Sebastien de Castell
Write the book you most want to read.
Don’t worry about what’s hot or current and don’t worry about people thinking your idea isn’t cool enough. If you really want to write about sparkly vampires or magical elves, do it. Figure out why you love those characters and bring that into your writing.
I wrote Traitor’s Blade because I love characters like Falcio, Kest, and Brasti. I didn’t worry about what I’d put on a query letter or whether people would tell me that swashbuckling swordsmen were out of fashion. I just wrote the book I most wanted to read. It turns out that if you do that there’s a good chance other people will want to read it too.
Write the book you most want to read.
Don’t worry about what’s hot or current and don’t worry about people thinking your idea isn’t cool enough. If you really want to write about sparkly vampires or magical elves, do it. Figure out why you love those characters and bring that into your writing.
I wrote Traitor’s Blade because I love characters like Falcio, Kest, and Brasti. I didn’t worry about what I’d put on a query letter or whether people would tell me that swashbuckling swordsmen were out of fashion. I just wrote the book I most wanted to read. It turns out that if you do that there’s a good chance other people will want to read it too.
More Answered Questions
Shannon (Media Shadow Reads)
asked
Sebastien de Castell:
Hi, hello... just wanted to say, just read 'Spellslinger' in one sitting and really really enjoyed it. Amazing writing, so so easy to follow! But anyway, my questions are... 1) How did you come up with the original character names? 2) How did you ever manage to come up with the 'squirrel-cat' concept for Reichis? (who may I add is the most awesome character ever) 3) And will said Reichis be in the 2nd book?
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