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Author Archives: dorianhart
Asking People to Punch You
I’d like to talk a bit about Beta Readers. A Beta Reader is someone willing to read a draft version of a book and offer their opinions to the author. While it’s a bonus to find a Reader who is … Continue reading
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Ye Olde Language of Fantasy
I’ve started listening to the first book in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy, Sanderson being a conspicuous gap in my coverage of modern fantasy. I noticed early on his use of the word “ashmount” to describe what I assume are volcanoes, … Continue reading
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Showing, Telling, Filtering, Grounding
“Show, don’t tell.” If you’re a writer or have ever taken a writing class, you’ve heard this advice, probably many times over. Readers want drama, not dry explanations. Give them something they can visualize! Don’t say “Joe became angry.” Say … Continue reading
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Book Review – Robin Hobb’s Farseer and Tawny Man Trilogies
Today I finished a book. I do this occasionally and usually with little fanfare, but this was a special one. The book was Robin Hobb’s “Fool’s Fate,” and in completing it I ended a 4500 page journey through one of … Continue reading
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“How’s Your Book Doing?”
On a regular basis I am asked some variant of the question, “How is your book doing?” Here, let me answer that. Warning: numbers! Today is May 14, 2016. The Ventifact Colossus has been out for just over four months. … Continue reading
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Losing My Marbles
You are probably familiar with Randall Munroe of XKCD fame. One of his most famous strips is this: (image © Randall Munroe) I am usually good about not falling into this trap, but sometimes the bait is too tempting, and … Continue reading
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A Million Words
If you search the Internet on the topic, you will discover the notion, ascribed variously to John D. McDonald, Ray Bradbury, David Eddings, and others, that a writer’s first million words are garbage. Eddings phrases the idea thusly: “My advice … Continue reading
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