and Fantasy, exclusively. I don't put any deep themes in my work. Intentionally. ... Read more »
The 25,000 word death zone
I have been writing for most of my life - all of my adult life and some before that. As I've said earlier, I've finished five novels. I have two I regard as active works in progress. But a quick and dirty survey of my folders found me nine major projects, six of which were over 10,000 words. Average length of my unfinished non active projects was 15,000 words, but only one is over 25,000 words. This is about what I was expecting. 25,000 words seems to be a mental 'switchover' point. ... Read more »
Back – and forth. Publishing and why we write.
Well, the last few weeks have been different. Finished up with the convention I was at, finished moving, and then some personal issues cropped up. Suffice to say, I haven't been writing much, but I promised a weekly post and I've been slacking! So, this week we're talking about getting published. Let's be clear: I have not yet been. I have a good agent, so it is probably reasonable to assume that at some point in the distant future, I will be. However, this is not a fast or easy ... Read more »
Moving conitnues, excerpt in place of post
Move continues, and is almost complete. In lieu of a proper post, here is the first major action sequence from 'Shadows of Grey Tower' [he was brought through the house to] a cleared area in the center where old walls had been removed to create a meeting hall. Footsteps and excited whispers echoed through the House’s wooden walls as Carrick was hauled into the Hall and dropped before the Head of House. The Head was older than Carrick’s Head had been. Age had worn him down to a wiry thing ... Read more »
Apologies
Due to moving and convention, I will not be putting up a real post this week. In lieu, I have a question I'm looking for various answers on. What sort of visual or idea does 'steampunk romantic fantasy' conjure up in your mind? ... Read more »