For no particular reason, Trent’s going first.
Trent has just handed in book three of his trilogy and is madly doing the edits on book one. And while we’re talking about Trent, here’s a review of his latest book, Death Most Definite. He offers Career Advice for the New Writer here.
Marianne has started her Cowpunk series and her anthology Glitter Rose is now available. She now has the cover for the first book of her YA series, which has its own web site here. Check out the writing advice here.
Tansy has been working on the third book of her trilogy . Turns out book two has been renamed The Shattered City. For a sneak preview of book two see here.
Richard is polishing book two, Liberator. Having read it a ROR I can say it is worthy sequel to Worldshaker. And this is where you can access Richard’s 145 pages of writing tips.
Maxine is working on a fascinating story that involves time travel and the first world war. We read her book at the recent ROR and I found the scenes in the Sopwith Camel gripping. She’s about to set up a new blog with info on the new book, so I’ll add a link when I get it.
Margo is up to her ears in revisions for a novel about selkies, due out at the end of 2011 in Australia and in Spring 2012 in the US and the UK. She’s also putting together a fourth collection of short stories, called Yellowcake, which brings together stories published in all sorts of places in the last four years. It’s coming out in Australia in March 2011. She’s also writing a whole new batch of fresh short stories, which will come out in various anthologies in the next twelve months. And she will be teaching at Clarion West in July of 2011. For more info, see here.
Dirk has been writing a Libretto, based around Bedlam, the Queen of the Faeries and Lord Byron, which promises to be a show stopper!
And I’ve been working on the new trilogy, The Outcast Chronicles , for Solaris. I’ve blogged about how the clean up process became the rewrite process when I discovered I’d ended the book in the wrong place.
I might do something about setting goals for the next ROR Sunday Writing Craft post. Feel free to make suggestions for topics.
If you’re looking for a topic, one I’m interested in is: “When to include a map?” I don’t go to cons so this may be discussed all the time but I’m not up with the ideas on it. If I read a story set in Australia, I don’t really need a map to follow it, even if I’m unfamiliar with the lay of the land – so why do I need one to enjoy a story set in a fantasy world?
I’m not an opponent of maps in books, but I sometimes feel they can detract from a story if they are poorly done, a bit like a poorly realised character.
So if a map is included in a book, should it be as fully fleshed-out as a main character? Should readers reasonably expect the landscape to play a significant role in events? Or are they included because of convention and a perception that a fantasy novel needs one for completeness.
Chris, you are the map expert.
Would there be enough material for you to do a guest post on what not to do when putting together a map for a fantasy world?????
No pressure, if you’d rather not.
Hi Rowena,
Well I can’t answer my own question, but I’ve got a heap of ideas down already about map building. Just let me know when and where. I’ve gained so much from your various blogs, I’d love to give something back.
Great,Chris.
I think this is a terrific topic for a post. Just get it together and let me know when it is ready. Don’t want to put you under any pressure with your work etc.
I put the ROR craft posts up every Saturday night for the Sunday. So I’d be happy to have yours on Sunday the 24th, but if that’s too soon, we can make it later.
Cheers, R
I’ll try to pare it down to a size people will acutally want to read.
Cheers
Chris
LOL. OK, but if you feel there is enough material (with examples, if possible) we could do a two parter.
This will be great, Chris. Very practical.
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