Lee M

I'll never understand why science fiction and fantasy are always lumped into the same category, but especially in agent bios... Like there's a ton of different subgenres for both of those, which ones do you want? They're not all the same, most aren't even similar.

#writing #querying

Typo of the day:

"The elf that greeted him had long back hair and a scar on his chin."

"The elf that greeted him had long black hair and a scar on his chin"

#writing

"please provide a comparable title that was released recently. No, you can't use the books that inspired you decades ago, no not that one, it was too successful, yes it does mean you're going to have to read all ten books that fit the narrow criteria, eight of which are terrible."

#querying

TFW you had that one scene all planned out but had to axe it because by the time the story got to it, your characters had grown and developed in a way where that awesome scene wouldn't have made any sense.

#writing

TFW you see a highlighted section of your draft in the e-reader that you left yourself months ago and as you look at it, you come up with the perfect way to edit it. And when you check your own comment, past self said the same thing verbatim.

#writing

Not sure if that makes it better or worse

Just remember, it's not a reflection of how they feel about you or a sign that they don't think you're capable of writing something worth reading, it's just something that's going to happen and I wish I'd had a heads up.

One thing I really wasn't prepared for was the majority of my friends and family just not reading my work. I first assumed they just wanted me to finish the novel and then they'd give it a go. But it's been over a year...
It was hard to accept, but no matter how close you are, some people won't read

Would actually make for some solid worlds to play in if "the forbidden forest of danger" and "the cursed dungeon" were actually terrifying places full of strong monsters and not just flavoring... On everyone's second characters after the inevitable party wipe on the first go around that is.

There's nothing quite like that magic moment where your characters stop being sock puppets and start to develop their own personality.
For me, when your characters become real is when the magic really starts because all of the interactions and clashes and dialogue just flow so much better

#writing

I'm not sure who needs to hear this but, if someone suggests a specific change to your writing, it's ok to not use the suggestion, but something still snagged the reader's attention that shouldn't have, so something does need fixing, just not necessarily in the exact way that was sugested
#writing

One chapter away from finishing my book! But do I finish it now? Go back eight chapters and fix that plot hole I remembered about?
Maybe I should get some of those household chores out of the way first so I can celebrate unhindered afterwards.
I'm sure I'll remember the plot hole...

#writing

I think the best advice I got about receiving critiques was to say nothing but "thank you" while receiving and then to go and stew on it for a few days until the kneejerk emotions die down and you can look at things more objectively. No one ever agrees that their work is flawed right away.

And now to write a harrowing fight scene. I want my hero to actually struggle though so I'll make the monster smart and strong, with claws, and attack him when he's vulnerable with no weapons or armor.
No plot armor here!

Now to think of how he'll win this.Lets see...

Oh no...

#writting

Typo of the day:
"Kiera requested teat from one of the servants."
(It's not that kind of place Kiera 😳)

"Kiera requested tea from one of the servants."

Typo of the day:
"He slapped his horse to send it off."
(I just picture mongo from blazing saddles KO'ing the horse)

Should be:
"He slapped his horse on the rump to send it off."

Time to edit all those typos I highlighted in my Kobo... Right after I browse 4 different apps... And maybe this one.

Me: I'm a writer with hundreds of thousands of words under my belt!

Also me: "He hopped that he wouldn't be scared after stumbling when she scarred him while hoping into the boat."

😅

In the same vein, fantasy often has active dieties and elements of the afterlife which interact with the living world, almost always representing good and evil entities

So the lack of modern things isn't a result of a lack of progress and innovation, it just isn't possible. Explaining the permanence of swords and armor and bows over the course of milenia in a high fantasy world

Alternative physics. I.e. elemental world that lacks atoms and therefore doesn't necessarily work exactly like ours. Gunpowder and nuclear weapons might not be possible, engines, steam expansion, all might be absent in such a world as a result of the building blocks of the world itself.

Them: "please submit your first three chapters up to 10k words"

Me: *glances nervously at my first chapter's 12k word count*
😅

Whenever I go back and read something I wrote a few months earlier, there are only two reactions: "I can't believe I wrote this" or "I can't believe I wrote this"

I joined Blue sky to connect with writers. My feed is overwhelmed with political stuff.

Looking to connect with the #writingcommunity

That feeling when you've plotted out the next 4 chapters in the sidebar in Scrivener, all you need to do now is have your characters quickly touch base and then go forth and progress the plot... Except you foolishly wrote smart characters who derail the whole thing with reasonable questions. 😅

Who decided that 120k words was 'epic' in epic fantasy?

-We'd be around Shadar Logoth in 'The Eye of the World'
-We'd have just lost Gandalf in 'The Fellowship of the Ring'
-The starks would have just finished settling in at kings landing in 'A Game of Thrones'