N.E. White's Blog, page 2

Ready for Your Fall Read?

This week, I’m holding a huge sale on the entire Mapmaker Trilogy. For only 99 cents each (less than $3), lock into a journey across land and sea to freedom!

Okay, not quite freedom from your family, obligations, and crappy job, but wouldn’t you enjoy an adventurous escape into a wonderful world with a winged cartographer? WWWWC? Should that be a thing?

It is now.

Join the Adventure

Praise for Mapmaker–Book 2 from a reader in Germany:

I also couldn’t put the second book in the Mapmaker Trilogy down and had to devour it within two days. Aleeya’s story had me hooked from the very beginning and kept me hooked until the end. The worldbuilding is just so captivating and vividly written that you can dive right into it and only emerge again at the end. I can’t wait to read the last book in the trilogy!

If you’ve already read the books and liked them, please consider writing a review. Doesn’t have to be long. Independent authors live and die by your recommendations.

Until next time, don’t forget your adventure cape!

Ecotones Review #11

There are authors who shove an entire novel’s worth of story into a short story. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.

I am that kind of writer. Years ago, I tried very hard to kill the impetus to write a novel with less than five thousand words. I failed. So, now I write trilogies. Ha!

But today’s reviewed story tried to do just that–offer us a big idea in a scant number of words. Does it succeed?

Before we answer that question, let’s get the standard introduction out of the way. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of Ecotones: Ecological Stories from the Border Between Fantasy and Science Fiction, I’m reviewing all fourteen (14) short stories. Start here to read all mini-reviews.

This is the eleventh story in this ecology-related short story collection.

The Pattern Box by Christina Klarenbeek

This is a space opera, and the story begins with an intense scene. The author introduces us to our main character while he’s thrust from a stasis chamber. The ship is under attack. We soon learn exactly who our MC is, the enormity of the problem, and what can be done. We’re then introduced to a very foreign character who will play a pivotal role in ensuring whether the ship’s inhabitants ultimate goal is achieved or not.

I really enjoyed the smooth, easy reading of this story (though I did find a couple of typos!). The author immerses us into their world quickly and efficiently. There’s no time to explain much because they are under attack! That urgency comes through in the pacing of the story. And I thought the author did a great job giving us an ‘other’ perspective.

However… there was just so much that I think we lost a bit of the nuances that were touched on, but had to be abandoned because of the length.

With that said, the reveal at the end delivered on this story’s ‘grand notion.’

Until next time, enjoy a short story.

What is Ecotones?

ECOTONES is an anthology of speculative fiction featuring fourteen tales from best-sellers, award-winners and nominees, established talents, and up-coming authors.

Ecotones exist wherever different ecosystems make contact. Where forest meets field… where the land meets the sea… where swamp gives way to jungle… where the surface descends beneath the ground… these are borders across which different ways of life come into conflict, and sometimes cooperation.

But in speculative fiction we might envision other borders: where the mundane meets the fantastical. Where countries clash and cultures mix. Where technology is joined to flesh. Where the known meets the unknown. These are ecotones of the imagination — where anything could happen.

Featuring the work of Ken Liu, Lauren Beukes and Tobias S. Buckell, as well as eleven stories from members of SFFWorld.com’s writing community, ECOTONES is a collection like no other — a point of contact between fantasy and science fiction with a timely environmental theme.

If you’d like to follow along, Ecotones is available for free in Kindle Unlimited. Check it out.

All the best,

Nila

Pitching

I remember when I used to associate ‘pitching’ with the game. You know, baseball or softball. Ah, those were simpler times, weren’t they?

No, they weren’t. We were just young and oblivious and erroneously thought the world was ours for the taking when we were lied to just as much then as we are now.

But I’m already off tract. What was I talking about? Oh, yeah, pitches (not politics).

It wasn’t until I became a writer, and had stars in my eyes thinking I could be traditionally published, that I came across the word used in relation to books. All of a sudden, that humble five-letter word was brandished about like a new fangled mantra: Book Pitch.

Pitch me your best line. Pitch me your story. Pitch me your best novel idea. Pitch it to me, baby!

Whoa whoa whoa. What the heck do they mean by ‘pitch it to me’?

When I first encountered the idea and tried to apply it to my story or writing, it felt like a contest I was woefully unprepared for. You know, it still kind of feels that way…

But let’s tackle it together. To parse its meaning, we’ll divide the term into its nascent, implied parts.

Well, if we were talking baseball, the connotation is clear. Pitch it to me implies: throw the ball directly to me so I can easily catch it.

So, there’s two parts there, and both hinge on communication.

The first part starts with you, by throwing the ball. For a book pitch, that means you’re going to throw the best ball you have. That ball has to fly through the air, unencumbered by twisty plot lines and heavy adverbs. It’s gotta be sleek and streamlined–straight to the point.

The second part ends with them, whoever is catching the ball. That could be an agent, a publisher, or a reader. You can’t control ‘them,’ whoever they may be. But you can anticipate who they might be and what they might be interested in–just as a baseball pitcher will take into consideration the skills of his catcher and/or the hitter.

Clear as mud?

Yeah, I don’t get book pitches either. It’s like trying to come up with a golden ticket. Or catch that winged snitch thing from Harry Potter.

Well, believe it or not, there are some folks in the world who love devising book pitches and are great at it. Who knew?

And a few of them held a Book Pitch session during Seattle Worldcon.

Pitch Perfect: Developing a Solid Book Pitch (Sunday, August 17th, 2025, 12:00pm) with K.C. Aegis, Amanda Cherry, Deanna Sjolander, E. C. Ambrose, and Robin Jeffrey

Each of the presenters are well respected editors and authors (both traditional and self-published) with years of experience. Here’s what I came away with:

You should be able to say your one-sentence book pitch within a single breath. (Yikes!)Forget setting. That’s for the book description (or back cover blurb).Focus on who the character is (what do they do?), what they want, and what’s at stake if they don’t get want they want.Don’t bother with names in your one-sentence pitch. Again, save that for the book description.Practice, practice, practice. And then practice some more in front of a mirror.Practice writing a book pitch for well-known books.Prepare more than a one-sentence pitch! Once you have your one-sentence pitch, expand it to a couple of sentences. Once you have that down, expand it further to a paragraph or two.Tailor your pitches (and pitch length) to your audience.When pitching to agents and publishers, the use of genre terms is acceptable and, maybe, encouraged.Steer away from genre terms when pitching directly to readers, instead focus on some sort of goal or movement towards a goal.Be careful using obscure terms, but try to “bake in” your worldbuilding into the pitch (whatever the length).Consider developing your book pitch *before* you write your novel. It can serve as an overarching guide.

Wow. That’s a lot to take in. And notice, we still don’t know exactly what a book pitch is for. That’s because, in the end, it’s about what you aim to do with your book pitch. Do you want an agent to ask for the full manuscript? Are you after someone asking, “Oh, tell me more?” Or do you want a reader to buy your book? While all very similar because ultimately, hopefully, they’ll all read your book, but exactly how to entice each will be a bit different.

Okay, enough with all that. Let’s actually try this. After applying their tips to my debut trilogy, Mapmaker, here’s what I came up with:

A winged cartographer struggles to return home before her magical abilities are discovered and used against her and those she loves.

Well… that’s not terrible. It does get the basics of the story across. What do you think? Do you have a novel? If so, pitch it to me in the comments.

Until next time,

Nila

Reddit Review

Hey Folks!

I don’t normally gush about my writing. But recently, someone posted their review of Book 1 of my Mapmaker Trilogy.

Since they didn’t put it on Amazon or GoodReads, I can’t easily point at it, nor can I expect folks to see it when they purchase my book. But it was a huge confidence booster so I wanted to note it somewhere. If not my own website, where else?

So, here it is. Almost in its entirety. And here’s the link to the original post.

Book Review*: Mapmaker (Book 1)

“Mapmaker” by N.E. White is a self-pubbed fantasy novel that has been on my TBR ever since I read about it here last April. In the meantime she’s also been featured on the AuthorAlly podcast with our very own Jonathan Writer. WOW was I impressed with her book! The writing is very well executed, the story world immersive, and the plot intriguing.

The story takes place in a fantasy world populated by wingmen, beings somewhat like humans only endowed with batwings complete with wingclaws that can fly. Aleeya is an Eastern Wild variety of wingperson, a slave in the Western Helacon city of Ka’ai. The Western Helacons have a Roman-style republic that is intent on conquering other nations, although this does not figure hugely into the plot. Aleeya was seized as a slave as a young child, and yearns to escape to her Eastern Wild homeland of Gwich’an.

This is not a cozy fantasy! Aleeya suffers indignities as a slave, she is discriminated against over and over due to her race, and she is to be sold as a sex-slave. Fortunately Aleeya is resilient and persistent in following her dreams. With the help of her adopted brother Gallus and a pair of not-so-helpful smuggler siblings, Aleeya attempts to make a break for it. She is pursued over mountains and across seas due to an ability which she had long suppressed – as a mapmaker, she apparently has the ability to map new realities physically into the world!

Highlights for me were the alien seeming Xianit, a race of wingless humanoids that seem disturbingly … human. The conspiracy surrounding Aleeya’s escape is also well done – it is hard to tell who she can trust in a complicated web of ambitious plans surrounding her abilities. The best part for me was the writing style – so clean and descriptive, with I think only one typo in the whole book. I heartily recommend reading this book to see the potential of a self-pubbed author – N.E. White sets the bar high!

I struggle to mention anything that I disliked about the book. For me, the romance sub-plot was a bit tedious, but I fully recognize that I do not like romance in general and am certainly not the target market for such. I think what rubbed the most was Aleeya’s complete infatuation – while understandable given her age and lack of experience with love, it was a little cringy for an old goat like me. But, given that romance is by far the most popular genre out there, I’m sure most readers would feel otherwise!

There you have it. While the reviewer may not have liked all aspects of the story, it seems they were impressed with the world-building and plot. Yay!

Have you read Mapmaker? If you liked it, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Independent authors live and die by their reviews!

Humbly grateful,

Nila

Ecotones Review #10

A contemporary story pitting wealthy corporate moguls against the world for global domination? Is this fiction or the news?

Before we answer that question, let’s get the standard introduction out of the way. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of Ecotones: Ecological Stories from the Border Between Fantasy and Science Fiction, I’m reviewing all fourteen (14) short stories. Start here to read all mini-reviews.

This is the tenth story in this ecology-related short story collection.

Not a Problem by Matthew Hughes (award-winning Canadian author)

I can’t tell you what this very short and funny sci-fantasy story is about because I’d give it away too quickly. I can give you what I think is the best line:

“Actually, Bunky had never happened to need a baby strangled, but if he ever did, Number-One was there to take care of it.”

I’m familiar with Ms. Hughes works. He’s a prolific writer and has been on the science-fiction/fantasy scene for quite some time. His writing is what I consider to be pared down, but smart. It’s easy to fall into his stories and not realize you’re reading a story.

There was nothing about this story I didn’t like, though I think I spotted a typo. But even with that, this little egg of a story will make you chuckle. If only our problems could so easily be solved with some well-meaning aliens, we’d all be billionaires.

Until next time, enjoy a short story.

What is Ecotones?

ECOTONES is an anthology of speculative fiction featuring fourteen tales from best-sellers, award-winners and nominees, established talents, and up-coming authors.

Ecotones exist wherever different ecosystems make contact. Where forest meets field… where the land meets the sea… where swamp gives way to jungle… where the surface descends beneath the ground… these are borders across which different ways of life come into conflict, and sometimes cooperation.

But in speculative fiction we might envision other borders: where the mundane meets the fantastical. Where countries clash and cultures mix. Where technology is joined to flesh. Where the known meets the unknown. These are ecotones of the imagination — where anything could happen.

Featuring the work of Ken Liu, Lauren Beukes and Tobias S. Buckell, as well as eleven stories from members of SFFWorld.com’s writing community, ECOTONES is a collection like no other — a point of contact between fantasy and science fiction with a timely environmental theme.

If you’d like to follow along, Ecotones is available for free in Kindle Unlimited. Check it out.

All the best,

Nila

Finding a Friend

Random shot during Worldcon Seattle, 2025.

When you attend a Worldcon alone, there’s ample opportunity to meet new people.

Right. Right? Right?!

For introverts, however, ‘wrong’ might be the word I’m looking for.

It’s not that I don’t like to talk to people… Okay, maybe that’s exactly it, but conventions, or any large gathering of folk, can feel intimating and daunting.

Since I had my friend Sean Betzer (soon to be published author!) to hang out with, I hadn’t planned to summit those feelings of intimidation–at all.

As a recently debuted, self-published author, I did take my books and lovingly placed them in the Freebie Lounge–where they were snatched up within ten minutes. I even took Mapmaker bookmarks. While I didn’t hand them out to people, I did put them at the very top of the table beside the hundreds of other bookmarks available for folks to add to their collection. Honestly, I thought that would be the most extroverted thing I would do at Worldcon, but when one of the sessions I’d planned to attend was so full they barred the door from anyone else attempting to enter, I was set adrift.

It was the middle of the afternoon. I could have gone back to my hotel room, but I had another session I wanted to attend later so I didn’t feel I had enough time. As I pulled out my phone to check the online schedule, someone walked by with a large sign instructing folks to line up behind them. Shrugging, I joined thirty or so fellow convention-goers as we were collectively led to a group of tables and chairs where we were split up. Thus began:

Speed Friending with Tabby L. Rose

Speed what?

Yup, speed friending. Sort of like speed dating, but no dating.

Our instructions were simple but nobody followed them. Essentially, we were paired with the person sitting beside you. One person was allowed to speak about anything they wanted for two to tree minutes. Ms. Rose would then call time (invariably and never at the two to three minute mark), and we’d switch talking. Once the second person was done, half of the participants at the table would then swap to another table.

Wow.

I hadn’t expected that at all. But okay, I’m an adult. I have my own business. I have travelled the world. I can talk about myself for two to three minutes–easy. And listening to folks, that I could do, too.

But then I realized: this is a golden opportunity to practice my book pitch. When would I ever get a chance to do so with a group of people who are essentially my target audience: folks who love science fiction and fantasy?

So, I did it. I told random people about Mapmaker, The Legend of Damndrake (coming soon!), and my writing. At the end of my rambling spiel, I asked if they wanted a bookmark. They all said yes.

Has that resulted in any sales? Or reviews? Don’t know. But that’s not what I took away from the session. What I learned was the following:

I need to practice talking about my books. It’s not enough to memorize the book description. That’s not what you’d say to a person who’s standing in front of you wearing a glowing purple outfit. Or a Star Trek fan uniform. Or with fake vampire teeth. What do you say to that particular person that might entice them to ask more about your book? And then how do you follow that up?Have several pitches prepared that focus on different aspects of your story to appeal to different people. Mapmaker covers a range of topics: slavery, mapmaking, winged people, magical abilities, Roman-empire inspired setting, etc. Same with The Legend of Damndrake. There’s a dragon, but there’s also resource hoarding, one species subjugating another, found family, and much more. Not everyone will be into all those things, but they might really like one of those.Be nice! Remember to ask folks about what they are into–especially if they are in costume! They spent the time to dress up (when you didn’t). Let them know you appreciate their efforts. After all, they might one day be a fan of your works!

Later on during my Worldcon experience I attended a session specifically about book pitches. I’ll post more nitty-gritty tips from that event next week.

Until then, find a friend and talk to them about your books.

Nila

Ecotones Review #9

Can’t beat short, sweet, and funny! Can you guess what today’s story is about?

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://nilaewhite.com/wp-content/upl..." data-large-file="https://nilaewhite.com/wp-content/upl..." src="https://nilaewhite.com/wp-content/upl..." alt="" class="wp-image-6059" />Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels.com

Before we answer that question, let’s get the standard introduction out of the way. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of Ecotones: Ecological Stories from the Border Between Fantasy and Science Fiction, I’m reviewing all fourteen (14) short stories. Start here to read all mini-reviews.

This is the ninth story in this ecology-related short story collection.

Compatibility by Ken Liu (multiple award-winning author)

This lovely little piece by Ken Liu is about robots and artificial intelligence (AI).

I can hear the audience groan from here. I mean, aren’t we all tired of robots and AI taking over our lives?

Yes. Yes, we are. And this little story about compatibility (or the lack of it) drives that home like nothing else I’ve read. What is so impressive, though, is that Mr. Liu wrote this over a decade ago and the story still rings true. I can’t give away too much, it’s such a short piece, but know that in the end, you’ll all be delightfully groaning because the story mimics reality in just the right way.

There’s nothing I didn’t like about this piece. Well-written and entertaining; a must read.

Until next time, enjoy a helpful robotic short story.

What is Ecotones?

ECOTONES is an anthology of speculative fiction featuring fourteen tales from best-sellers, award-winners and nominees, established talents, and up-coming authors.

Ecotones exist wherever different ecosystems make contact. Where forest meets field… where the land meets the sea… where swamp gives way to jungle… where the surface descends beneath the ground… these are borders across which different ways of life come into conflict, and sometimes cooperation.

But in speculative fiction we might envision other borders: where the mundane meets the fantastical. Where countries clash and cultures mix. Where technology is joined to flesh. Where the known meets the unknown. These are ecotones of the imagination — where anything could happen.

Featuring the work of Ken Liu, Lauren Beukes and Tobias S. Buckell, as well as eleven stories from members of SFFWorld.com’s writing community, ECOTONES is a collection like no other — a point of contact between fantasy and science fiction with a timely environmental theme.

If you’d like to follow along, Ecotones is available for free in Kindle Unlimited. Check it out.

All the best,

Nila

BookTube

Have you heard of BookTube? Or maybe it’s older cousin: BookTok?

If you haven’t, do not despair. Here’s a brief explanation.

They are “movements” on YouTube and TikTok (respectively) where in users of those platforms extol (or demolish) their favorite (or hated) books.

There. Now you know. But rest assured, by tomorrow, there will be something else. (Oh, you have, of course, heard of Bookstagram, right? Same thing, but on Instagram.)

Anyway, as an author, I have noticed posts and mentions of these things, or whatever one calls them. And I’ve heard that getting your book reviewed on a well-followed BookTube, BookTok, or Bookstagram can help get your work noticed by eager readers.

What author wouldn’t want to get involved with that, right?

However, I don’t follow book reviewers on any of those platforms. So, how do I “get in” with one?

Luckily, at Worldcon Seattle 2025 there was a session for that.

The Power of BookTube and Long-Form Video Content (Friday, August 15th, 2025, 7:30pm) with Palmer Pickering (not present), Bookborn, Joe (JCM) Berne, and John Minton

As can be expected, the panelists were well-known BookTubers. None of which I’ve ever seen or heard of. But the world is vast, my friends. Check ’em out.

However, the panel discussion focused on the creative process of actually being a BookTuber. For example: what it took to post a video each week, how to build a community on YouTube, and other details. They didn’t get into what their particular BookTubes meant to authors or what their BookTube might offer authors, though they did touch on that.

While the session wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be, I did find the time spent there valuable because it opened up a whole other world I hadn’t realized was a thing on the internet–talking about books.

Who knew people actually discuss books now-a-days? Honestly, I thought that went the way of the dodo. I couldn’t be more wrong.

A small part of me wants to join the fray. I love talking about the stories I read, too. And it occurred to me, I could do what AuthorAlly set up with their YouTube channel (here’s my interview with them!) and help indie writers get some exposure by reviewing their books. At the same time, I could promote my own books.

But then I realized my reality: lack of time. It all takes time and effort to run a YouTube channel. While I did start one myself, I don’t have a spare moment to dedicate to it.

Even so, if you thought you might want to start a YouTube channel, whether a BookTube or not, here are some tips I gleaned from that session:

Develop a “brand.” It doesn’t have to be anything grand (hey, that rhymes), but spend a few moments to determine the look and feel of your channel.Create a content calendar.Post consistently.Interact with other BookTubers to both gain a following and help each other out.

If you are interesting in being featured on a BookTube channel, try the following (which is harder for indie authors, of course):

Search for BookTubers with less than 5,000 subscribers. The BookTubers with larger followings will likely not have time (nor the inclination) to review your indie book.If you have a hard time finding them, check the BookTube Discord server. Apparently, there are lists there of BookTubers with smaller audiences.Never pay a BookTuber for a review of your book. It’s unethical, they probably won’t be honest about your book, and potential readers may discount their review for that reason.Don’t send a book unless they accept the offer! Most BookTubers offer a way for you to reach them and how they’d like to read your book (paperback or eBook). Follow the instructions on their channel.And it should go without saying, follow their channel on YouTube and offer genuine engagement in the comment section of their videos.Lastly, do not approach a BookTuber to review your book thinking it will result in sales. It will most likely not do that. However, it will be content you can post on your social media and website. And as they say, any exposure is good.

Until next time, watch a BookTube video!

Ecotones Review #8

Dish in Fiji (circa 2017)

Our meals tend to be ignored in most fiction, unless there’s a tense family scene, a dreaded wedding, or some other major plot event centered around the dinner table.

But food, and the exchange of it, often plays a pivotal role in the real world when two cultures–or species–meet for the first time.

Can you guess what the next Ecotones story features?

Before we answer that question, let’s get the standard introduction out of the way. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of Ecotones: Ecological Stories from the Border Between Fantasy and Science Fiction, I’m reviewing all fourteen (14) short stories. Start here to read all mini-reviews.

This is the eighth story in this ecology-related short story collection.

The First Feast by Victor Espinosa

After the last three action-packed stories, The First Feast gives the reader a welcomed respite. The story starts immediately with our main character (MC) as they attend a cultural ceremony that includes a feast. This is the first time our MC attends such a feast, so we get to experience it through the eyes of a newbie.

That’s a very common approach to take in fiction. If your MC doesn’t know anything, then it is easy for the author to use their ignorance to build the world and the conflicts in that world. And Mr. Espinosa takes advantage of that fact in this short story. And he does it well, but… (there’s always a butt) …it’s a bit mundane.

Like I said, this story is a respite from all the action-oriented stories before this piece. There’s a bit of conflict introduced in The First Feast, but all in all, we just get vague references to foodstuff unfamiliar to our MC (but which we’d likely recognize). At the end, there’s a little bit of romance thrown in that doesn’t land that well for this one reader.

With that said, it was well written and I found myself interested in seeing where the story would go. I wanted more conflict, and some mystery would have been nice, especially since we had two species interacting with each other where prior violence is hinted at–but that wasn’t the focus of this story. Instead, I got to read about food, which, I suppose, is always nice.

Until next time, enjoy a food-filled short story.

What is Ecotones?

ECOTONES is an anthology of speculative fiction featuring fourteen tales from best-sellers, award-winners and nominees, established talents, and up-coming authors.

Ecotones exist wherever different ecosystems make contact. Where forest meets field… where the land meets the sea… where swamp gives way to jungle… where the surface descends beneath the ground… these are borders across which different ways of life come into conflict, and sometimes cooperation.

But in speculative fiction we might envision other borders: where the mundane meets the fantastical. Where countries clash and cultures mix. Where technology is joined to flesh. Where the known meets the unknown. These are ecotones of the imagination — where anything could happen.

Featuring the work of Ken Liu, Lauren Beukes and Tobias S. Buckell, as well as eleven stories from members of SFFWorld.com’s writing community, ECOTONES is a collection like no other — a point of contact between fantasy and science fiction with a timely environmental theme.

If you’d like to follow along, Ecotones is available for free in Kindle Unlimited. Check it out.

All the best,

Nila

Martha Wells at Worldcon 2025

In mid-August, I attended Worldcon Seattle 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

Sidenote: Seattle is a great city to visit. I don’t know what it is like to live there, but if it didn’t rain so much in the Pacific Northwest, I’d move there in a heartbeat. Great public transportation, friendly locals, and incredible services. And that’s without taking into consideration the phenomenal landscape. Alas, I’m stuck in California.

Back to the topic at hand, which is Martha Wells!

Martha Wells is a science fiction and fantasy writer best known for her Murderbot novellas (now an Apple TV series), but I discovered her writing through the Raksura fantasy series, which features a shifting, winged species. (Hmm, sounds kind of familiar to my stories, eh? Now you know where some of my inspiration comes from.)

At this year’s Worldcon, Ms. Wells was the honored guest. And I managed to attend both her reading session (pictured above) and her Q & A (questions and answers) session. By the time I got there on Friday, it was standing room only, but the room attendants didn’t shoo me away. So I stood there and listened to Martha Wells read new material from her Witch King universe.

Unfortunately, I’m not a good listener when it comes to folks just reading fiction or non-fiction. If it was a podcast, I’d be engaged, but I just can’t concentrate on what’s being said when there’s not much going on. I don’t listen to audio books for a reason. With that said, it was a learning experience trying to listen to Ms. Wells’ excellent excerpt. Here’s what I came away with:

Award winning prose doesn’t have to be stunning. It just has to be clear with engaging characters.Read your stuff aloud. There were a few times where Ms. Wells tripped herself up, likely because she hadn’t practiced or maybe she just got a dry mouth (all that talking!). I imagine that repeating the reading passage a few times in front of a mirror would help.Get to popular sessions early or else you’ll be left standing!

For her next session, I went early and got a good seat. Her Q & A event was very enlightening. I didn’t ask my own questions because there were enough from the large audience (more than two hundred, methinks) that I didn’t feel I had anything to add to the discussion. The questions ranged from specific ones about her large back list to general writing or book profession inquiries. My notes include nuggets from all her answers, but here’s what I think are important to me as a writer:

When writing, take into consideration your character’s physicality; their reactions and actions will be dictated by their stature and physical ability. Ignoring that will lessen the believability of your character and diminish the accomplishments they can do regardless of their physicality.It is always important to stay in the point of view (POV) of your main character and remember that each action they take is driven by what they want.When worldbuilding, take into account that technology and society are always changing. How does that happen in your world? How does that impact or change your story?

I’m honored I got a chance to listen and learn a small bit from Ms. Wells. I really enjoy her work so it is great to see her have the success she deserves.

Next week, I’ll continue to summarize what I learned at Worldcon Seattle 2025. Until then, enjoy a Martha Wells story.