Ned Marcus — Blog

Mar 04, 2021

"Nature is aristocratic."

I recently read something that Carl Jung wrote. "Nature is aristocratic." A small comment, but it made me think of the fantasy habit of creating medieval settings where aristocracy plays an important role. Perhaps this reflects an unconscious need for structure and hierarchy amongst many fantasy writers and readers.

Jan 22, 2021

Orange Storm

Orange Storm—my upcoming urban fantasy novel—is back from my proofreader. Reviewing the proofread now, and then on to formatting the novel.

Dec 30, 2020

Happy New Year! And a new start in 2021

Dec 17, 2020

Blue Prometheus On Sale!

Reduced from $3.99 to $0.99 for six days only. Available at all major online bookstores! A good opportunity to buy the first book in the Blue Prometheus Series at a reduced price.

Continue reading "Blue Prometheus On Sale!"

Nov 10, 2020

Delays & Movement

I plan to release my next novel early next year. I had hoped to release it this year, and some readers like it as it is, but I won't release it until I feel it's ready. Not perfectionism, I just want it to be as good as it can be. But I don't want polishing a novel to stop me writing a new one, so I'm participating in NaNoWriMo again this year. 12,000 words into that so far. You can follow my progress on FB.

Oct 08, 2020

Novelette & Short Story

While waiting for my editor's notes on my new novel, I've completed a short story based on a dream I had of a shamanic initiation ceremony. About a week after having the dream, I watched a psychology/mythology lecture on You Tube which described early shamanic initiation ceremonies. Needless to say, I was surprised to hear the speaker describe the events of my dream almost exactly, and to go on to explain that they were part of an ancient ceremony.

Synchronicity!

The story's called 'I Dread the Death of Magic.'

I've also written a novelette, which is based on another intense dream. This one's about rebirth. The story is called 'Indomitable,' although there's a small possibility I'll change the title.

I plan to start submitting both stories to online fantasy and speculative fiction magazines soon.

Sep 22, 2020

Books by Ned Marcus

The Blue Prometheus Series—fantasy books by Ned Marcus

Continue reading "Books by Ned Marcus"

Sep 13, 2020

Fantasy & Dreams

"The best fantasy is written in the language of dreams," George R.R. Martin.

And fantasy (best or not) sometimes comes from dreams.

Read more fantasy quotes here...

Continue reading "Fantasy & Dreams"

Aug 18, 2020

Writing Updates

I've finished the first edit of my new novel, and will make a second sweep through to make a few small changes. Things I noticed on the first edit, but didn't have time to do.

Writers sometimes use the words draft and edit differently. For me, a draft is a deepening of the story, involving adding new story elements, while an edit is a tightening and cutting stage (although it might sometimes involve adding a scene where needed). Drafts are creative; edits are critical. Mostly.

This is the first book in a new series, so I had more research to do, as well as more character development and world building. But it's getting close now.

More updates later.