So I received my developmental notes for The Killer and The Dead last week. These notes were a collection of thoughtful comments and suggestions on plot, structure, pacing, writing, setting, and character. Plus a ton of in-text comments on specific aspects of the book, good and bad, pointing out places where improvements could be made, …
Category: Writing
Why I Write Fantasy: Today’s Reasons
I write fantasy because I want to put words together in magical patterns that cause as much delight in others as putting them down did for me. I write fantasy because I want to say something new in a genre dominated by tradition. I write fantasy because I want to explore strange new worlds and …
The Writing Life: Reading Your Own Writing
Ah, my writing holiday is almost over, as I get the developmental edits on The Killer and The Dead back tomorrow. I have one more night of imagining I’ll get a note of stunned awe, and thanks for writing such a thing of searing beauty. And writers out there, you do hope for that kind …
The Hammer and the Fall
In creative life, many do not appreciate the time taken between the hammer and the fall. Now I’m going to be all metal and talk about hammers and striking and forging, but the metaphor could just as easily be the time taken between the seed and the flower, and be about soil and water and …
Mystery Blogger Award
I kept saying I'd do this, and finally I have got around to it! Thanks Mitch for my first ever blog award nomination!! I feel all grown up now! The Rules: Use the logo and list the rules Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog Tell your readers 3 things …
Why I Write Fantasy: To Write the Classic Non-Human Races, in Other Books, Later
In the fantasy of my youth non-human races were always part of the magical formula that took me from the mundane here, to the fantastical there. Talking animals, creatures from greek myth, folklore figures brought to life, all of them were part of that secret world just around the corner and over the hill …
Continue reading Why I Write Fantasy: To Write the Classic Non-Human Races, in Other Books, Later
The Writing Life: Taking a Writing Holiday
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 …
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!
The Writing Life: Almost there…
The draft for my editor is almost ready. I'll need the weekend to finish it, but we're almost there. As a result, I really don't have anything to say here. Other than this, haha! Writing is a privilege. I am lucky in my life that I have the inclination, and the time, to write. Many …
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 …
Roderick T. Macdonald 