David Burrows's Blog, page 19
February 22, 2015
Free book competition. Find the map to enter.
Free book competition. I am giving away a free book of Drachar's Demons to the person who can find the hidden map on my website. It is a full page map so there are no tricks. Browse my website and when you find the map email the address and you will be entered in the prize draw.
My website is http://davidburrows.org.uk/
My email address is on the website marked here in the first text box. Please put Competition into the subject box. The competition closes at the end of March and the winner will be picked at random.
Good luck
David
My website is http://davidburrows.org.uk/
My email address is on the website marked here in the first text box. Please put Competition into the subject box. The competition closes at the end of March and the winner will be picked at random.
Good luck
David
February 14, 2015
Recipe for Writing a Book
1. A teaspoon of enthusiasm
2. A dash of flair
3. A cup (brimming) of fresh ideas
4. Grammar to die for. Add liberally
5. A sou-song of charismatic heroes mixed with villains and simmered
6. Crush hope and mix with despair, bring to the boil
7. Put in the oven and wait for plot to develop.
8. The ending should never be rushed.
9. Presentation is everything!
Lastly, patience. A watched book never matures
2. A dash of flair
3. A cup (brimming) of fresh ideas
4. Grammar to die for. Add liberally
5. A sou-song of charismatic heroes mixed with villains and simmered
6. Crush hope and mix with despair, bring to the boil
7. Put in the oven and wait for plot to develop.
8. The ending should never be rushed.
9. Presentation is everything!
Lastly, patience. A watched book never matures
February 6, 2015
Book Giveaway - Shadow of the Demon on Goodreads
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Shadow of the Demon
by David Burrows
Giveaway ends March 03, 2015.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Enter to win
Book Giveaway - Dragon Rider on Goodreads
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Dragon Rider
by David Burrows
Giveaway ends March 03, 2015.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Enter to win
February 2, 2015
Prophecy of the Kings; Fantasy Writer Finalist at Bookbzz.com - Please Vote Now
The Prophecy of the Kings is in the finals of the Bookbzz.com competition. Voting is now open so anyone who has read my books and enjoyed them please feel free to vote here http://bookbzz.com/prize-writer-fantasy-fiction-vote/
Show your support please for an Indie Author.
Show your support please for an Indie Author.
Prophecy of the Kings Fantasy Writer Finalist at Bookbzz.com - Please Vote Now
The Prophecy of the Kings is in the finals of the Bookbzz.com competition. Voting is now open so anyone who has read my books and enjoyed them please feel free to vote here http://bookbzz.com/prize-writer-fantasy-fiction-vote/
Show your support please for an Indie Author.
Show your support please for an Indie Author.
Book Giveaway - Legacy of the Eldric on Goodreads
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Legacy of the Eldric
by David Burrows
Giveaway ends March 03, 2015.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Enter to win
January 30, 2015
50 Best Fantasy Books 2014
The link below takes you to a site with their view on the best fantasy books of 2014. I recognise a few, Terry Brooks, Joe Abercrombie and Trudi Cavanan. There's a lot I don't recognise so plenty of reading to do...
Anyone else recognise and able to recommend any of these?
http://fantasy-faction.com/2015/fantasy-factions-best-fantasy-books-of-2014
Anyone else recognise and able to recommend any of these?
http://fantasy-faction.com/2015/fantasy-factions-best-fantasy-books-of-2014
January 15, 2015
Robert Day's Demon Gates (Nexus Wars Saga #1)
Demon Gates by Robert DayMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book. It started well and I liked the premise. Demons are usually high on my attention list and this book added some interesting diversions from the norm. The characterisation was well done and was interesting. There was some nice twists in the plot on occasions. I did find my attention waned briefly but then the story picked up and I felt the ending was good and certainly left me wanting to read more. I would liked to have given this and extra half point as I definitely found myself hovering close to a 4.
View all my reviews
January 10, 2015
Writing a Book - Two Key Tips for The Important First Chapter
The first chapter is incredibly important. In a previous blog I suggested writing short stories -- How to Start writing a Book This approach should help you to gain readership and also tell you which of your works is likely to be the most successful. Following this approach should help you to establish a really good first chapter.
A first chapter should:
1. Have a great opening sentence. I read one book recently and the opening sentence was both beautiful and stunning. Unfortunately, the rest of the book was poor but because of the opening sentence I at least gave the book a chance. Often authors use description to grab a reader, a dawn of spectacular beauty or some such. However, the following authors combined a great opening sentence and a hook -- all in one.
2. Very importantly, you need a hook. The hook is to grab your reader and make them want to read more. Some outstanding authors get the hook into the very first line of the book:
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen". - George Orwell. This is both the opening line and the hook. Why was the clock striking 13? "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or eat: It was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort." Tolkien. The hook for most people is -- what is a Hobbit and why is comfort so important? "It was the day my grandmother exploded." Iain Banks. The hook here speaks for itself.The hook can also be built into the first chapter more subtly, possibly as a cliff-hanger, for example:
You set two people against each other over some issue and they part swearing vengeance. The reader is left wondering why this happened and what the outcome might be. This works better if your characterisation is good and your reader relates to the characters. The hook can be what makes a great book. As I say, hooks are numerous, but they need to leave the reader wanting to know more. This has to be your idea, it needs t o be new and clearly the more novel the idea and the bigger the impact then the better your offering to your readers.
As I say, try using the opening chapter as a short story and get feedback on it via Wattpad or some other author media site. A key trick is to write and rewrite your opening chapter until you finally have a product that shines.
Good reading and good writing, David
Making Your Writing Interesting. Hooks and Lines.
A first chapter should:
1. Have a great opening sentence. I read one book recently and the opening sentence was both beautiful and stunning. Unfortunately, the rest of the book was poor but because of the opening sentence I at least gave the book a chance. Often authors use description to grab a reader, a dawn of spectacular beauty or some such. However, the following authors combined a great opening sentence and a hook -- all in one.
2. Very importantly, you need a hook. The hook is to grab your reader and make them want to read more. Some outstanding authors get the hook into the very first line of the book:
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen". - George Orwell. This is both the opening line and the hook. Why was the clock striking 13? "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or eat: It was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort." Tolkien. The hook for most people is -- what is a Hobbit and why is comfort so important? "It was the day my grandmother exploded." Iain Banks. The hook here speaks for itself.The hook can also be built into the first chapter more subtly, possibly as a cliff-hanger, for example:
You set two people against each other over some issue and they part swearing vengeance. The reader is left wondering why this happened and what the outcome might be. This works better if your characterisation is good and your reader relates to the characters. The hook can be what makes a great book. As I say, hooks are numerous, but they need to leave the reader wanting to know more. This has to be your idea, it needs t o be new and clearly the more novel the idea and the bigger the impact then the better your offering to your readers.
As I say, try using the opening chapter as a short story and get feedback on it via Wattpad or some other author media site. A key trick is to write and rewrite your opening chapter until you finally have a product that shines.
Good reading and good writing, David
Making Your Writing Interesting. Hooks and Lines.
