Connor Parkinson
asked
Scott Drakeford:
Hi Scott, I recently read your book Rise of the Mages and really enjoyed it. I'm very excited for book 2! Before reading, I noticed how you mentioned you were actually an engineer before writing. I was wondering, how did you make the leap to starting your first novel and how did you develop your writing? I want to write and would love to jump into my own epic just like you did. Thanks so much! -Connor
Scott Drakeford
Hello, Connor!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the beginning of Emrael's story. Book 2 should be in your hands before too long, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out.
I was indeed an engineer when I began writing the Age of Ire, and I held several tech/corporate positions in the years since. My path into publishing was one of immense stubbornness. I worked on the book that became Rise of the Mages for years, writing and re-writing until I felt it was good enough to compete with the best books on the market. I consumed everything I could find on the craft of writing and analyzed my favorite works in an attempt to understand why I liked them and how I might create similar effects in my own story. The Age of Ire story meant too much to me to give up on, so I revised constantly as I learned.
Now, to some this is the "hard way", and I'm not sure I'd recommend the same strategy. Most successful authors I know tend to write a book, edit it, try to get an agent and/or sell it to a publisher, and move on very quickly if it doesn't work. And in publishing, most books don't work even if they're great. It's a very tough and unpredictable business.
What I can recommend whole-heartedly is to just jump in. Write down the important bits of the story you want to write and just go for it. Model it roughly after the structure of some books you've liked. Look up the Hero's Journey, 7 point plot structure, 3 act structure. Seek specific writing advice from authors you admire. Steal tricks from TV and film (Procedurals, etc). Write down your own tricks and preferred structure as you go. It'll be a journey.
As for the business side of publishing... oof. It's rough out there, and a very opaque business. Check out a podcast that my friend Sunyi Dean and I are doing called Publishing Rodeo. We're doing our best to get solid info out to anybody who cares to listen, and have had some amazing guests share very valuable insights.
Best of luck to you. I hope to see your books on shelves someday.
-Scott
I'm so glad you enjoyed the beginning of Emrael's story. Book 2 should be in your hands before too long, and I'm very pleased with how it turned out.
I was indeed an engineer when I began writing the Age of Ire, and I held several tech/corporate positions in the years since. My path into publishing was one of immense stubbornness. I worked on the book that became Rise of the Mages for years, writing and re-writing until I felt it was good enough to compete with the best books on the market. I consumed everything I could find on the craft of writing and analyzed my favorite works in an attempt to understand why I liked them and how I might create similar effects in my own story. The Age of Ire story meant too much to me to give up on, so I revised constantly as I learned.
Now, to some this is the "hard way", and I'm not sure I'd recommend the same strategy. Most successful authors I know tend to write a book, edit it, try to get an agent and/or sell it to a publisher, and move on very quickly if it doesn't work. And in publishing, most books don't work even if they're great. It's a very tough and unpredictable business.
What I can recommend whole-heartedly is to just jump in. Write down the important bits of the story you want to write and just go for it. Model it roughly after the structure of some books you've liked. Look up the Hero's Journey, 7 point plot structure, 3 act structure. Seek specific writing advice from authors you admire. Steal tricks from TV and film (Procedurals, etc). Write down your own tricks and preferred structure as you go. It'll be a journey.
As for the business side of publishing... oof. It's rough out there, and a very opaque business. Check out a podcast that my friend Sunyi Dean and I are doing called Publishing Rodeo. We're doing our best to get solid info out to anybody who cares to listen, and have had some amazing guests share very valuable insights.
Best of luck to you. I hope to see your books on shelves someday.
-Scott
More Answered Questions
V
asked
Scott Drakeford:
I really liked the first book, and am excited for a second! Do you know when it will come out?
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