The 3 sliders: likability, competence, proactivity. Which one are you engaging with in your opening chapter?

***

Read my debut fantasy book, Fires of the Dead: https://amzn.to/33yyvn7

“The perfect read for someone looking to be quickly immersed in a magic system unlike anything else.” – Nicole Wallace, editor of Synopses by Sarge.

Questions? Episode requests? Comments? Email me at: jed.herne1(at)gmail.com . I love hearing from you, and I read and respond to every email.

Just like reality, great fantasy worlds are never simple.

My podcast analysing The Gutter Prayer: https://novelanalyst.com/2019/09/17/the-gutter-prayer/

My interview with Gareth: https://novelanalyst.com/2019/09/19/gareth/

***

Read my debut fantasy book, Fires of the Dead: https://amzn.to/33yyvn7

“The perfect read for someone looking to be quickly immersed in a magic system unlike anything else.” – Nicole Wallace, editor of Synopses by Sarge.

Most people warn against them, but sometimes … they’re what readers want.

My interview with Gareth Hanrahan, who gave me this advice: https://novelanalyst.com/2019/09/19/gareth/

My analysis of The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan: https://novelanalyst.com/2019/09/17/the-gutter-prayer/

***

Read my debut fantasy book, Fires of the Dead: https://amzn.to/33yyvn7

“The perfect read for someone looking to be quickly immersed in a magic system unlike anything else.” – Nicole Wallace, editor of Synopses by Sarge.

Questions? Episode requests? Comments? Email me at: jed.herne1(at)gmail.com . I love hearing from you, and I read and respond to every email.

Seriously. Avoid it.

***

Read my debut fantasy book, Fires of the Dead: https://amzn.to/33yyvn7

“The perfect read for someone looking to be quickly immersed in a magic system unlike anything else.” – Nicole Wallace, editor of Synopses by Sarge.

Questions? Episode requests? Comments? Email me at: jed.herne1(at)gmail.com . I love hearing from you, and I read and respond to every email.

Is this the key to great fantasy novels? In my experience: yes.

***

Read my debut fantasy book, Fires of the Dead: https://amzn.to/33yyvn7

“The perfect read for someone looking to be quickly immersed in a magic system unlike anything else.” – Nicole Wallace, editor of Synopses by Sarge.

Questions? Episode requests? Comments? Email me at: jed.herne1(at)gmail.com . I love hearing from you, and I read and respond to every email.

The Mistborn trilogy is one of the finest epic fantasy series of all time. This episode examines how Sanderson crafted a sequel that was arguably better than the first.

If you want more Mistborn analysis, I did another podcast episode on book 1: https://novelanalyst.com/2018/10/30/episode10/

***

Read my debut fantasy book, Fires of the Dead: https://amzn.to/33yyvn7

“The perfect read for someone looking to be quickly immersed in a magic system unlike anything else.” – Nicole Wallace, editor of Synopses by Sarge.

Questions? Episode requests? Comments? Email me at: jed.herne1(at)gmail.com . I love hearing from you, and I read and respond to every email.

Revision tips from Gareth Hanrahan, author of The Gutter Prayer.

My podcast analysing The Gutter Prayer: https://novelanalyst.com/2019/09/17/the-gutter-prayer/

My interview with Gareth: https://novelanalyst.com/2019/09/19/gareth/

Wrong words = remove

Wrong order = keep and reorder

‘Asking yourself “how do I fix this?” implies that the text is a problem, and that the simplest solution is replacing it. Asking “how do I make this work?” makes you think of the text as a machine that’s clogged, or misaligned, and you’ve got to unjam it. ‘ – Gareth Hanrahan

***

Read my debut fantasy book, Fires of the Dead: https://amzn.to/33yyvn7

“The perfect read for someone looking to be quickly immersed in a magic system unlike anything else.” – Nicole Wallace, editor of Synopses by Sarge.

Intrigue + sympathetic investment = a gripping opening.

Read my debut fantasy book, Fires of the Dead: https://amzn.to/33yyvn7

Read my debut fantasy book, Fires of the Dead: https://amzn.to/33yyvn7

This is a powerful question that helps you get to the heart of a character. Let me know your answer(s) in the comments below!

***

Join my Reader Club email newsletter for free sci-fi & fantasy stories, and to keep updated about my writing!

https://jedherne.com/club/

***

Website: https://jedherne.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/61535985-jed-herne
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JedHerne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jedhernewriter [use my automated messenger bot to play a choose your own adventure story right in the app 😉 ]

My first fantasy book, Fires of the Dead, just released TODAY! (Which is why this video is a few hours late – sorry!) Get it here: https://jedherne.com/firesofthedead

When I’m struggling to write, rather than giving it all up, I often change my approach. Coming at a story from another angle can free you, and help produce your best writing even when you don’t feel like it.

***

Join my Reader Club email newsletter for free sci-fi & fantasy stories, and to keep updated about my writing!

https://jedherne.com/club/

***

Website: https://jedherne.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/61535985-jed-herne
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JedHerne
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jedhernewriter [use my automated messenger bot to play a choose your own adventure story right in the app 😉 ]