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#22 – Kaaron Warren – Write Through The Roof

On March 18, 2018

In dark fantasy, horror, paranormal, publishing, query, scifi-fantasy, write through the roof, writers, writing, writing tips

Welcome to Write Through The Roof, the podcast for writers who want to improve their craft.

Episode 22 with Kaaron Warren – acclaimed horror, sci-fi & dark fantasy writer

“Trusting yourself. You don’t have to write like other people.”

Episode 22 – Kaaron Warren – Show Notes

The power of novellas
Snatching the moments to write: making the most of time and place
Fuelled by chai: cardamon is good for concentration
Inspired by darker elements of humanity, inspired by darker fairytales like Bluebeard as a child
Exploring the afterlife, fear of death and ghost photographs
Practice, reading others, believe in yourself
Experimenting with a diary form; each character with a distinctive voice and their public/private face. Part of a new ‘unnamed’ novel about prisoners in a time-ball tower
Important to have non-writers as beta readers
Inspired by Lisa Tuttle, Steve Rasnic Tem, William Golding, Alasdair Grey
Impact of Transcendental Meditation
Madeleine’s Tip: How To Publish Your Book by Jane Friedman

“I don’t think there are any definitive rules in writing.”

“In dark fantasy you can’t hold back.”

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My 2017 writing goals – simple but not easy

By Madeleine D'Este

On January 1, 2017

In creative outlets, my tips, my writing life, publishing, query, reading

Yes, yes, yes. It’s 1st January 2017 and just like everyone else, it’s time for me to declare my 2017 goals.

Here are my official writing goals for 2017.

I’ve decided to keep it simple and focused. But don’t get me wrong, they are big and scary goals too.

Publish two new Evangeline episodes (and a collection – The Antics of Evangeline Volume 1)
Finish and query The Flower and the Serpent (YA horror novel)
Finish and query The Ravens of Ambrovna (light-fantasy feminist novel)

I’ll check on 30 June with my progress so far.

My other non-writing goals are more about keeping up my health and wellbeing routines, prioritising time for friends/family and reading.

What are your 2017 goals?

Thank you for 2016

By Madeleine D'Este

On December 31, 2016

In inspiration, publishing, query, stuff about me, writing

As the last few hours of 2016 fade away, I’d like to thank everyone in 2016 for their support, feedback, purchases, laughs and reality checks.

THANK YOU

To the agents and publishers for thickening my skin.

To the buyers of the Evangeline novellas for your support, your reviews (good and bad) and making me feel like a real writer.

To my beta readers, cover designers, formatters, editors for your expertise.

To my writing community for your friendships, support and encouragement.

And to you dear blog reader.

You all helped to make my 2016.

Writing round-up (without that toxic chemical)

By Madeleine D'Este

On July 29, 2016

In fantasy, gothic, horror, my writing life, publishing, query, steampunk, writers, writing, writing tips

When I read informative information on how “optimise my author platform”, there is always a mention of a consistent blog content strategy. Mmm, well, big fail here. This blog and my blogging is awfully random. I’ve decided to go with my randomness and only blog when I feel inspired, which waxes and wanes.

Today is a little round-up (and not the noxious chemical) on what’s going on with me. Something new, something old and some classroom time.

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What I learned this week

By Madeleine D'Este

On March 12, 2016

In my tips, my writing life, query, Uncategorized, writing, writing tips

My own Yoda told me to work on something new while querying.

This is great advice, designed to stop me going nuts and checking my email forty thousand times a day.

So I went ahead and worked on something else. The sequels to my querying manuscript. So I’m ready to go with Books 2 and 3 when the call eventually comes.

But the anxiety crept in…. I started to fret and worry.

Category: query