Category Archives: Writing

Maurice Sendak

Posted on May 8, 2012 by dbjackson

I’m sure that this will not be the only tribute to Maurice Sendak that you read today and in the days to come.  That’s okay.  Sendak’s books reached so many of us, and meant so much to all who read … Continue reading →

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Flash Writing Tips: Three Rules I Follow When Creating Magic

Posted on May 4, 2012 by dbjackson

This post is about creating magic.  Literally.  More to the point, it’s about creating a viable magic system for your fantasy story or novel.  A couple of months back I wrote about worldbuilding and might have alluded briefly to magic … Continue reading →

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Off to the Races With a New Story Idea

Posted on May 2, 2012 by dbjackson

Sometimes inspiration for a story will come at the oddest times from the oddest places.  A case in point: I was just thumbing through a book on the history of Boston, called When In Boston: A Time Line and Almanac … Continue reading →

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Flash Writing Tip: Research — How Much Is Enough?

Posted on April 26, 2012 by dbjackson

Researching the Thieftaker books and stories has been a great deal of fun.  Lots of work, yes, but incredibly interesting and gratifying.  And weaving that research into the text of the books has been fun, too.  There is something incredibly … Continue reading →

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THIEFTAKER: 10 Weeks and Counting!

Posted on April 24, 2012 by dbjackson

The official release date for THIEFTAKER, book I of the Thieftaker Chronicles, is exactly ten weeks from today.  That may seem a long way off to you, but given that I’ve been counting down for well over a year, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Appearances, Business of publishing, Novels, Publicity, Publishing, Short Fiction, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Writing Exercise: Character and Voice

Posted on April 19, 2012 by dbjackson

Developing our writing voice for a story or a character can be incredibly difficult; it can also be quite rewarding when we get it right.  The key for me is stepping out of “myself” and forcing myself into the psyche … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Friendship, Fun, kids, Novels, parenting, Reading, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Great Debate: Plotting Versus Pantsing

Posted on April 17, 2012 by dbjackson

No doubt you’ve heard this discussion before.  Some writers rely on advanced plotting when writing their books.  They outline in advance of actually writing the book, sometimes plot point by plot point, sometimes chapter by chapter, sometimes even line by … Continue reading →

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Writing Tip: What to do with All Those Rules

Posted on April 11, 2012 by dbjackson

You’ve heard the rules before:  Don’t write in first person.  Don’t write in present tense.  Don’t start your book or story with dialogue.  Don’t use adverbs.  Don’t use said-bookisms.  Don’t switch point of view from one character to another in … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Character, Novels, Publishing, Reading, Short Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Flash Writing Tip: Accepting Criticism from an Editor

Posted on April 6, 2012 by dbjackson

I’m here at Marcon, and it’s late.  I’ve had a full day — a long drive, a panel, a signing; I’m ready to go to sleep. But today’s panel was on “How To Be Edited,” and since I was the … Continue reading →

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New Story Is Out!!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by dbjackson

The newest Ethan Kaille story is out and available for all to read.  “A Memory of Freedom,” which is about Ethan’s first job as a thieftaker — the beginning of his new career after he had served 14 years laboring … Continue reading →

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