D.T. Neal's Blog, page 27
January 27, 2023
What are Words for?
I pay a crazy amount of attention to language, partly as a writer, partly as an editor. When I write something and revise it, I actively scrutinize and track the words I use.
Even if it might seem like I'm not, I actually did in the course of writing something. The way a character speaks (or thinks), the way a scene is described -- I'm tracking that upon revision and rewriting.
I'll also check if I use some idiom, adjective, or adverb too frequently in a manuscript; I'll change it up.
When the work is released, there it is. It's a reflection of that care I take on the front end. Whether the prose is simple and straightforward-seeming, or whether it's more florid, I'm paying attention to it.
Some words I particularly like, and they'll turn up a lot in my work. But I also am conscious of their use (and overuse).
I love words too much not to do this!
Even if it might seem like I'm not, I actually did in the course of writing something. The way a character speaks (or thinks), the way a scene is described -- I'm tracking that upon revision and rewriting.
I'll also check if I use some idiom, adjective, or adverb too frequently in a manuscript; I'll change it up.
When the work is released, there it is. It's a reflection of that care I take on the front end. Whether the prose is simple and straightforward-seeming, or whether it's more florid, I'm paying attention to it.
Some words I particularly like, and they'll turn up a lot in my work. But I also am conscious of their use (and overuse).
I love words too much not to do this!
January 25, 2023
Sign of the Times
I've got a short story collection coming out on February 28 from Nosetouch Press. The cover reveal will be January 28 (this Saturday). I'm looking forward to seeing how people react (or don't react) to it. I think it looks great!
I'm not going to talk about it before the cover reveal, except to say that. It's a collection of 13 interrelated stories, was something I originally thought up back in 2017 -- I wrote many of the stories back then, but shelved the project to let it marinate a bit, which I sometimes do. Anyway, this is the right time for it, and I'm excited to get it out there!
I'm not going to talk about it before the cover reveal, except to say that. It's a collection of 13 interrelated stories, was something I originally thought up back in 2017 -- I wrote many of the stories back then, but shelved the project to let it marinate a bit, which I sometimes do. Anyway, this is the right time for it, and I'm excited to get it out there!
January 13, 2023
Gone in a Flash
I'm not a fan of flash fiction. I don't write it, I don't read it. When I read fiction, I want a journey in words, a proper meal, not a snack. If people want to write it, fine.
But, as a writer, at the end of the day, I want more fiction, not less. Give me books, or give me death!
Just like I'd rather have a whole song than ten seconds of it. You need time to build, to escape into that world. Flash fiction is simply a glimpse. What writer can be satisfied with a glimpse? Go build some worlds, develop your characters, create a place for readers to lose themselves within.
I think some of the fetishizing of flash fiction comes from three places: 1) short attention spans--people are too impatient for longer work, and flash fiction offers a brief diversion; 2) indie publishing's meager budgets--it's easier to fund a cluster of flash fiction stories than larger works--that's one of the many challenges inherent in indie; 3) lack of ability to write longer work--flash fiction offers a way to create for writers who aren't comfortable with the level of commitment longer works demand.
Again, if people want to do it, it's fine; I don't.
But, as a writer, at the end of the day, I want more fiction, not less. Give me books, or give me death!
Just like I'd rather have a whole song than ten seconds of it. You need time to build, to escape into that world. Flash fiction is simply a glimpse. What writer can be satisfied with a glimpse? Go build some worlds, develop your characters, create a place for readers to lose themselves within.
I think some of the fetishizing of flash fiction comes from three places: 1) short attention spans--people are too impatient for longer work, and flash fiction offers a brief diversion; 2) indie publishing's meager budgets--it's easier to fund a cluster of flash fiction stories than larger works--that's one of the many challenges inherent in indie; 3) lack of ability to write longer work--flash fiction offers a way to create for writers who aren't comfortable with the level of commitment longer works demand.
Again, if people want to do it, it's fine; I don't.
January 11, 2023
2023
As always when a new year rolls on through, I map out my book-writing plans. Currently, I have the next three years roughly mapped out, around a dozen books (novels), four a year. Various genres and pen names, all that good stuff. But I'm looking forward to tackling them, as ever. I'm not an outliner, none of that -- but I do like to create a loose battle plan for getting the books done, so there it is. I'm slowly moving away from indie horror, heading more into hyphenated genre territory -- like horror-thrillers, etc.
November 14, 2022
Write On
It bemuses me how little I blog anymore. There was a time (lordy, over 20 years ago?) when I blogged like a fiend for about a decade. I deleted one of those blogs at one point. The others may still be out there in some fashion. Meh. Way over blogging, so I suppose I'm only ironically making this blog post...
I'm working on a folk horror novel at the moment. I guess it could be framed as a slow-burn thriller, but we'll see how it goes. It might be marketable as a trad-type novel, but I'll probably just keep it indie on general principles, since I don't want to have to shop around the book for five+ years to find a trad home for it.
I've got something like 18 novels in my head right now, am planning to crank them all out over the next seven years. After that, who knows?
I'm working on a folk horror novel at the moment. I guess it could be framed as a slow-burn thriller, but we'll see how it goes. It might be marketable as a trad-type novel, but I'll probably just keep it indie on general principles, since I don't want to have to shop around the book for five+ years to find a trad home for it.
I've got something like 18 novels in my head right now, am planning to crank them all out over the next seven years. After that, who knows?
September 22, 2022
THE CURSED EARTH
Coming out October 4 (available for pre-order now). I'm excited for this one to get out there. It's a big book (480 pages!) but it flows quickly, has a lot of energy to it that (I think) makes it a quick read, despite the size! Anyway, I'm excited about people reading this one and reacting to it.
It's a cosmic folk horror comedy thriller, which is a mouthful, I know, but that's the only way I can really describe it. It's not a parody; but there's a lot of humorous stuff in it that made me laugh while writing it. I hope readers find the humor I put in there.
It's a cosmic folk horror comedy thriller, which is a mouthful, I know, but that's the only way I can really describe it. It's not a parody; but there's a lot of humorous stuff in it that made me laugh while writing it. I hope readers find the humor I put in there.
June 26, 2014
What's Coming
What's coming down the pike from me? I'm looking to get the sequel to SAAMAANTHAA published in the fall (ideally around Halloween). It's entitled THE HAPPENING.
Also, look for one of two short story collections to appear before the end of the year. The first volume is entitled REVENANCE -- it'll cover much of my horror and weird short fiction.
The next one will appear sometime in 2015, and will contain my science fiction short stories.
Also, look for one of two short story collections to appear before the end of the year. The first volume is entitled REVENANCE -- it'll cover much of my horror and weird short fiction.
The next one will appear sometime in 2015, and will contain my science fiction short stories.
April 9, 2013
Where I'm At
I'm far likelier to blog at my website, www.dtneal.com or on my Facebook authorpage (D. T. Neal), than I am here.
All the same, I'm coming out with a new novel in early may, a vampire novel, "Suckage," and you should definitely pick it up, as I think you'll love it.
All the same, I'm coming out with a new novel in early may, a vampire novel, "Suckage," and you should definitely pick it up, as I think you'll love it.
November 20, 2011
New
I'm working on a new book right now; a kind of political horror story, I suppose it is. I'm at nearly 14,000 words into it after about a week. It's going very well.
October 15, 2011
Excerpt
I'm wanting to put excerpts up, but am still sorting out how to do it on Goodreads. It's not immediately intuitive, alas.
