Recent content by JohnKPatterson

I've been gone for way too long, but there's something I'd like to add (don't mean to be spamming -- sorry!). The sequel to this story is now out. And during a free promotion of the first story, it got up to the #1 spot in Space Marine Sci-Fi! I'm rather happy about this, and I think I'll be...

I had an article published earlier by Pikes Peak Writers, for their blog. "3 Ways to Make Your Fantasy Novel Stand Out." Since it was relevant, I thought it might be worth sharing with all of you. Hope you enjoy it! Writing from the Peak: Three Ways to Make Your Fantasy Novel Stand Out

I have one AMAZING update, too! I just found out it's ranking at #15 at the Amazon best-selling sci-fi anthologies page! That's above works by George Martin, Joe Haldeman, and Connie Willis. It's updated hourly, but last I checked it was here: Amazon.com Hot New Releases: The best-selling new &...

Hey, everyone! There's some exciting news today. I finally got my first short story onto Amazon! It's a $0.99 sci-fi tale called "Escaping." You can find it right here. I know Mythic Scribes deals mainly in fantasy, but I thought you might like to check it out anyway. It's only 2,000 words...

Mtsky, thank you for offering help. This is something I'd love to find out more about. I did have a couple of things I'm wondering about in my own work. Chiefly, what requires someone to abandon their sibling? Via flashbacks, one of my main characters is shown to have drifted around a country...

I'm down by Colorado Springs. Many welcomes, Chris! Glad to have another Coloradan here. :)

Welcome, Jared! We're delighted to have you here. I know how you feel about procrastinating on that novel. I'm only just starting to go back to mine.

A lot of the locations are specified on maps of New Zealand. I think the DVDs of the trilogy have special features that show where they filmed. Plus, after the filming of The Hobbit, New Zealand turned the Shire houses into a tourist attraction.

I'd love to pay a visit to New Zealand. Of course, there are all of the Middle Earth locations to visit. And one particular animal draws my attention. The tuatara lives on a few islands there. It's a fascinating (and highly endangered) lizard-like reptile left over from the dinosaur age...

[Note: I think this is the best place to post this, since it doesn't directly involve fantasy writing and involves donations. I don't mean to spam anyone.] My friend Rob Killam has begun a Kickstarter project for his upcoming self-published zombie novel Apocalypse Springs: Reanimation. Here's...

Thought I'd take the opportunity to promote a couple of my writings here. I got interviewed a while back for Pikes Peak Writers about how to pitch a novel to an agent, if you can meet with one personally. My fantasy novel is the one I pitched, but the agent had left the publishing industry...

Went to the movie as a reward for finishing the primary edits on my own fantasy novel. I'm still taking in the joy and delight and the flourishes of imagination that this movie caused. Sure a couple of parts could have been trimmed, but it was still an excellent experience, and I'd rather spend...

That does sound very original, especially compared to most dark lords, and based off your description it sounds like he would be a compelling character. In moral philosophy and his conscience, he seems a lot like the main antagonist of my own books. He's driven by an honest desire to fulfill a...

I would recommend The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (not done reading, though). Deep and poetic. Just finished Courtney Schafer's The Whitefire Crossing, and I cannot recommend it enough. Nice, original tale of two characters trying to keep their secrets from each other while running...

Whoa, this is quite a wealth of assistance! Thank you very much, everyone. Your counsel has been most helpful. I have decided, per your advice, to shorten the spear to six feet, have the character wield it double-handed, and he will keep the knife for emergency strikes. The spear is a very...