This week I’m stealing my blog topic from my friend Jessica over at Chronically Vintage. She’s a lovely person and blogs about vintage fashion, which is something I knew little about until I started writing historical fiction.
Anyway, the idea of this post is to not talk about writerly stuff per se, but rather to reveal some slightly more personal things about me. So here we go – four things about me: Continue reading
Not a long post this week. I just wanted to share this reminder that in the hustle of the holiday season, take a moment to sit down, reflect and relax, and be thankful. Whether you’ve finished all your decorating or not, whether you’ve reached your daily word count writing goal or not – just take a moment to be calm. Continue reading
I’ve done a post about quotes for writing and inspiration, but I’ve been collecting more writerly quotes, so I thought I’d share. Who doesn’t love a great quote about books, storytelling, and the passion we feel for the written word? Enjoy!
“A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” Thomas Mann
“I love studying folklore and legends. The stories that people passed down for a thousand years without any sort of marketing support are obviously saying something appealing about the basic human condition.” Ti Schafer Continue reading
For anyone who has ever kept up a blog regularly, even if you post just a few times a month, you have probably had your moments when you thought “Boy, this is hard.”
It’s hard to put your words and thoughts up on the internet for the world to see and comment on.
It’s hard to come up with new content week after week and post it regularly. Continue reading
This post is a poll of sorts, and I really would love your feedback! (It’s only three questions, and you don’t have to answer them all, so don’t panic). These are few things that I’ve been mulling over lately as I’ve been working on my fantasy stories, and I’d really like to know what other people think about these things. My questions are directed mainly at readers of fantasy and related genres. I welcome feedback from readers (and writers!) of any genre, but fans of fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal would probably understand these questions best.
So, here we go:
Do you prefer one-shots, duology/trilogy, or series?
I’m not trying to find the “best” or even the most currently “marketable” length – I’m just genuinely curious what other people are reading. And I’m honestly not sure which one is my favorite. So what’s your preference?
Do you like to have foreign languages translated in the text, or just have it left up to the reader to figure out words from the context?
This isn’t really about conlangs (constructed languages, like Elvish or Klingon), although that could be a subject for a blog post all on its own. When a character is speaking in another language (one different from the point of view character’s primary language) I’ve seen several different methods used:
The writer puts the character’s dialogue in brackets instead of quotes – [I bring you my sword], said Vlen – to indicate the language change. Or—
The writer simply states the language switch: “I bring you my sword,” said Vlen in Elvish. Or—
The writer has constructed at least the basics of the language, and uses it, with or without a translation as part of the narrative: “Mdash nii hwena,” said Vlen. I bring you my sword.
Have you read books – or written books – using one of these methods? Or a different method? Do you have a favorite? What method of inserting other languages seems the most awkward or interrupts the flow of the story?
Do you love or hate a book with a glossary or appendix?
Many fantasy books have landscape maps or genealogical maps, often at the beginning of a book. But what about other stuff that might come at the end of a book, like a glossary of conlang terms, a pronunciation guide, or an appendix explaining a cultural history or technological specs? Do glossaries and appendices get you excited about learning “behind the scenes” stuff about the world of the book, or do you get bogged down because it feels like a textbook?
Thanks! I truly want to know what others think about these storytelling elements. I look forward to reading everyone’s answers!
