Alex Marshall-Waters
@alexmarshallwaters.bsky.social
Writer, pretty gay, ttrpg GM, and all round nerd.
Reposted by Alex Marshall-Waters
“Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.”
- Tolkien
(forward to LOTR)
- Tolkien
(forward to LOTR)
January 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
“Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible; and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.”
- Tolkien
(forward to LOTR)
- Tolkien
(forward to LOTR)
Reposted by Alex Marshall-Waters
I've had several editors lately tell me 120K is the top limit for debut epic fantasy. Everything else should be fewer words.
#writingcommunity Here’s a #queryingtip for you: with the rare exception, I start to get hives at anything over 100K words. When it hits 120K, I have a full outbreak. By 130K, regardless of genre, it’s a hard no.
Here’s a doc that might help you cut words:
www.tinyurl.com/saveyourdarlings.
Here’s a doc that might help you cut words:
www.tinyurl.com/saveyourdarlings.
Save Your Darlings.docx
Save Your Darlings: Editing Strategies to Reduce Your Word Count Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong, Literary Agent Marsal Lyon Literary Agency Email: cathie@marsallyonliteraryagency.com Queries: querymanager....
www.tinyurl.com
January 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I've had several editors lately tell me 120K is the top limit for debut epic fantasy. Everything else should be fewer words.
Reposted by Alex Marshall-Waters
Motivational advice letter:
Don't let the world grind down your joy of the craft you love so much. Persevere. Find ways to be happy in spite of it all.
Don't let the world grind down your joy of the craft you love so much. Persevere. Find ways to be happy in spite of it all.
January 19, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Motivational advice letter:
Don't let the world grind down your joy of the craft you love so much. Persevere. Find ways to be happy in spite of it all.
Don't let the world grind down your joy of the craft you love so much. Persevere. Find ways to be happy in spite of it all.
Reposted by Alex Marshall-Waters
Being a writer is...
10% creative freedom, 20% coffee-fueled chaos, and 70% cleaning my room before I can start writing.
10% creative freedom, 20% coffee-fueled chaos, and 70% cleaning my room before I can start writing.
January 17, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Being a writer is...
10% creative freedom, 20% coffee-fueled chaos, and 70% cleaning my room before I can start writing.
10% creative freedom, 20% coffee-fueled chaos, and 70% cleaning my room before I can start writing.
Reposted by Alex Marshall-Waters
Pros: Got offered what is pretty close to my dream job
Cons: The commute means my writing time is severely limited
I reiterate all my arguments in favour of remote work.
Cons: The commute means my writing time is severely limited
I reiterate all my arguments in favour of remote work.
January 28, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Pros: Got offered what is pretty close to my dream job
Cons: The commute means my writing time is severely limited
I reiterate all my arguments in favour of remote work.
Cons: The commute means my writing time is severely limited
I reiterate all my arguments in favour of remote work.
Reposted by Alex Marshall-Waters
When I'm editing, I find that, if a manuscript blips nowhere else, it's going to blip right around the story's 60% mark.
My theory? Most genre fiction writers are putting major beats around the 50% mark and again at the 75% mark. Connecting them is a challenge. [1/3] #booksky #writingcommunity
My theory? Most genre fiction writers are putting major beats around the 50% mark and again at the 75% mark. Connecting them is a challenge. [1/3] #booksky #writingcommunity
January 27, 2025 at 9:50 PM
When I'm editing, I find that, if a manuscript blips nowhere else, it's going to blip right around the story's 60% mark.
My theory? Most genre fiction writers are putting major beats around the 50% mark and again at the 75% mark. Connecting them is a challenge. [1/3] #booksky #writingcommunity
My theory? Most genre fiction writers are putting major beats around the 50% mark and again at the 75% mark. Connecting them is a challenge. [1/3] #booksky #writingcommunity