#secretlife — Public Fediverse posts

#WordWeavers 7. Share a line of dialogue that tells us everything we need to know about a character's personality.

Many of my characters have assumed names as a way of getting around the vulnerability of some antagonist learning your true name and magically using against you.

There’s one Hound, an enforcer for the Council, the body governing the magical community, who goes by the name of Ripley who always introduces himself by saying, ‘Name’s Ripley, believe it or not.'

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

#WritersCoffeeClub 11/10: What's a turn of phrase you've 'inherited' from someone else?

“This is not food, it’s just McDonald’s,” parodying the M&S ads.

I’ve expanded on this by coming up with the term Drive By restaurant to describe the sort of place purveying the alternatively phrased, “This is just not food, this is McDonald's.”

I’m not sure which version I prefer, any suggestions?

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

#FantasyCon

Final day today, forced to get up early to attend a 9am panel, I was so befuddled I ended up entering the wrong room and watching a panel discussing Ethics in Space.
I decided to try and make the best of things by turning things around with the idea of applying the discussion to my genre featuring magic and the supernatural.

Followed this with a panel on Creating New Folklore, which got me wondering, are urban legends actually the folklore of tomorrow?

As I’m considering doing more short fiction my next panel was The Structure of Short Stories which provided food for thought.

I’m presently taking a break and having a coffee before attending my final workshop - Understanding Publishing Contracts.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

#PennedPossibilities 1149: Think of a choice your MC made. How did it lead to where and who they are now?

Nathan’s life changed significantly after he agreed to take on a commission for Judith Armstrong who wanted him to water from the Fountain of Youth for her.

He got drawn deeper into the Demi-monde and discovered things he hadn’t previously known about how it was governed and policed.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

#WritersCoffeeClub 10 Oct. Do you have a guiding principle as a writer?

To try and be entertaining as possible, and I guess I do that by writing the kind of stories I like to read myself.

There’s little point in writing something I wouldn’t enjoy reading.

All I can do is hope other people find my novels as entertaining as I do.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

#PennedPossibilities What is your MC’s relationship to what modern society considers the paranormal or supernatural?

For Nathan and Vicky magic and the supernatural are part and parcel of their everyday lives.

It’s something they take in their collective stride.

Truth be told, they actually come across as a couple of weirdness magnets as they are continually getting involve in situations involving magic and the supernatural, so much so it’s become second nature for them to end up investigating something weird.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

#FantasyCon

This afternoon I attended a panel on retelling fairytales, interesting stuff.

Watched an interview featuring one of the guests of honour, Peter F Hamilton.
If you’ve ever wondered about the prominence of the letter F in his name it’s because when he was stating out it was what he thought SF writers did, as per Arthur C Clarke.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

#FantasyCon

Day 2 of FantasyCon.

I’ve actually managed to sell a couple of copies of How to Succeed as a Supervillain by Following the Evil Overlord List!!

If anyone is at the Con, you can find them on the BFS table in the dealer’s area.

A couple of interesting panels this morning, one on monsters, the other on The Changing Face of Publishing.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

Belated post
#PennedPossibilities 1147. How does your SC feel about those around them?

I’m currently writing Tales From the Demi-monde; my collection of short stories told from the point of view of a number of my secondary characters.
In the process I’m beginning to learn how they all view my joint protagonists, Nathan and Vicky.

It’s turning out to be an interesting experience that I’d recommend any author to try as you’ll begin to see your characters in a new light.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

Belated post.
#WordWeavers 10/9: Share a description from your WIP that establishes atmosphere without explicitly naming the emotion.

Emrys tentatively stepped onto the ledge running along the brink of the abyss and began shuffling his way towards safety.

At just about the same time as he reached what he reckoned to be the halfway point, he heard the impossible, a voice in his ear coming from behind.

‘Don’t look down, don’t look down, look at your friends, look at you friends. You might yet live another day if you don’t look down but look at your friends instead.’

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

Belated post.

#PennedPossibilities 1148: Is your favourite genre to read also your favourite one to write?

I read a wide range of genres, SF, Fantasy, Horror, Crime, Thrillers, and even the occasional Historic novel.

I believe that by reading widely you open yourself up to new ideas, some of which can be beneficially reworked,.

In my case in urban fantasy, perhaps adding something new to the genre.

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel

#FantasyCon

Well, I've registered and I'm now sitting around wondering what to do next as there’s not a lot happening at the moment.

Breaking news! I’ve been privileged enough to make the first sale of the day from the BFS book table!

How's about that for a result...

#WritersOfMastodon #TalesFrom… #SecretLife… #HowtoSucceed… #Author #Novel