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The good old iceberg approach!

Indeed! The iceberg. That's the approach I tend to adopt. This minimalist theory I found intriguing, though. Apparently Patrick Rothfuss and Jim Butcher are writing their latest books in this fashion.

There's nothing worse than an info-dump. I think it puts me off more books than anything else. Perhaps this is where this new minimalist approach has come from, as a backlash against authors indulging too much in world-building. I’ve been reading a lot of indie-authors of late, helping them out...

Hello there everyone, All the best for 2018! I hope the months ahead are paved with good fortune! I've been researching world-building of late and found bits of information which suggest that contemporary fantasy is shifting towards a minimalist approach to world-building, with the focus...

Interesting topic! Could the eye represent evil—how it's forever there, watching us, waiting for us to act in ways that pleases it? You've got me thinking now. I'm going to have to go and watch the film. Damn ...

Have any of you come across a publisher of audiobooks only? Not long ago I got chatting to a guy on Reddit who runs a publisher called Tall Tale TV. He does audiobook versions of stories unpublished or already published. I'd be interested to hear what you all think. Personally, I like the...

As long as it's not poisonous we're golden

Do any of you like to do this? It could be anywhere. In your garden, a forest, park. I find it so much easier with reference points around me. It's almost a relief to give the imagination a break. Not long ago I went on a walk called the 'Tolkien Trail'—some of you may have even walked it...

I loathe 'dog-earing' a page. Scraps of paper, lighters, pens, and once, to my delight, half a joint I'd forgotten to finish off.

We all know how important editing is, and it's saddening, and a little troubling, to learn that publishers aren't doing their jobs properly. If it's an e-book I suppose it's easier for them to just fix the mistake and update the version. No cost to them, no loss of their time. It's...

Has anyone come across Aphelion? I spotted them in the Writing Forum magazine last month. They're celebrating 20 years of publishing this year. That's no mean feat!

Congrats Ashleyne! Well done again Far!

That's very helpful to know! Especially about groups of people drawing swords. It feels a bit anti-climatic to imagine a sword silently drawn before a great battle ...

Not long to go now, chaps!

Thanks for the tip (excuse the pun)! It seems it depends on what the scabbard/sheath is made of. If metal I can imagine it'd make the sound we all know and love.

My thoughts exactly! In a fantasy world it can sound like whatever you want.

The answer, I've learned, is no sound at all. I've always believed that swords make that metallic "schhrringgg" noise when removed from a sheath or scabbard. Probably comes from playing video games and watching movies. This guy here sets the record straight. It all makes sense once he...

Thank you too Victoria! I enjoyed your very apt and poetic descriptions!

Well done and thank you to farntfar for arranging this!

Thanks Milly, that's really helpful stuff. Editing is the necessary evil! Will definitely check out those books.