Recent content by Greybeard

How do you feel about illustrated fantasy novels? I've seen copies of The Lord of the Rings with lovely illustrations by Alan Lee. But his interpretations of Moria or Minas Tirith aren't what I had imagined. Do illustrated books enhance or detract from your reading experience?

An upcoming expansion called "Legacy" is on its way. It reportedly is set in a place called the Vimmark Mountains.

In an interview with J.K. Rowling she explained that some of the surnames in her books were taken from people that she knew growing up. She wouldn't give specifics, but hinted that some of the villains were based on people who tormented her. Is this an acceptable practice? What are the...

I have something like this in my novel. Several characters experience strange powers that are unlike anything described elsewhere. What I do is zero in on the five senses of the viewpoint character. What is she seeing or hearing? Does her skin tingle, or is there a temperature change...

Are you an author who creates an outline before writing? If so, how long is your typical outline for a novel?

Do you wonder if gender plays any role in the publishing world? Years back I read a story about mystery author J.A. Konrath. He had initially intended to write under his full name, Joseph Konrath. But his publisher insisted that he use J.A. Konrath instead, to make his gender less obvious...

Have you tried incorporating actual historical figures into your fantasy world? I believe that this can add rich possibilities if handled with finesse. What are some of the potential pitfalls to avoid when trying this? And what are the rewards?

It would seem that some authors have taken to spelling magic with a "k" at the end, which is magick. Why are they doing this? Is there a substantive difference?

I should have been clearer as to what I'm inquiring about. This software is intended to help an author construct a story step by step, offering suggestions along the way. It usually isn't used to write a manuscript. Instead, the finished product is generally an outline or synopsis which can...

I recently spotted Ralph Bakshi's animated Lord of the Rings on Blu-ray. It's been decades since I've viewed it, so I don't recall too much. It does seem that this film is universally reviled, though. Why is that? I don't remember it being that bad. In fact, I always thought of Bakshi as...

Is it acceptable to send a query letter to an agent or publisher if the novel isn't finished yet? What if you are very close to the end?

I've seen advertisements for writing software which is intended for story construction. Some examples include Dramatic Pro, New Novelist, Contour and Movie Magic Screenwriter. Have you tried any of these? And are they helpful or harmful?

Do you prefer to name important weapons, such as special swords and daggers? How do you approach choosing names for them?

Any insights into including a conflict after a novel's climax? Should this practice be avoided, or can it work in the right hands? Can you think of any examples of this working?

Have you tried creating a new religion for your stories? Where do you recommend beginning? Religions invented for fantasy novels typically gravitate towards two ends of a spectrum. They are obviously patterned after a real religion, which can be unsettling. Or they are oversimplified...