James R. Tuck
read all posts by James R. TuckThis was supposed to be my day on here and I completely failed. I have excuses (double anthology deadlines, looming overhaul/remodel of the tattoo shop I own, writing deadlines, tattoo appointments) but they’re no justified reason to have missed. I apologize.
I will make it up to you like crazy next time.
Until then, here are some recommendations of things that can help you write:
THANKS BUT THIS ISN’T FOR US by Jessica Page Morrell.
In my opinion the BEST overall book about writing on the market today. I love this book. This book is why I am a published author today.
HOW TO WRITE MAGICAL WORDS by the Magical Words contributors.
A great compendium of advice. I mean seriously.
2K to 10K by Rachel Aaron
You’ve heard about it. It’s logic. It works.
STYLE THAT SIZZLES AND PACING FOR POWER by [...]
Continue reading I TRULY APOLOGIZE FOR SUCKING
James R. Tuck
read all posts by James R. TuckHey hey folks. Hope you are doing well.
After my last post here I want to give what may seem to be a counterpoint piece of advice. Last time I waxed philosophical about metaphor and the long strung description that give lyrical beauty to your writing.
All of that holds true.
Today, however, I want to talk about writing concisely.
We writer folks love our words. We think in words and when we write (especially first drift) we tend to go overboard, stuffing our sentences with every cool little adverb and adjective we can find. Oftentimes we are writing to make everything as clear to the reader as we can, really wanting them to be able to see the room we are describing. Our characters walk into a bar and we want to tell the reader how big the bar is, what kind of decorations there are on the wall, [...]
Continue reading GET TO THE POINT (or the joy of writing succinctly)
James R. Tuck
read all posts by James R. TuckToday I will be in a car heading to the Olde City New Blood convention in St. Augustine, Fl so I apologize in advance that I will not be getting back here to any comments until later in the day, possibly in the late evening.
That being said, let’s get into the heart of today’s musing.
I’ve been a descriptive writer from the get. I will tell you exactly what a thing looks like and every moment of its existence as it relates to my story. I’ve always prided myself on it and I work to improve what is already one of my best abilities. I seek out new words, looking to boldly go where no writer has gone before.
I use words like eldritch, corpulent, and etheric. I pair words with things and actions that create a jarring feel to them like oilsheen crackle and I use: “A musty, [...]
Continue reading THE METAPHOR OF THE THING (or, getting my Cormac McCarthy on)
James R. Tuck
read all posts by James R. TuckHey hey everybody, nice to see you, glad you could come out. Drinks are in the back,be sure to tip your waitress, she works hard for the money.
I’m James R. Tuck, author of the Deacon Chalk series from Kensington, and I’m the new guy.
I’ve been here before. Faith has been ever so kind to me and allowed me to guest post here when my series launched. I’ve lurked the comments and the posts also because this place rocks. But now, NOW, they’ve given me a key and let me hang my hat.
Muwah ha ha.
Today I’m going to talk to you about story ideas. Not where you get them, if you’re a writer then you have ideas falling out of your pockets when you sit down, but where you get good ideas. You know the ideas, the ones that make you smack yourself for not thinking of [...]
Continue reading THE TWIST (new spins on old stories)
 DavidBCoe
read all posts by DavidBCoeYeah, I can’t say that this is going to be the most extensive post of my Magical Words career. I’m still at Dragon*Con with Faith, Misty, A.J., Kalayna, Lucienne, John, James, and a host of other friends and fellow writers. It’s been a great con thus far, and I know that today will be a great end to the extended weekend. It’s also been pretty interesting, what with amazing costumes, fun panels, and some laugh-filled delicious meals.
I have learned this week that THIEFTAKER is not the easiest book to classify. On Saturday, I was on three panels in a row: One on Alternate History, the next on Urban Fantasy, and the last on Steampunk. Now, I think we can all agree that THIEFTAKER is not Steampunk. But it does have certain elements of the subgenre — the emphasis on altered history, the use of atmospheric setting, the role of magic. [...]
Continue reading Dragon*Con and Tricorn Punk
 Faith Hunter
read all posts by Faith HunterI met James last year and fell in love. He’s kinda scary and big and has fab tats–the bad-boy all girls dream of, even if I am old enough to be his…big sister. Yeah. That one. (rolls eyes) He’s also funny and kind and writes killer books. What’s not to love? Plus he was newly sold and ready to go to press with his first book, which I read and had great fun with! Now, he’s ready with book two of his series and I offered my day at MW for him to talk about what he’s learned, about some aspect of the writerly life. Welcome Tuck!
Thanks, Faith. If you are a writer and you haven’t been to a convention then you, my friend are missing out. I have been to small conventions and large conventions and all sizes in between. Some are full of stuff, covering all aspects of the [...]
Continue reading CONVENTIONEERING by James R. Tuck
Faith Hunter
read all posts by Faith HunterFaith here, with a wonderful guest. I met James—and his first book—last year, and fell in love with his character and his story concept, so much so, that I agreed to give him a blurb. Check out BLOOD AND BULLETS (Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter book one) Kicking monster ass EVERYWHERE by Kensington. Chatting with James online, I heard his story, and it was so different from what we tell our wannabee-published writers here, that I started planning when we could do a MagicalWords post together. Do NOT stop reading before you get to Q and A number 3. Just sayin’.
Since then, we tried to find time to get together at Cons, but our schedules kept getting in the way. This year will be different, and we have definite diner plans (yes, the hubby knows I go on *dates* with fascinating and gorgeous men) so I can hear the [...]
Continue reading James R. Tuck
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How To Write Magical Words
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