Ned Marcus — Blog

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Below are the most recent articles or updates from NedMarcus.com.

(I'm busy writing novels, and with other work, so I only have time to write a longer article once a month. In-between, I’ll be writing shorter updates and bloglets on a variety of topics.)

Aug 24, 2019

Editing the Trilogy

It's interesting how the edited manuscripts I've received back from my editor have altered over the trilogy. After the Blue Prometheus edit, I wrote several new chapters, rewrote several old ones, and moved major story elements around. After The Darkling Odyssey edit, I wrote a few new chapters, and rewrote a few more. After the most recent edit, of Fire Rising, I only plan to write one or two new scenes, partially rewrite a couple, and add several new paragraphs.

I'm hopeful that when I come to edit my fourth novel, I'll only be changing a couple of paragraphs.

Aug 17, 2019

Blue Prometheus is on Sale!

From now until August 19th, Blue Prometheus is on sale, reduced from $4.99 to 99c/p. This is a part of the SPFBO (Self-Publishing Fantasy Blog Off) sale. Many fantasy authors to choose from, all at 99c/p. The sale is Amazon only, but Blue Prometheus is also on sale at Kobo, Apple, B&N, Google Play, and other places.The link goes to the SPFBO sale...

Continue reading "Blue Prometheus is on Sale!"

Aug 10, 2019

Writing News

I've almost finished the self-edit of Fire Rising, and will be ready to send it to my editor on Sunday. I've rewritten the last four dragon chapters, and am now polishing the finale. It's getting tighter. The novel is now at 96,000 words.

For those of you interested, Blue Prometheus will be in a 99c/99p sale next week, from August 16th-19th. I'll write an update nearer the time, and if you're signed-up for my newsletter, I'll send you the links.

Aug 03, 2019

Shiding in Fantasy

Shiding—the rural town of stone, water, and forest—is a place of magic, inspiring scenes in my fantasy worlds…

Continue reading "Shiding in Fantasy"

Jul 27, 2019

Clapton Pond—The Beginning of the Blue Prometheus Series

I'm now outlining my second fantasy series and am again thinking about the setting.

Here's an article I wrote about the initial setting of the first series (Blue Prometheus Series), before the heroes travel to another universe. The story began during the London Riots. I knew I wanted the story to start somewhere with a body of water, and after some research, and some trips around London, I chose Clapton Pond...

Continue reading "Clapton Pond—The Beginning of the Blue Prometheus Series"

Jul 20, 2019

Third Draft—Prose

I've recently finished the third draft of Fire Rising—the third novel in the Blue Prometheus series. I'm now working on an edit. The novel is now 105,000 words, but will probably be a few thousand words shorter by the time I've finished. It's the longest novel of the series, and the one I've written the fastest. I'll be sending it to my editor soon, and after I work on any changes, it'll be very close to completion.

Jul 13, 2019

Jules Vernes House

As any science fantasy writer would wish to, I had to visit Jules Vernes house in Amiens.

Continue reading "Jules Vernes House"

Jul 06, 2019

My Creative Process for Writing a Novel

One mistake cost me years of my life. It wasn’t until I learnt about the creative process that I began to cut years from the time it took me to write my novels…

Continue reading "My Creative Process for Writing a Novel"

Jun 29, 2019

C.S. Lewis on Fantasy

Here's a quote on fantasy by C.S. Lewis that I've always enjoyed.

“Critics who treat ‘adult’ as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow.

But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”

C.S. Lewis

If there are any fantasy quotes you love—feel free to let me know. I'll happily share some of them here.