So I had this plan (not for a giant wooden badger) to start writing the first draft of my next book while The Killer and The Dead is off getting developmentally edited. You know, use the time, maximize my word counts, get the first few chapters of The Slavegirl and the Traveller banged out and …
Category: Book Business
Why I Write Fantasy: To Submit Drafts at the Very Last Minute.
But it is in. With 2 minutes to spare MST. I look forward to making it better, with help. But hurrah! Phase one is done!
Why I Write Fantasy: To Hit Deadlines
Yep, I have one week to deadline on getting my manuscript to my editor for the developmental pass. This means I have a liquid eff ton of work to do in the next seven days, five of which I will be working. Oh yeah. I got a lot done this past weekend, enough so I'm …
The Writing Life: Writing as an Exercise
Part of writing is persisting when you’re not feeling particularly up for it: you’re tired, distracted, unsure, stuck, maybe even bored and wanting to move on, but no, you’ve got to write that next page. Sometimes I’ll just go to bed. Other times I’ll get a cup of tea, play a few racks of pool, …
Why I Write Fantasy: Morality, Culture, and Character Creation
So folks, while it is fresh in my mind I thought I’d reiterate what I thought was one of the central points discussed during our panel at Denver Comic Con. (Thank you once again to my fab panelists!) And that is this: I feel that paying attention to the culture a character grows up in, …
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The Writing Life: Go Team!
Now I've done a blog before about how it takes a team, but tonight I'm just saying, for the last time, that I and my companions on the panel will be at Denver Comic Con tomorrow at 12 midday, room 404, discussing Morality and Culture in Fantasy Fiction: a look at how grounding characters in …
Why I Write Fantasy: To Introduce My Fellow Panelists at Denver Comic Con
Of course in truth that isn’t why I write fantasy, but it is a pleasant and unexpected side effect! Only 4 days to go now before my first visit to a Comic Con, and my first participation in a Con! How weirdly awesome is that? I’m going to geek out and take my ancient paperback …
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The Writing Life: Distraction and Distillation
Well, I managed to travel and blog, but couldn’t manage it with a visitor in the house. Strange how that happens. On the plus side, it was a fabulous visit, and I played a lot of pool, some of it even quite creditable at times! It is very hard for me to maintain a consistently …
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The Writing Life: Acceptance
Last week I talked about what success meant for me nowadays. A big part of why the shape of success has changed for me over the years is a growing acceptance of the things I can and cannot control in this writing life. I was very unrealistic in my youth. I wanted it all, but …
The Writing Life: Managing Priorities
Life has recently gotten a lot busier for me. I’ve started a new job. I’ve set a final editorial schedule for my next book. I’ve got a panel to moderate at Denver Comic Con. Each of these three things takes up time, and mental energy. I have a lot to learn, a lot to do, …
Roderick T. Macdonald 