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Search found 173 matches

by Justin Swanton
Thu March 7th, 2013, 2:16 pm
Forum: Author Announcements
Topic: Researching Centurion's Daughter
Replies: 0
Views: 718

Researching Centurion's Daughter

Sarah of Reading the Past blog was kind enough to allow me to write a guest post on the research that went into Centurion's Daughter. Hope you find it of interest.
by Justin Swanton
Thu March 7th, 2013, 7:38 am
Forum: The Writing Business
Topic: 29 ways not to submit to an agent
Replies: 7
Views: 2222

All classic lulus. I made one mistake when submitting my novel, and that was to ignore the standard submission limitation of 3 chapters. The publisher I approached specialised in exactly the kind of fiction I was writing so I threw caution to the winds and sent him the entire MS. He published it. I ...
by Justin Swanton
Sun March 3rd, 2013, 8:50 am
Forum: Debate/Rant Forum
Topic: Religious Wars
Replies: 18
Views: 3587

[quote=""annis""]My understanding is that the First Crusade was never intended as a popular movement. A combination of factors - an Islamic expansion of concern to the Christian West (for political and economic reasons as well as religious), an excess of restless, combative warriors rampaging around...
by Justin Swanton
Tue February 26th, 2013, 5:50 am
Forum: Debate/Rant Forum
Topic: Religious Wars
Replies: 18
Views: 3587

The Crusades are unique in the sense that they were - or at least the first one was - a mass popular movement rather than a politically organised campaign with religious overtones. It is significant that the upper rank of the mediaeval hierarchy, the emperor and kings, did not take part in it (the e...
by Justin Swanton
Sun February 24th, 2013, 4:35 pm
Forum: Debate/Rant Forum
Topic: Authors promoting other authors
Replies: 19
Views: 3181

[quote=""Lady of Bennachie""]I suppose some would argue that it's just the way the world works, you advance in life not through hard work but by building up good contacts and promoting yourself. But it's just so wrong! With writers especially, it should be about skill and quality of work, and althou...
by Justin Swanton
Sun February 24th, 2013, 4:30 pm
Forum: Debate/Rant Forum
Topic: Authors promoting other authors
Replies: 19
Views: 3181

Reviews seem to be more and more like commercials: the more you are exposed to them, the more you disbelieve them - unless you see the same ad again and again. My impression is that reviews only work for the writer who can get a lot of them as part of a big publicity campaign that puts his book befo...
by Justin Swanton
Fri February 15th, 2013, 5:28 am
Forum: The Craft of Writing
Topic: Language
Replies: 27
Views: 6922

[quote=""Rowan""] Thanks for your responses. I think I'm of a mind with all of you, but yesterday I discovered a writer who has, up to now, written non-fiction and he's decided to venture into historical fiction. I read about him on medievalists.net and if you saw my other thread on Unbound books, t...
by Justin Swanton
Thu February 14th, 2013, 6:00 am
Forum: The Craft of Writing
Topic: Language
Replies: 27
Views: 6922

Thing is, you can't actually write a novel in the language of the period as that would make the book incomprehensible, unless your novel is in a fairly recent past. My approach is that there are several forms of contemporary English that one can use for a novel: 'neutral' English - the correct class...
by Justin Swanton
Wed February 13th, 2013, 5:48 am
Forum: Chat
Topic: Any tips for taking a huge final?
Replies: 15
Views: 925

[quote=""Helen_Davis""]Well-- took it yesterday and today amidst many technical difficulties. Two weeks before I know if I passed. Fingers crossed. On another note, I have great news. May I share?[/quote]

You have my unqualified permission ;) .
by Justin Swanton
Wed February 13th, 2013, 5:43 am
Forum: The Craft of Writing
Topic: Historical Fiction Critique Group
Replies: 19
Views: 3955

[quote=""Helen_Davis""]Maybe self-esteem was the wrong word? I'm trying to think of another word-- self confidence? Sorry, it's been a wonderful but exhausting day and I can't think.[/quote] I would say 'objectivity'. Try to look at your work apart from yourself. Criticism of your work does not equa...

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