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Recent content by Jac Buchanan

  1. Jac Buchanan

    Phases of revision

    Hi mate. I'm mainly talking in the context of fantasy novels, given the context (i.e. the purpose of this platform), and encouraging someone who is criticising themselves for what-they-think-is excessive drafts. Yes, different markets within the fantasy genre have different expectations, and...
  2. Jac Buchanan

    Phases of revision

    Sorry. What I meant was that people interpret efficiency as being a better writer. But the fact is that's not the case. They simply found a way to achieve their version of the optimal manuscript, quicker than they did before. i.e. Such efficiency in other writers may produce a lesser-quality...
  3. Jac Buchanan

    Phases of revision

    The danger of counting "This is my x draft" is that it can be depressing, and the fact that every writer has different needs to produce their version of the optimal manuscript. That's the beauty of art - we're all different. In other words, judging by the number of drafts, or comparison to...
  4. Jac Buchanan

    Yay! I have an ARC!

    Yay! I have an ARC!
  5. Jac Buchanan

    Phases of revision

    It's beta-readers that usually tell you (acknowledging we can't all afford editors for every stage of every manuscript - though wouldn't those deep pockets be nice?) This usually requires very targeted questions. The guide I originally used is this one: Frankie Waters - Author Workflow
  6. Jac Buchanan

    Resources for writing North American Indigenous characters?

    Firstly, I would recommend that it be subject to a sensitivity reader (i.e. a First Nations person from the tribe (if that is the right word) you're depicting). Secondly, there is a difference between looking at the world through the eyes of that character, writing them as a side character...
  7. Jac Buchanan

    Marketing in todays world

    Being an author is essentially running a business. You have to keep releasing books in order to benefit from the momentum. If you only have 1 product/service (i.e. 1 book) you gain whatever x% of market likes that book cover, title, blub, and sample read (diminishing returns through that...
  8. Jac Buchanan

    ARC Question

    Hi mate, I can see what you're getting at. The beta's have done their part, but you then send them the ARC so they can leave you a review, as well as other people who didn't beta-read. Very normal. Amazon et al: If you are not yet published (any book - not just this one) Amazon will allow you...
  9. Jac Buchanan

    Freelance Editors: What are we lookng for?

    I have a few tips as an ex-editor: 1. If you can't have their reliability verified by another author (that you know and trust) stick to those that accept payment via Paypal or other provider that has complaint protocols in case they don't deliver. 2. A lot of high-quality editors will do a...
  10. Jac Buchanan

    Phases of revision

    Although I do use "first draft" when it comes to the first time I write the full story from start to finish (as that in itself is a milestone). After that, it comes down to rough draft, early draft, working draft, advanced draft, final draft, then published manuscript - each following the...
  11. Jac Buchanan

    Short Story Writer

    Hi all - I'm very pleased to meet you.:) I've been writing for ~30years, but have turned to short stories to experiment with writing styles, breaking the rules, and trying new genres. It's been a load of fun with 1 published and 1 ARC on issue, still experimenting with more, and slowly working...
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