To really understand how and why things work, it’s usually a pretty good idea to strip things back to their most basic level and build your way up from there. Maps are no different, if you want to get really serious. The world works in layers, and really good maps that Work will be designed […]
How To Build A World From The Ground Up Week 3: Tall Pointy Things Read More »
I realise from the outset that a lot of people will decide that this post isn’t relevant to them. And maybe, to some extent, that’s true: not every writer needs to know where mountain ranges are likely to pop up, especially if you’re writing in the ‘real world’. Still, mapping has its place for everyone.
How To Build A World From The Ground Up Week 2: Groundwork Read More »
If you’re one of the ones playing along on social media, you’ve probably heard of my epic giveaway: to celebrate the impending release of From The Ground Up: How To Build A World That Really Works, aka my non-fiction handbook for writers that looks at the ways geography influences culture. It comes out in about
Let’s Celebrate! Have You Entered My EPIC FGU Giveaway Yet? Read More »
Great article currently doing the rounds, worth reading: Everything You Wanted To Know About Book Sales But Were Too Afraid To Ask Yes, I’ve been internet-dead for the last two months. Sorry about that. I’ve pretty much been life-dead too, so you know. Rah? O:) Read more:Made OfHow To Theme: Chapter Six – Sub-themesAn Interview
Everything You Wanted To Know About Book Sales Read More »
[View the story “A Quick Note On Scale” on Storify] Read more:On Rhythms, And The Regaining ThereofAm I Doing NaNo This Month??Editing and Revision Checklist
The Number 1 Biggest Worldbuilding Mistake You Might Be Making Read More »
It’s pretty normal to worry as a beginning writer that someone is going to steal your idea. What you eventually realise though is that it doesn’t matter, because we’re all using like the same five (nine, twelve, three, one – pick your critical theory) ideas anyway. Case in point: 😀 😀 Happy Friday, everyone. <3
Teddy’s Story Joint Read More »
I know, I know. A lot of conventional wisdom about writing recommends a daily writing habit—for exactly that reason: if you write every day, it becomes a habit. Habits, in this case, are good. But. Conventional wisdom is just that: conventional. It’s often the average of all the options, something that most people can aspire
This Is Your Official Permission To NOT Write Every Day Read More »
GRRM (George R.R. Martin) is what we call a sloooooow writer. Stephen King is what we call a fast writer. In Chuck Wendig’s 2016 Mandate post, he refers to a comment that he once received from a reader stating that his books were no good and that he ‘settled’ because he wrote too fast. This
Writing Fast and Slow Read More »
I love this speech of Neil Gaiman’s, so much so that I show it to my creative writing classes every time without fail. It’s just under 20 minutes, but it’s terribly worthwhile – not just if you’re a writing, too – it’s applicable to every creative person.* * I.e. everyone, because I believe that everyone
#HappyDays Neil Gaiman on Writing, Life, and Everything Else Read More »
…Actually more like 2.33 hours, but let’s not quibble. It starts like this: the inestimable Lindsay Buroker wanted to interview the Twinny One, Liana Brooks, notionally I think about her career as a hybrid author (i.e. an author who uses large publishers, small publishers, and also does self publishing – not an author who is
Belatedly, I’m Doing A Vodcast In 2.5 Hours! Read More »
