Simon Rose's Blog, page 42

Cool Links

Cool Links

All writers need to have ideas, but where do they get them from? It’s probably one of the questions writers are most frequently asked and this article takes a look at this fascinating topic.

Here’s an interesting article about grammar rules and how it’s perhaps to break some of them every once in a while.

“Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.”
Ray Bradbury

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Muse News

Revenge of the Witchfinder, the third book in The Stone of the Seer series, is now published as an ebook and as a paperback. You can learn more about all the book here on the website, along with the historical background to the story and even read an excerpt.

Much of the story in Revenge of the Witchfinder takes place in the present day, featuring weird dreams, disturbing visions, parallel lives, and a bewildering identity crisis, as Thomas and Katie discover to their horror that not even the passage of centuries can prevent a bloodthirsty witchfinder from the 1640s from seeking his deadly revenge.

The Stone of the Seer, the first novel in the series, is available as an ebook on Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords and elsewhere online, with the paperback version also available here on Amazon. Royal Blood, the second novel, is available as a print book on Amazon, and as an ebook on Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords and elsewhere online.

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Black Dawn

“This is the third book in the “ShadowZone” series written by one of my favourite young adult authors. After finishing book one and two, I could not wait to start this one, I was not disappointed.”

In a dark parallel world, following attacks by its most determined opponents, the Ministry has been forced to change its plans. Yet the ruthless Director-General is prepared to sacrifice anyone to achieve an entirely new beginning, no matter what the cost. In a deadly race against time, as events spiral out of control, Ben and Charlie must risk their lives in a desperate attempt to save two worlds from destruction.

Black Dawn, along with the other novels in the series, Shadowzone and Into The Web, is available as a paperback and ebook. Learn more here on my website.

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Cool Links

This is a great article from a few years ago about the ten worst pieces of writing advice that you’ll ever hear and most likely have already heard about.

There are a few tips here about ways to deal with writer’s block, which many authors experience when getting started or at other stages of the writing process.

“I believe that stories are incredibly important, possibly in ways we don’t understand, in allowing us to make sense of our lives, in allowing us to escape our lives, in giving us empathy and in creating the world that we live in.”
Neil Gaiman

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Into The Web

“This is the second book of this series written by one of my favourite young adult authors. After finishing book one, I could not wait to start this one, I was not disappointed a great story with good character structure and as usual well written. The storyline kept me focused until the very end where it left me wanting to read the next book in the series.”

On a doomed version of Earth, the sinister schemes of the Ministry are moving ever closer to completion, with dire consequences for the inhabitants of two worlds. For Ben and Charlie, an unlikely alliance, unexpected reunions, and the mysterious prophecy of the Chosen One offer a glimmer of hope, with the ever-present prospect of betrayal, as they embark on an unpredictable journey into the unknown.

Into The Web, along with the other novels in the series, Shadowzone and Black Dawn, is available as a paperback and ebook. Learn more here on my website.

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The Benefits of a Writing Coach

A professional writing coach is someone with whom you can consult, ask questions and receive constructive feedback. They act as a guide as you build your career as a professional writer. A coach can help you conquer a stumbling block, regain momentum or make a start on a new project.

My program helps you progress as a writer. You decide what you want to work on during a personalized, one on one relationship. I can be your coach for just one month or we can establish a month-to-month arrangement, depending on your schedule and expectations.

I’m very flexible regarding your own unique requirements in areas where you feel that you need the most help, but examples of topics that can be covered include character development, dialogue and format, editing and revision, story structure and plot, pacing your story, realistic settings, dramatic beginnings,  and cliffhanger endings. We can also examine submitting work, the publishing world,  and marketing and promotion.

You can also learn more about the writing and publishing process, including where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories, choosing names for characters, the importance of historical research if your novel is set in a different era, the role of editing and revision, marketing and promotion, and more, in The Children’s Writer’s Guide, The Working Writer’s Guide, The Children’s Writer’s Guide 2, and School & Library Visits for Authors & Illustrators.

The writing of time travel stories and historical fiction is covered in The Time Traveler’s Guide, and fantasy and magic in Exploring the Fantasy Realm. The study guides for my novels are featured in Where do Ideas Come From?

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Author Happenings

I’ll be appearing in person at some local events such as trade shows, markets, community fairs and so on in the next few months, selling autographed copies of all the novels and promoting my various coaching and editing services for writers and my copywriting services for businesses. It’ll be good to get back out there in the world again after all the restrictions we experienced during the pandemic. I’ll have more news about each of these events as they come up over the coming months.

In the coming weeks, I’m mentoring two students during the creative writing course at the University of Calgary, which runs until early December. I’ll also be the instructor again for the University’s online Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling course, which will take place this fall, so it’s going to be a busy few months.

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Shadowzone

“Time travel, alternate worlds, and societal sub-cultures are blended into a great plot, and a gripping and relevant read. The environmental stewardship aspect of this story echoes our current day challenges, as do the almost prescient references to a dangerous virus. Characters were well drawn and the reader is cheering for their success. The three books in the series flow smoothly together. A great read for middle school ages and up, to both engage interest and build vocabulary. Highly recommend this series!”

While watching intense flashes of lightning during a violent storm, Ben experiences mysterious and disturbing visions of another world, one very different from his own. In the chain of events that follow, Ben encounters Charlie, a girl from a dark version of Earth, a planet doomed by the effects of environmental catastrophe, where the leaders will stop at nothing to complete their deadly mission.

Shadowzone, along with the other novels in the series, Into The Web and Black Dawn, is available as a paperback and ebook. Learn more here on my website.

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Learn How to Write Great Stories for Children and Young Adults

The Writing for Children and Young Adults course focuses on writing for children aged 8 to 14 years. However some of the material also covers older and younger age groups.

Learn how to write effective, authentic, and appealing fiction for children and young adults and how to turn your ideas into compelling stories.

The course explores the writing process from initial concept to finished work including story structure, developing plausible characters and dialogue, the creation of outlines and the importance of research, editing and revision.

The course also examines ways to research publishing houses where you can submit your work, along with cover letters, synopses and sample chapters.

Register at https://simon-rose.com/workshops/writing-for-children-and-young-adults/

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New Projects

I worked on the World War II fantasy series of novels, The Order of Excalibur, in the summer months, mostly completing the first two parts of the series. However, although much of the third novel is finished, I’m currently taking a break from that project as I focus on a new time travel story.

I’ve also been working on scripts and screenplays for the three novels in the Shadowzone series again, which I’ll most likely continue doing in the next few months.

You can subscribe to my monthly newsletter to keep up to date. The newsletter features upcoming events, courses and workshops, new books, works in progress, tips for authors, and more.

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