A New Post About Revisions

Today’s post can be found at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of writing fantasy that I maintain with fellow authors Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, A.J. Hartley, Stuart Jaffe, and Edmund Schubert, among others. The post is called “Revisions Revisited,” and it’s about the revisions I’m doing on the first Thieftaker book. I hope you enjoy it.

I’m Mind-Melding!

I’ve taken part in another of John DeNardo’s wonderful Mind Melds over at SFSignal.  This one is about holiday gift ideas for the SF/Fantasy geek in your life, and my entry is the fifth or sixth one down.  There are also entries from Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Martha Wells, John O’Neill, and many others.  So check it out!  Here’s the link.

A Post About Learning From Teaching

Today’s post can be found at http://www.sfnovelists.com, the group blog on speculative fiction that I maintain along with a group of over one hundred published authors of fantasy and science fiction. The post is called “What I Learned While Working On My Newest Book,” and it’s about the things I learned while working on the Magical Words How-To book. I hope you enjoy it.

A New Post About Ideas and Creativity

Today’s post can be found at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of writing fantasy that I maintain with fellow authors Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, A.J. Hartley, Stuart Jaffe, and Edmund Schubert, among others. The post is called “Musings on Ideas and Creative Process,” and it’s about my very weird creative process. I hope you enjoy it.

Live Chat Tonight Featuring N.K. Jemisin

Tonight at 9:00 pm Eastern, fantasy author N.K. Jemisin, author of THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS and THE BROKEN KINGDOMS, will be doing a live chat in the Knight Agency chat room. Like me, N.K. is represented by the fabulous Lucienne Diver (of the aforementioned Knight Agency), so she and I are practically related.  N.K. was recently included on Publishers Weekly’s Best of 2010 for the first and second volumes in The Inheritance Trilogy, and THE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINGDOMS was picked for the #5 spot on Amazon’s Best of 2010 list for Sci-Fi/Fantasy. N.K. was also nominated for Romantic Times BookLOVERS awards in the fantasy and epic fantasy categories.

So drop in to the Knight Agency chat room this evening, and meet the author!  (HOW TO CHAT: Enter any combination of username and password. Login. Your computer must be Java enabled to chat.)

To learn more about N.K. Jemisin, visit www.NKJemisin.com.

Magical Words How-To Jacket Art!!

The jacket art for the upcoming Magical Words How-to book is available here.  Check it out!  The photo is actually one that I took in Milford Sound on the South Island of New Zealand.

A Post About Writing Exercises

Today’s post can be found at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of writing fantasy that I maintain with fellow authors Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, A.J. Hartley, Stuart Jaffe, and Edmund Schubert, among others. The post is called “Writing Exercises for a Chilly Autumn Day,” and it’s about . . . well, pretty much exactly what it sounds like. I hope you enjoy it.

A Post About Low Word Counts

Today’s post can be found at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of writing fantasy that I maintain with fellow authors Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, A.J. Hartley, Stuart Jaffe, and Edmund Schubert, among others. The post is called “Bolstering Your Word Count,” and it’s about what you can do if your novel comes out shorter than you had been hoping. I hope you enjoy it.

My Conference Call With Mitch and John

Mitch, John. It’s David.

I know you’re both really busy, but I just wanted to say congratulations, and I wanted to tell you that I think you’re doing a great job so far. No, really, I mean it.

Mitch, you might look like Yertle the Turtle, but you have got some cojones, my friend.

I said “cojones.” Sorry, I forgot that you guys aren’t really down with the whole Latino thing.

No, John, those are “calzones,” and that’s Italian. “Cojones” basically means “brass balls.”

And, Mitch, you’ve got them. I mean, here the Republicans have gained control of just one half of one third of the Federal government, and it’s not even your half! Yet, there you are, issuing threats and ultimatums to the President of the United States. That’s gutsy. And smart! There’s nothing the American people like more in their politicians than pretension and arrogance. Well done!

John, you deserve a lot of credit, too. That was some performance you gave Tuesday night in your victory speech. Who would have guessed that beneath that gruff, burnt umber exterior dwells the soul of a thespian.

“Thespian,” Mitch. It means actor. Yes, I’m sure it’s not a “gay” word.

But, John, let me give you a quick tip. Sure, people like it when political figures reveal their softer side. And yes that was some story you told about starting out as a stock boy, or whatever, and following the American dream to where you are now. Who’d have guessed that a guy could go from earning minimum wage to shilling for Big Tobacco on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives? Very inspiring.

Still, next time you might want to go with your “prideful humility” voice when talking about your resume, and save the waterworks for when you talk about your family. Otherwise, though, great job! Looks like you’re taking on the “Good Cop” role in all of this. Probably wise.

I also think that having Mike Pence out there talking like he’s been made king of the world is a nice touch. A counterpoint to the kinder, gentler you, and risk free, since no one likes him anyway. I hear he’s thinking of running for President in 2012.

Yeah, I thought it was hilarious, too.

Anyway, I should run, and you both have work to do. Enjoy yourselves and keep doing exactly what you’re doing. Two years is a long time in American politics; just ask Obama.

I knew you’d get a kick out of that.

Just make sure– Well, never mind. You’ll figure it out for yourselves.

Or better yet, maybe you won’t.

A Post About World Fantasy Convention

Today’s post can be found at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of writing fantasy that I maintain with fellow authors Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, A.J. Hartley, Stuart Jaffe, and Edmund Schubert, among others. The post is called “Back from World Fantasy Convention,” and it’s about the weekend I just spent at WFC in Columbus, Ohio. I hope you enjoy it.