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#63 – Toby Neal – Write Through The Roof

On June 8, 2019

In interview, mystery, podcast, productivity, psychology, romance, write through the roof, writers, writing, writing tips

Interview with best-selling romance & mystery writer Toby Neal

‘People are preoccupied by crime because we want to recognise the wolves in our midst’

Episode 63 – Toby Neal – Show Notes

Writing is like a muscle – needs regular workouts
2000 words a day target
Both a plotter and a pantser. More pantser for romance and plotter for mysteries
Recording affirmations and listening prior to writing session
Themes of good versus evil and the shades of grey in everyone and how love can overcome a multitude of problems
Dark themes but with hope – fascinated with the duality between dark and light
Mastering your craft – Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – the 10,000 hour rule
Take off your pants – Libbie Hawker – the hero needs to find a cure for their flaw
Unconventional childhood – Memoir – Freckles
Putting off writing goals for security – started with an anonymous blog – using real life experience as a school counsellor
Speeding up the writing process
Dictation, health and accessing creative brain by writing longhand
Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens, The Outlander series – Diana Gabaldon
Wired Truth: multi-cultural kick-ass female main character. Pushing the envelope for what’s acceptable with female behaviour. Experimenting with different kinds of love.

‘Nothing but writing is going to make you a better writer’

‘I tried to do literary fiction and I bored myself by page 40’

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Toby Neal

#18 – David Moody – Write Through The Roof

By Madeleine D'Este

On February 18, 2018

In characters, horror, interview, podcast, reading, 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 18 with David Moody – Horror writer & indie-publishing pioneer

“I’m a torturer at heart.”

Episode 18 – David Moody – Show Notes

An extreme plotter
Best time for plot development is during running
Procrastinating as a full-time writer
Hybrid publishing and the dark ages of indie publishing
Writing in 45 minute chunks
Ordinary people in extreme apocalyptic situations
Setting rules and having discipline
The cloud – accessible from everywhere for when inspiration strikes
Richard Matheson, John Wyndham, and learning from James Herbert; the writing and the man
The ‘sidequel’: creating two trilogies to create one big story
Madeleine’s tip – the Four Tendencies

“Definitely, irritatingly, a plotter”
“The less time I’ve got, the better my writing is.”
“I always feel dirty when I say this but I’m just a people watcher.”

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Evangeline and the Mysterious Lights – sneak peek

By Madeleine D'Este

On August 19, 2017

In melbourne, my writing life, paranormal, publishing, scifi-fantasy, steampunk, writing

Would you like a little taster of Evangeline and the Mysterious Lights? A wee amuse-bouche?

Well, here’s an extract from Chapter 1.

If you like what you read, Evangeline and the Mysterious Lights is available for pre-order now and is out 11th October 2017.

Or if you’d like all four novellas in one Collection, The Antics of Evangeline is also available for pre-order.

Superstitions, Steampunk and Speculative Fiction Reviews

By Madeleine D'Este

On July 27, 2017

In book review, folklore, melbourne, my writing life, podcast, publishing, reading, review, scifi-fantasy, steampunk, stuff about me, Uncategorized, writing

I’m back in the swing of this writing thing after a brilliant holiday and so what’s next for me?

Origins of Common Superstitions monthly series
I’m writing a monthly series for the fabulous Folklore Thursday exploring the origins of common superstitions.
So far, I’ve written about;
· Bad Luck comes in Threes: Matches, Murderers or Mathematics
· The Origins of ‘Touch Wood’: Tree Spirits, The True Cross, or Tag?

And there’s another eight more to come….

Recent reads: Making of Gabriel Davenport by Beverley Lee

By Madeleine D'Este

On February 18, 2017

In book review, folk horror, horror, podcast

Today I’m talking horror (or sometimes known as dark fantasy) with The Making of Gabriel Davenport by Beverley Lee, published in 2016. (I have previously interviewed Beverley here on the blog.)

Beth and her husband Stu have moved to a new house in the idyllic English countryside to raise their baby, Gabriel. But one night, during a snowstorm, everything goes horribly wrong for the family and in the picture perfect setting, something ancient and evil emerges and changes all their lives and not for the better.

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?

What went well in 2016 – 3 good things

By Madeleine D'Este

On December 13, 2016

In book review, my tips, my writing life, publishing

Now 2016 has been one of those bastard years. With the deaths of lots of beloved artists and surprising political results, it’s been strange and shocking. I wonder whether the Queen will announce 2016 as another ‘annus horribilis’ in her Christmas Speech.

But beyond the rejection letters, two-star reviews and disappointments, 2016 wasn’t all bad.

Here are my top 3 good things from 2016. water-534098_640

Evangeline and the Bunyip – out now

By Madeleine D'Este

On August 20, 2016

In bunyips, publishing, scifi-fantasy, steampunk

I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Evangeline and the Bunyip – available now on Amazon as an ebook.

Evangeline is back with another adventure with Balls, Bunyips and blancmange.

In 1882, Melbourne is under threat from a fearsome Bunyip and The Argus announces a reward for the capture of the beast. But Evangeline is not afraid, this is a perfect chance for Evangeline to test out her new monster catching device and save the day. With help from her best friend, Mei, and plenty of raspberry tarts of course.

Evangeline and the Bunyip is the second episode in The Antics of Evangeline series of mystery and mayhem set in steampunk Melbourne.

See here for a sneak peek of page 1.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Free Book promo – 6th and 7th August

By Madeleine D'Este

On August 6, 2016

In fantasy, scifi-fantasy, steampunk

Evangeline and the Alchemist: A Novella: Mystery and Mayhem in steampunk Melbourne (The Antics of Evangeline Book 1) is free until 8th August but I’m also taking part in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Free Book promo over 6th-7th August.

Over a hundred free books with all e-book retailers.

Get amongst it! I’m gonna load my Kindle too.

Half time score for 2016

By Madeleine D'Este

On June 30, 2016

In my writing life, publishing, stuff about me, writing

It’s 30^th June, half way through 2016 already and so it’s time to reflect and revisit my 2016 resolutions.

Publish something
Write or edit daily
Learn from the experts

How have I fared?

Mysteries and mayhem in steampunk Melbourne – coming soon

By Madeleine D'Este

On March 20, 2016

In publishing, steampunk

While I query on Return to the Monolith, I’ve decided to keep anxiety at bay (see last week’s post) by putting my Evangeline novellas out into the world.

The Antics of Evangeline is a series of novellas involving mysteries and mayhem in steampunk Melbourne. In the 1880s, Melbourne was the second largest settlement in the British Empire after London and flush with post-gold rush cash.

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Why it’s different this time

By Madeleine D'Este

On October 20, 2014

In my writing life, writing

My name is Madeleine and I’m a closet writer.

I’ve been dabbling with novels for years now…and nothing has come of it. There was my yoga detective, my vampire chef and my crime phase (until I realised I hated writing the violent bits). I finished Nanowrimo three times. But this time, it’s different. This time, I’m going to do something with this.

Why is it different this time?

Maybe it’s me. Perhaps it’s a matter of life experience, perhaps I needed to wait for the right story to come along, the right mix of dedication and time. Getting older and finally realising what I wanted to be when I grow up.

And the world has changed…there are more options for getting your work out there. Self publishing is becoming mainstream, I don’t have to rely on being “chosen” by old school publishers, I can manage my own writing, my own product and do it my way.

So this time, it’s different.

Tag: self publishing