Barbara G. Tarn's Blog, page 148

Happiness is…

Oh, boy! Serial Central has been dead for so long now… sigh! Anyone wants to start if off again?

Random Friday

And it’s mostly Art Friday. Mostly. Half Art Friday and half Movie Friday. More random than that I can’t get! So! Last weekend I tried to work on someone else’s project as an artist, but I backed off. I’m a hobbyist, not a professional illustrator. So I did Keanu Sunday (afternoon), watching Generation Um and then spending the rest of the afternoon on another portrait.

The movie… um. Will need to rewatch it with a friend, since she came to mind while I was watching it. I can’t say anything yet – not sure if I liked it or not, and why. But then, this isn’t a movies review blog, so I’m sure you’ll live happily ever after without my comments or reviews.

The drawing… well, since it’s on DeviantART, you can have it here too! Actually, here you get the WiP – for the final drawing, go to DA.

Looking good, Mr Reeves, and if you really feel sad (which I doubt in spite of all the internet meme about Sad Keanu), just give me a call!

Another movie I watched is Eden – abut human trafficking in the US. And if you think that’s not possible in a civilized country like the US, think again. And watch the movie, it’s based on a true story. Here, I give you even the buy link where I got mine – Mighty Zon, where else? I even used the pre-order button! Please help spread the word about these small independent movies! Another highly recommented indie title is Disfigured – about accepting your body as it is. Little true stories the big studios have no idea of how to make.

Now, to more art. Remember the Smashwords anthology? No, it’s not out yet, and won’t be out for at least another month, but I did a couple of cover attempts. Since none were accepted by the other authors, I feel free to post this drawing here, with a challenge: write a story about it. The title is “Faeries field” and it’s obviously a cross-over between sci-fi and fantasy.

Write your story and send it to me. If we gather enough, we can do a free anthology with that cover and spread our names further. If you’re interested, let me know in a comment and we can work out a deadline!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Writer Wednesday

So, writing progress! The weekend before the writing rant I spent mostly on Star Minds Snippets, rewriting Shooting Star (it’s now 15k, so double of the first draft) and asking for advice on a couple of scenes, set in India in the 1950s. A description of Delhi I found here, but for the rest I had based my research on Wikipedia entries and Bollywood movies. And The Householder – which is not Bollywood and it’s set in the 1960s, but I guess Delhi hadn’t changed much in those ten years and it’s a fairly good portrait of a young Indian couple of the time. When my expert checked, I was glad to discover I had gotten things right – yes, one of my favorite Agneepath songs is the Ganesha festival in Bombay (although not of 1954, more of 2012, but well… it hasn’t changed much, I suppose! I’m not Indian in this life, but maybe I was in a previous one!), yay!

Then I went to work on Half-blood – again with some help from Indians of both descents (India and First Nations or Native Americans). A “study” of Garuda (yep, only Wikipedia again, although I could add the Encyclopedia Mythica as well…!) helped me define my Carians (the bird people) and Caroids (half-blood of the title, the offspring of Carian and Humanoid). And then the problems of mixed blood children (red/white), if and how they fit with both worlds. I’ve had this book on my TBR pile for 2 years now… so glad I started it, although I’m not writing that historical novel I had in mind when I got it!

I also decided to cut the opening, since the whole thing was too impersonal – for a reason, but it didn’t come through, so I started rewriting it almost from scratch, with a new outline. The couple of betas won’t recognize the final version of either! Then I went to work on The Rogue Years, “recycling” deleted scenes from the original Technological Angel (in Italian) and a short story that seemed to fit the characters – and realized while writing that I was telling a story. So I pondered again – but I promise this ramble will be shorter.

My screenwriter card said “A story is told, a new world is born”, then a fellow screenwriter told me “That’s passive!” so the new card for the author (writer/artist) says “Tell a story, create a world”. See how I got rid of the passive voice? But mostly, see the first world? I’m a storyTELLER, not a storySHOWER! While writing the Snippets, I was fully aware I was telling a story and not showing it, but I wrote it down as it came to me anyway. I f I can come up with a neat way of showing it, fine, if not… well, I’m an old-fashioned storyteller, sorry.

My writing has evolved in 30+ years – and not only with the language switch. I did experiment in genres I don’t read, therefore can’t write them. I’ve experimented with prose, poetry, stream of consciousness (yikes!), screenplays, plays, whatever came to mind. I’ve come up with my own way of telling stories, and since I’ve started getting feedback (from friends, since my readers haven’t written to me yet), I’ve evolved even further. I know I’ll keep learning and evolving, and sometimes I consciously break the rule of “show don’t tell”.

As long as I write what I want to read and have fun doing it, I’m fine. Writing is a chore for you? Check Dean’s post on how to have fun while writing. I’ve been having fun again after I stopped rewriting and started publishing. Trust me, it’s liberating! And I’m still having those popcorn kittens bouncing in my head, that’s why I try to alternate old stories with brand new (Amazon Sisters is an old story that I’m rewriting, Star Minds Snippets is mostly brand new, albeit based on an existing story). Don’t know what I’m talking about? Check Kris Rusch’s attack of the popcorn kittens!

I will never be a bestseller like any of them, but as long as I find my readers, I’m fine. I’m writing, publishing and having fun. Eventually I’ll live off my royalties – like I said, it’s a 5-to-10-year plan. If I get laid off from DayJob (you never know, these days!), I’m not worried, since I know I’ll be able to keep myself busy with writing, formatting, doing covers, and maybe even translating, for myself – and others for a small fee.

Star Minds Omnibus is finally live everywhere and you can see the combined edition (Kindle/paperback) on Amazon – courtesy of the sweet people at Author Central who kindly combined the editions. Here’s the link to the US i-bookstore that wasn’t present two weeks ago. And now a batch of links for your shiny careers!

Smashwords introduces pre-order distribution! If you want to launch your book as event, you might want to use that! Personally, I don’t do “book as events” and I go direct to Kobo – and use D2D to go to Apple and B&N now. But at least I know that if I ever want to put out some title with a pre-order, I can always go back to Smashwords!

Advice on how to target your readers! Personaly, I’m like Stephannie, I’d rather be writing the next book. That’s why you don’t see me marketing like crazy, neither here or on Facebook or Goodreads. I am my first reader and fan, and I’m sure there are other people like me who like the kind of stories I write. And they will find me eventually!

Thinking about legal questions – all those doubts solved. Sort of. I’ve added the blog to the blogroll, along with other interesting blogs. Terrific essay from Stephen King on Voice – whatever that is. Not to be confused with Style and Tone, apparently. I think I have my voice, but somehow someone is trying to change it. Sigh. I’ll keep writing what I want to write the way I want to write it, or I’ll stop having fun and quit – so it’s not going to happen, uh-uh, no way. You don’t like my voice/style/whatever? I don’t care. I’m having fun, LOL!

Last – another David Gaughran post on Author Solutions’ long arms. Spread it as much as you can, it’s true they still thrive because many authors don’t do their research, but also because nobody seems to want to tell the truth. Beware of Author Solutions. Don’t go near them, not even if they promise to publish you with Penguin Random House. Scam scam scam. And did I mention it’s a scam? Right. Have a great week!

Happiness is…

Surprise Sunday

Monthly feature, these words of wisdom or writers on writing will always show up. So for the last Sunday of the month, here are some pearls for you to take to the beach. Next post of this kind – next month! Have a great summer (or winter if you’re down under)!

If you have a story that keeps invading your head, you should write it. Even if it’s out of what you think your genre is, write it. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone because you never know the story you could come up with.

- Melissa Wright

Understanding that your life and the stories you’re creating aren’t set in stone is an amazing thing. It allows you to view more clearly those other peaks you may one day reach – which will never be easy, but definitely worth it. It’s my hope that none of us ever underestimate that power.

- Michelle Davidson Argyle

Too many writers revise continually in order to sell their books. Beginning writers revise a novel a dozen times because their writers workshop (which usually does not have a single publishing professional) has told them to. Mid-level writers revise to their agent’s suggestion because the agent believes the novel is “unsalable” as is—impossible to market because the novel is too different from anything else.  Bestsellers listen to their publisher’s desire to have a book just like the last book, eventually making the bestseller’s work predictable and dull.

Most writers of all levels do not stand up for their work because they’re afraid they’ll never sell another word. They’re afraid to take a risk which—in my mind—begs the question: If you’re unwilling to take a risk, why become a writer in the first place?

Writing is all about risk. The first risk is comes in putting the first word on paper, in believing that you are good enough to attract readers. The second risk is working in the arts in America, which has always been a dicey proposition. The third risk is believing that your vision matters.

The moment you lose your integrity, you lose your vision. If you lose your vision, you lose what makes you unique as a writer.

- Kristine Kathryn Rusch

For writers right now, the course to success is rather simple: create inventory. Bring backlist work into inventory. Write new work. Spread your work around to give readers a greater chance of discovering you. Worrying about price points and why you’re not selling like Amanda Hocking is wasted energy. If electronic publishing is a tide which will raise all boats, the point is not to have the biggest boat. The point is to have as many boats as you can on the water. You want to have a fleet or two because that’s how you maximize the benefit of the rising tide.

- Michael Stackpole

It is necessary to write, if the days are not to slip emptily by.  How else, indeed, to clap the net over the butterfly of the moment?  For the moment passes, it is forgotten; the mood is gone; life itself is gone.  That is where the writer scores over his fellows:  he catches the changes of his mind on the hop.

Vita Sackville-West

Random Friday

I know, I know, I said I’d re-open in September with guest posts… but when someone who’s already been a guest here, and is following this blog and has a new book out (which unfortunately I didn’t have time to read yet, but since the new review policy is on… well, Rohan, this is all you’ll get from me now! ) and a blog tour, well… how can I turn him down? Please, ladies and gents, welcome back Rohan Healy!

The Greatest Day of my Life Turning 18!

by Rohan Healy

We all have those days. Those special days. Those days that you will always remember for the right reasons. Those perfect days. My most perfect day was the 13th of October 2004. It was my 18th birthday. My folks surprised me that morning with a digital camera! This was long before every phone had a multiple mega pixel camera built in and I was delighted. I began snapping right away. After breakfast it was time to shower before my big engagement. I had booked myself in to be tattooed. The tattoo was to be a hand holding a quill. It was to represent my song writing and writing in general. I wanted it to cover my left pectoral muscle.

Sitting in the waiting room of the tattoo parlour was the most anxious I’d ever been. My nerves vibrated in time with the incessant buzzing of the needle as the artist worked on another client. I just felt like running as fast and as far as my legs would carry me! I stumbled outside and rolled a cigarette. I smoked it nervously beneath the beating Australian sun. Then I was summoned. “You’ve picked a pretty painful spot mate” the tattoo artist murmured as he prepared his tools. “Oh really?” I managed to mutter back through dry lips. “Yeah the chest really hurts, and the collarbone too.” I was about to faint when he placed the template on my chest. “How’s this?” I checked it out in the mirror, it looked great!

And so it began. Two hours later it was over. I sat up weakly, covered in sweat, drugged to the eyeballs with dopamine; nature’s merciful painkiller. It looked awesome, but beyond that I was proud of myself for seeing it through. My dad picked me up and took me home. I sat around with my parents and brothers telling them all about it. I didn’t realise it then but 8 years later those are the moments I miss, that I cherish. Our big old beautiful house in Lismore New South Wales, our three acres of land, our fruit trees, the practice room we built for gig rehearsals, the above ground swimming pool, playing music around the kitchen table as a family. Life was easy, pleasant, simple.

Soon enough it was time to get ready for dinner at my favourite Chinese restaurant. I removed the bandage protecting my tattoo, took a very careful shower, and applied the cream the artist gave to me to protect the tat. I put on my nice baby blue shirt, pulled up my nice baby blue trousers, tied up my jack boots and we headed off. At the restaurant I and my family were met by two of my friends who had brought two bottles of wine. The food wasn’t bad at all, but the reason I loved this place so much was because of the beautiful Chinese waitress. I had a major crush on her, and although she was polite and nice to me, I had no idea if that was professional courtesy or genuine affection. We laughed, we ate and we drank. Easy, pleasant, simple.

As we prepared to leave, the pretty waitress approached me. She handed me something and smiled. “For your birthday”. It was a birthday card, at the bottom of which was written her phone number. My heart skipped. I must have mentioned my birthday the last time I was there. And she remembered! “Wow, thank you!” I grinned. We posed for a photo together with the new camera and I left with my friends and family. 6 years my senior, she would go on to share with me moments that remain some of my fondest and most important.

Back at home the second bottle of wine was opened and I began smoking the cigar that someone had bought for me. I savoured the decadence of it all. The Nintendo 64 was switched on for a game of Worms Armageddon, a favourite of mine, my brothers and our friends. We took turns blasting each other’s worms into oblivion on the TV screen, laughing at their antics and spilling white wine on my crotch. I didn’t care one bit. Nothing mattered that night.

I had made it to adulthood. I had drunk my first wine and smoke my first cigar as a “man”. I had gotten “inked”. The object of my affection not only remembered my birthday, but offered her number. And most important of all I spent a wonderful day with my closest friends and family. Whenever I need reminding that life can be a warm, beautiful, funny, joyous thing, I simply need remember the 13th of October 2004.

Thanks for reading, all the best.

Rohan.

So cool to hear from someone who knows what he wants on his body! I’ve also considered a tattoo – a unicorn – but I can’t decide the where, LOL! Thank you, Rohan, for sharing your greatest birthday. I wish I could remember any of mine. I know I had a Big Party with Evening Dress for my 18, but since it was postponed to October, I don’t really count it as a birthday (which unfortunately is in August, so I rarely celebrate it). Oh, yes, last year I managed to make my birthday 6 hours longer by traveling to New York on that day!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! And don’t forget to check Rohan’s latest non-fiction book!

Writer Wednesday

Sometimes I feel I really have to justify how I write, LOL! With so many new followers this year, I guess it’s a good time to sum up things – it’s July, so you’ll probably just skim this and head for the beach, haha! Please note this is my writing process/experience and I’m not trying to teach anything to  anyone (I’m not a teacher and I don’t play one on TV). Take it as a ramble of a writer about her talent/skill/whatever.

You’ve just “met” me, so you probably don’t know the background – what I’ve been rambling about for almost 4 years. Some things haven’t changed much. See my musings on writing, rewriting and critiquing, then let me continue this rant.

My background (30+ years of writing in Italian) is very cinematic – actually, TV-like. When I started writing, I watched lots of TV and read comics. So my writing style is very “omniscient narrator” and not deep at all at the base. Only sight and hearing are used – much like in movies and comics (although comics allow “thoughts” balloons, while in movies you need the much uglier “voice over”). You can guess from this that I’m totally self-taught. I told stories to myself and then I started writing them. That’s how it started so long ago.

Then I started writing in English – screenplays, since the prose for screenplays is easier. But since screenplays have even more rules to stick to (by page 10 this must happen, by page 20 that, etc) than novels and Hollywood is even worse than traditional publishing, I eventually gave up and went back to my first love, prose.

In the meantime I have done courses and workshops and heard of all the rules for writing novels and the likes. But having 30+ years of storytelling behind, I don’t always apply the rules. I write what I want to read, and I’ve learned to cut down my cast (I can tell you my 20th century stories had dozen of characters and they were all the same – and I was a match-maker, everybody ended up living happily ever after and I even revived dead characters), but I still like having multiple POVs.

The BoI were a sort of experiment (all the books are tied to one sense in particular, but I tried to remember also the others when writing them), but normally I don’t put smell, taste or touch much. I’m afraid my prose is still cinematic and mostly lacks of setting. I try to go deeper (third person immersed whenever possible), but still feel sometimes a more “omniscient” narrator would be better. I still tend to do episodic novels (one chapter, one episode) and don’t like those cliffhangers at the end of chapters other writers are so fond of (because they’ve been told it’s the only way to keep a reader’s attention, that is).

As you can see from Kris Rusch’s post, it’s never the readers who criticize a writer – see what happened with J.K. Rawlings and in 1985 with Steven King… It’s the publishers who blame the writer… or it’s other writers bashing you. Not the readers. If you listen to other writers’ feedback, you’ll never publish, because they’ll lock you in Rewriting Hell forever.

I haven’t really found my readers yet (well, some, but they didn’t bother writing to me their impressions, they just bought my books), but the ones who complain the most are still other writers in beta-reading or critique groups, who probably can’t believe I can get away with no setting and only 2 out of 5 senses! No, I’m not selling hundreds of copies, but like I said, I need only 5000 readers and I don’t want to fit in the traditional markets (control freak, remember? Yeah, it was easy to create one or two for Star Minds, LOL) – much like my O-characters.

Most of my protagonists are from the 4 “O” against society (something I learned at a panel at a Screenwriting Expo), usually either Outsiders or Outcasts – which is how I feel most of the time – sometimes Outlaws and rarely Others. For a clearer definition of the 4 “O”:

Outsider is his own worst enemy, he can’t get back into society unless he’s able to change.

Outcast recognizes that his skills carry a price and he cannot live in the embrace of society, so he stays out of it.

Outlaw is outside of the law and all society, doesn’t care what society says and follows his own terms, rules and laws.

Other is the society destroyer, thinks himself as a world-saver – the world is corrupted, and he wants to make a new one.

So, I write what I want to read, and it’s usually just character interactions – they go to places, meet people, no high stakes (mostly – at least no heroes saving the world in my stories, they have enough problems saving themselves, hehe!) and no real descriptions (I even stopped giving physical descriptions, they’re always very sketchy, or you’d guess the “model” and figure out it’s always the same faces, LOL!). I’ve started reading more prose since I started publishing, but I still haven’t changed my style. Whenever I read a description done as we’re told to do, my mind gets cluttered with useless details and I miss the scene. That throws me out of the story.

Now, I don’t know when I’ll get real feedback from real readers – the ones who actually buy my ebooks – but in the meantime, I’ll keep writing, evolving, reading and following those movies unraveling in my head! One last thing, that was mentioned in the critique post: reviews. I have changed my review policy and deleted most of my Goodreads shelves. I don’t do reviews anymore. Like David Farland says

Now, as a writer, I know that reviews can help, but they don’t make or break sales. I’d much rather have a great cover and no reviews than a moderate cover and fantastic reviews. Only about 10% of the readers take reviews into consideration.

I certainly don’t take reviews into consideration when I buy a book. So, if you’re an indie author, and want to show up on my blog, write a guest post – I’ll open again in September for that. Don’t ask me to review your book – I won’t. I might read it, discuss it with you in private if you really really want me to, but I won’t post another review. Sorry.

Now back to writing (I’ll do a summary of these two weeks of writing next week, since today’s post is long enough). On Goodreads I’ve discovered an award for indie books – although I doubt my books would win even that, so maybe I wont send any – it’s yearly and deadline is December, so plenty of time to think and decide! And don’t forget to Help Ben Wolverton – buy a book or donate for the health of David Farland’s son!

One last thing – I’m automatically enrolled in the sales at DriveThruFiction and, like Smashwords (50%off until the end of the month on everything except SMO), they have a July sale. Even Star Minds Omnibus is 25% off until July 28 – only on DTF… That’s really all for now, have a great week!

Happiness is…

Random Friday

So, Rai 1 doesn’t even know what it shows. I had found a title on another site with TV programs and it said an Italian title that seemed to refer to Humko Deevana Kar Gaye. Turns out it was Humko Tumse Pyaar Hai instead. Apparently they have the exact same Italian title, and since they’re both from 2006, it’s really impossible to know in advance what movie it’s going to be, LOL!

Anyway, I was sort of expecting Akshay, Katrina and Bipasha, and got Arjun, Ameesha Patel and Bobby Deol instead. I’m not complaining, since I’ve just discovered that yes, even hunky Arjun Rampal can dance, whoot! He’s tall, so a little clumsy (much like “Hubby Abi” Abishek Bachchan), but he can shake his booty! Ahem! The story – not bad, the usual triangle like in Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, which made me wonder: are best friends always so ready to give up their beloved even if they came first? Sigh. Okay, it’s a movie, not real life, got it!

Now, the series is apparently already over, so I guess I can watch my own DVDs for the rest of the summer. I finally got my Amazon parcels, so stay tuned. I didn’t have time to watch any this week, since I was playing Auntie and toying with Star Minds Snippets (and waiting for all the e-books and POD to go live everywhere), but I will catch up on the To Watch list (luckily not as long as the To Read list – maybe I should spend more time reading, LOL!).

Someone is trying to steal my job – writing – BTW. Much like Da Muse two years ago,  Hrithik is writing poems too. I’m not a poet, so good for them! I don’t even “get” most poems, unless they rhyme and sound more like songs than poems. I stopped writing them in high school – unless you count those “song lyrics” in Best of Friends. But don’t they dare writing novels, or I’d kick them both out of my virtual casts for the time being! I’m the writer, okay? They have so many other talents, I don’t need them to thread in my backyard!

Just kidding, guys. Write what you want. You’re celebrities, traditional publishers will line up to publish your works. Just remember somewhere in the world there is someone who writes stories with you in mind – and sometimes even turns them into screenplays, because, you never know, you might like the stories, and since you’re primarily actors, you might enjoy playing those characters! Now, I haven’t sent any story with screenplay attached to Hrithik yet, but I did send one to Keanu two years ago – and I have more in storage, so… one day I might mail something again. One day. Maybe.

Ahem, sorry… I hope my 5000 readers have different interests from me. Besides, my books will always be cheaper than any traditionally published book, so if you’re short on money, check me, not the latest actor-turned-writer! (The only one I checked was Ethan Hawke’s first novel, last century, and it wasn’t bad…) Have a wonderful weekend!

Writer Wednesday

Hope you had a great weekend. The Kindle event is over – I bought 6 books and sold none. Even if people didn’t purchase on this occasion, I still have increased the visibility of my name and books, so let’s hope it leads to future sales. The Event page had a total of 665 views with a total of 1,333 clicks on the books, whoot! Waiting to hear from Tim Flanagan about the competition winner…

Don’t forget the other sale, everything 50% off on Smashwords until the end of the month – except the brand new book, Star Minds omnibus!

Yes, it’s out, at the moment on Barnes&Noble, Smashwords, Kindle, Kobo and Createspace. Wait for more e-book distributors and the combination of printed and e-book on Amazon – I’ll give all the new links next week. Reading the proof copy, I found and fixed some typos (nothing better than paper to do that), so apart from the wonderful cover by Phoenixlu, this is a “cleaner” and complete edition of the whole series.

Saturday I rewatched L’étudiante, since it’s the inspiration for Chantal (in 1982 I was back in Rome, so the movie is my only insight into La Sorbonne in the 1980s) and then I wrote a couple of new scenes for Shooting Star (Kol-ian’s stay on Earth) that are basically what happens in Technological Angel, but from another point of view. I thought it closed better the novelette – that still needs a major rewrite, but I’ll work on it this week along with the other Snippets that are already written, before getting to the new ones.

Also, I submitted 2/3 of Conall’s Sons to the Smashwords anthology, since the Snippets don’t really fit the guidelines – “to aim for the general SF/F market, so no erotica, bad language, etc.” . I admit I never submitted to general SF/F markets, although I did write a query letter for my first indie-published novel (that I ended up putting on Smashwords once I realized it was too short for fantasy standards, too unconventional and had even the F-word in it, so Daw Books would have rejected it anyway), so I didn’t realize I was going against the rules. I’ve been reading mostly indies in the genre, lately, and we don’t always stick to “rules” – I myself write adult unconventional fantasy (it’s not erotica, but it does mention sex and violence – I don’t always put the “adult filter on” in my stories, though).

So, I reread Conall’s Sons, took out part 1 and sent Giordano/Jordan’s story only. It sold only 9 copies since 2011, so I guess it’s as new to readers as any Snippet could be. And it’s a good introduction to Silvery Earth and its Magical Races, so… there you go. I also did some cover attempts for that anthology, which gave me ideas for the next generation of Star Minds, so on Sunday I started planning next year’s release. The Snippets will come out in the fall, the Next Generation in the first half of 2014 – so I’ll have a lot of stuff at Loncon (since it’s more sci-fi than fantasy geared)! If all my attempts are discarded, I’ll post one of the drawings here, and you can write your own story based on what you see…

Now, if you’re online reading this, you’ve also heard of J.K.Rawling’s latest exploit – how she wrote under a male pseudonym (Robert Galbraith) and then came out. That’s what traditional publishers ask you to do when you brand yourself – J.K. writes YA, how dare she write in another genre? Glad the truth is out. I’ll keep both pseudonyms for now (it’s not a secret that Barbara G.Tarn and B.G. Hope are the same person anyway), and keep looking for my readers. I’m not greedy, 5000 True Fans are enough!

Now, a few writerly links for you. Kris Rusch on the global view – here’s to my growing little grove and readers finding it. Like I said, I’m not greedy. I can find 5000 kind souls among the 7 billion walking on this planet, right? 5000 English-speaking readers (don’t have to be native, I’m not either! ) who enjoy this brand new genre of “unconventional fantasy for adults who still like to dream”…

David Farland on showing, telling, making – sorry, I’m a cinematic writer, no amount of suggestions like this will make me add more specific descriptions… I write what I want to read, and descriptions clutter my “sight” – I skip them in other people’s books, so I don’t put them in mine (although a few beta-readers – who happen to be also writers… – beg for more setting in my stories. I’ve never heard from a real reader begging for more setting, though, so who knows). Go check the other writing tips from Dave – or subscribe to his newsletter!

That’s all for now! Have a great week!