Nathan Bransford - The Forums

I did do quite a bit of writing over the holidays. Work, family and school kept me busy too. I'm excited for 2013 though! Lots of good writing goals on the horizon.

Brenda, congrats on getting your WIP off to critters.

I noticed a couple other questions this time around: If Liza is only nine, would she be worried about "bringing in cash" or "losing her business?" The stakes here don't have the same meaning as they would for an adult, and that might make it a little harder for young readers to r...

Sounds like a heartwarming and fun premise. I'm a little concerned that 25K might be too short to fully tell all of the details you mention in the query. Have you had any beta readers look at it yet? They're a great resource for pointing out areas where you can explain more or expand on the characte...

Nope, I don't think this would bug me, especially if you flesh out your reasons for her actions like you did in your original post. I bought into all of those, even if the action itself doesn't seem smart. Your point about her being naive enough to still take this approach is a perfectly legitimate ...

For day-to-day edits I can get by with editing onscreen, but if it's a full edit of the overall manuscript I've gotta print it out. I usually tackle edits with my trusty blue pen.

I felt the same way about the Inheritance Cycle (though he kind of lost me after the second book). ;) We're about the same age and, when those books came out, it was the perfect timing to push me in my own writing dreams. Kind of a "if he did it, I can too" sort of thing. So, they'll alway...

For me, it's M.M. Kaye's The Far Pavilions. Absolutely breathtaking!

Ugh, finding editing time (and good crit partners) is definitely tricky. Sommer's advice about training your brain is spot on! I've found that I can edit day-to-day in only a few minutes, as long as I look down the road and find a significant chunk of time where I can take a deeper look at the overa...

I finished up Brent Weeks' Way of Shadows a few weeks ago. It. Was. Amazing! Now, I'm reading the second book in the series: Shadow's Edge. It's interesting to see the differences in pace and approach from the first book.

I usually have pretty large character casts (I actually haven't counted, but now I'm curious). I think you can get away with it more in fantasy, because readers are used to lots of background characters weaving in and out of the plot to interact with your primary and secondary cast. As a reader, I a...

This sounds like a fun adventure, and I already love the title! I also agree with what the previous commenters said, especially about clarifying whether the "evil" king is in their own kingdom or not. A few other suggestions: Twelve-year-old Calisson is quiet. Does it matter to the story t...

I agree with midenianscholar. I really enjoyed the first query! A few minor suggestions to make it stronger, but overall I think the first option is your best bet. Query 1: Ordinary Delete Ordinary and just start Twelve-year-old Eric... twelve-year-old Eric Ortega wakes up surrounded by hospital equ...

Fantastic rendition! I love the original and this one lives up to it.

What wonderful news!! This is so uplifting for you and for all of use who've been pulling for you. SO, so happy for you!!

It's more space opera than hard sci-fi, but In Conquest Born by C.S. Friedman is definitely worth a read!

Also, if you're expanding a bit more and want a lighter sci-fi/romance try Gabriel's Ghost by Linnea Sinclair.