Chris Fox's Blog, page 17
June 27, 2017
Orphans In the Black: A Space Opera Anthology
One of Chris Fox’s short stories, Void Mage, is featured in a new science fiction anthology, Orphans in the Black. Orphans in the Black is a collection of space opera stories by 19 different authors. Check out the details below!
We’re all Orphans in the Black …
Strap yourself in for nineteen thrilling short stories of space pirates, time travelers, aliens, AI, and more! Meet determined heroes forging their own path through the universe, men and women who won’t go down without a fight.
Be transported to nineteen fantastical new worlds by award winning and bestselling authors. Download this exclusive collection today.
The Stories:
A Simple Thing ~ by Amy J. Murphy
Note to Self ~ by Joseph Lallo
Gravitational Pull ~ by Christine Pope
Autoscopy ~ by Matt Verish
Fog of War ~ by Chris Reher
The Alien ~ by Kay McSpadden
No Eye in Emily ~ by Patty Jansen
Void Mage ~ by Chris Fox
Lost Souls and Other Anomalies ~ by Christopher Holliday
Spacer ~ by J.A. Sutherland
Murphy’s Star ~ by C. Gockel
Interference ~ by Michelle Diener
Stowaway ~ by Anthea Sharp
In the Clutch ~ by LJ Cohen
Iron Lazarus ~ by David Adams
Dreams in the Dust ~ by Richard Tongue
Freedom? ~ by M.R. Forbes
Combat Support ~ by Lindsay Buroker
The Last Astronaut ~ by Chris Dietzel
June 26, 2017
Press the Line (Ganog Wars Book 3) Released on Amazon!
Press the Line, the third book in the series Chris wrote for his 12 Weeks to a Trilogy project, has been released on Amazon! Continue reading about Fizgig, Nolan, and Khar in the Ganog Wars trilogy that began with Behind the Lines:
Imperalis has been lost. The Nameless Ones have returned. The Coalition refuses to fight, leaving the Ganog to wage a war they cannot win.
Betrayed and cut off, Khar and Zakanna struggle to survive. Nolan and Burke bring Alpha Company to reinforce the Nyar home world, only to be overwhelmed by the mighty Void Wraith Omegas. Fizgig and Takkar are captured by the sadistic Kthul fleet leader, Azatok.
Only one guttering flame of hope remains. On Nyar, Nolan finds an ancient Void Wraith Omega, weathered and damaged. If he can restore it, they might just have a weapon strong enough to fight back.
Get Press the Line on Amazon now!
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June 23, 2017
The Power of Obsession
In today’s video, Chris discusses the power of obsession. Obsession can have a negative connotation associated with it, but Chris talks about the positive aspects of it. Check out the video below for more details:
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June 9, 2017
Quick Tip: How to Immediately Make Your Writing More Compelling
Today’s video is the first in a new series, Quick Tips. The purpose of each video is to give one actionable tip, something you can put into immediate use. Today’s video is essentially what was posted in a previous blog post, Every Word Counts. Check it out in video form below:
June 2, 2017
How to Plot Your Novel Using Dan Harmon’s Story Circle
In this week’s video, Chris takes a look at the plotting aspect of writing a novel. Using Star Wars as an example, he explains Dan Harmon’s story circle structure, which builds on Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, and how it works to drive the plot of a story. He also shows how he applies the story circle to one of his own novels. Watch the video for more details!
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May 30, 2017
Behind the Lines Audiobook Released on Audible
May 27, 2017
The Great Pack Audiobook Released on Audible
May 26, 2017
Week 13: Q&A
Today Chris posted a bonus video for 12 Weeks to a Trilogy. He gives another update on his progress on the project, followed by answers to the most popular questions asked by you, the viewers! Check out the video below for more details:
May 24, 2017
Relaunch Your Novel is Available for Preorder
A new book for authors, Relaunch Your Novel, is available for preorder from Amazon. From Chris:
The number one question I’ve gotten for the past two years is, can I resurrect a book that’s stopped selling? The answer is a resounding yes. Our backlists represent our most consistent source of income, and if you configure yours correctly you can turn it into a money generation machine.
This book is my attempt to turn you how to do exactly that. It’s the sixth, and probably final, book in the Write Faster, Write Smarter series. I hope you guys find it useful.
I’ll be doing a companion series of videos on my YouTube channel as well, and will let you guys know when they (and the book) are live!
Coming June 30th!
May 20, 2017
Every Word Counts
I was asked by Chrys Fey of the Insecure Writer’s Group to submit an article for their May Newsletter, but there was a catch. The piece had be be between 200-400 words, making it much more challenging than a 2,000 word piece. This is what I came up with. What do you guys think?
Hooking readers is both art and science. To capture their attention, distill your message to its essence. You have one sentence to evoke curiosity, and you do it by provoking questions.
In eight seconds I will be dead.
When I die, my race dies with me.
That perfect, effortless smile would be the end of me.
Why will the narrator be dead in eight seconds? Why will this person’s race die with them? Why will a smile be the end of the narrator?
We don’t know, but we desperately want to. Lay your sentences like bricks, each building on the last.
In eight seconds I will be dead. I pull the ripcord.
When I die, my race dies with me. I am the last.
That perfect, effortless smile would be the end of me. I bet it had been the end of every woman Brett had ever given it to.
Now we have a little context, but it only begs more questions. Why does this person have a parachute? Are they falling from a plane? Why is this person the last of their race? Who is Brett, and why does he have such an effect on the point of view character?
The third sentence is another brick. Lay it with care. Answer a question. Raise three more. Then lay another brick. Answer two questions. Ask three more.
In eight seconds I will be dead. I pull the ripcord. Nothing happens.
When I die, my race dies with me. I am the last. Fitting, as I was the first.
That perfect, effortless smile would be the end of me. I bet it had been the end of every woman Brett had ever given it to. Of course, it wasn’t the smile I was interested in.
Pull the reader forward, always craving more understanding. Then at the story’s end, with the same care you placed the first brick, place the last. Answer the big question.
Subtly whisper three more.
