Ask the Author: Holly Black
Answered Questions (53)
Holly Black
It sounds as though you're doing great. Does second draft mean you have a complete first draft, with an end and everything? If so, congratulations! That's a huge accomplishment. But 303 pages of a book is an accomplishment in and of itself, finished or not.
Your next job is editing. Both of you should read through and make notes. I like to make them long-hand on a print out but you both should do it however feels best. Does anything feel off? Are there bits you think need to be stronger? After that, I would take turns reading the book aloud to one another -- a sure fire way to find smaller things wrong. And after that, recruit friends to read it. What you want to know from them most is to tell you if there are any points where they became bored or didn't want to read on.
Good luck!!
Your next job is editing. Both of you should read through and make notes. I like to make them long-hand on a print out but you both should do it however feels best. Does anything feel off? Are there bits you think need to be stronger? After that, I would take turns reading the book aloud to one another -- a sure fire way to find smaller things wrong. And after that, recruit friends to read it. What you want to know from them most is to tell you if there are any points where they became bored or didn't want to read on.
Good luck!!
Holly Black
That would be extremely tragic, since they're all dead! :(
Holly Black
I am so glad that my books helped you in any small way. I would love to do write that for you, but am not sure how to get it to you. I can't seem to attach things to messages here. If you have a twitter, can you tweet at me and I will attach it there?
Holly Black
I can't tell you much about it, but yes.
Holly Black
BoN was adult because the characters were adults in it, rather than young adults. I wanted to write about people in their late twenties and early thirties.
Holly Black
I was actually thinking of Pioneer Valley Fencing in Easthampton where they do heavy weapons as well -- I had no idea they were doing ARMS in Amherst! That's right down the street from me.
Holly Black
I am so glad you liked it! Yes, it is a duology although I have two books to write before I can give you the second book. I should be starting it this time next year. :)
Holly Black
No one has an option on The Cruel Prince and no adaptation is currently being made, so no need for tears of blood. If there is ever an adaptation, though, we're both going to cross our fingers, hope for the best, and know that the book will still be fine and unchanged. :)
Holly Black
It came out this past September and the third book will come out next September!
Holly Black
I think about doing it a lot, but I haven't found the right project yet.
Holly Black
I think my biggest tip is that once you've figured out how your world works, figure out how people in that world exploit the systems or resources you've made up. See if there are models in our human history you can use to add resonance and suggest things you might not have thought of. Remember how people really behave.
Holly Black
I would love to do that and I hope to at some point.
Holly Black
I'd like to believe.
Holly Black
Yes, we've planned out the whole series. We know the big turns of what's going to happen in the remaining two books we're writing. (The third one is written, just not out yet.)
Holly Black
The Bronze Key!
Holly Black
Yes! There's a new series, tentatively titled Folk of the Air. I am working on the first book, Cruel Prince, now.
Holly Black
My answer is going to be a little bit less useful to you because, since I'm not my own publisher, I have deadlines that I can't extend.
I do a lot of revisions, both as a means of getting closer to the story I want to tell and also as a method of procrastination. I go over earlier chapters many times and later chapters many fewer times. But, basically, a book has as many revisions as it needs. Sometimes I have known what a story was and the revisions were about language and characterization. Sometimes I was changing my mind about who the villain might be four different times, resulting in four different drafts (I'm looking at you, Darkest Part of the Forest). Only you know when your book is fully cooked and you've got to revise it until it is.
I do a lot of revisions, both as a means of getting closer to the story I want to tell and also as a method of procrastination. I go over earlier chapters many times and later chapters many fewer times. But, basically, a book has as many revisions as it needs. Sometimes I have known what a story was and the revisions were about language and characterization. Sometimes I was changing my mind about who the villain might be four different times, resulting in four different drafts (I'm looking at you, Darkest Part of the Forest). Only you know when your book is fully cooked and you've got to revise it until it is.
Holly Black
I do write almost anywhere and at any time (although its super hard to write when exhausted), but that's not luck, that's deadlines! I have playlists that I can listen to, which are helpful for getting me back into the headspace of the book, but other than that, its the writing itself which gets me back in. Once I write for a little while, the writing gets easier.
Holly Black
The protagonist of The Iron Trial is Callum Hunt. The two other kids in his apprentice group are Tamara and Aaron, so he's stuck with them, although that's not always a bad thing.
I do think it's easier to co-write a book, because there's someone else to lean on.
I do think it's easier to co-write a book, because there's someone else to lean on.
Holly Black
Thank you! I actually have some specific links to helpful research books on faeries on my site, here: http://blackholly.com/for-writers/res...
In addition, Katharine Brigg's Encyclopedia of Fairies is a great place to start, if there's one at your local library.
In addition, Katharine Brigg's Encyclopedia of Fairies is a great place to start, if there's one at your local library.
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Apr 15, 2026 04:37PM · flag