Advertisement · 728 × 90

Posts by Ben Sherman

I’ve been trying to brainstorm what short story I should write for the harpies in that side project of mine. Can’t use feather flu for them. Already planned that for the gargoyle short story. Maybe something bone related given they have hollow bones?

#author #shortstory #writing #selfpublished

2 days ago 4 0 0 0

So, it’s been agonizing to wait for the few folks I handed out the physical proof to to read it, but on the bright side I’ve had a lot more time to write fan fiction.

1 week ago 0 0 0 0

Winter may be my favorite season, but late night brainstorming walks are so much easier now that it’s spring. I got so much walking done these last few days.

#winter #spring #brainstorming

1 week ago 0 0 0 0

Got stabbed in the hand again today. No nerve damage this time.

I find that statement a hilarious example of why context matters in writing, so there won't be any more given. Jokes aside, it was still draining, so I'm taking a break from actually posting what I planned today.

2 weeks ago 0 0 0 0

Might be time to go digging for a writing contest or two… It’s been a while since I did one, and sometimes a random prompt is just what you need to get the juices flowing.

#writing #contest #shortstory #author

2 weeks ago 1 0 0 0

So… I have a vague idea that the third book in the Nightingale Chronicles may occur after a time skip, but I’m not sure if that skip should be six months or a year or two.

#book #sequel #series #author #selfpublished

3 weeks ago 6 0 0 0

I’ve been debating whether to commission the audio version of Stones snd Roses immediately like I did Talons and Fangs. I certainly want to, but it’s also an expensive investment.

#audio #author #selfpublishing

1 month ago 2 0 1 0

I’ve been slowly shuffling the proof copies of the second book around for a last round of feedback before publishing. There’s a few people who preferred prereading an actual book to the digital copy.

#writing #prereading #proofcopy #author #selfpublishing

1 month ago 1 0 0 0

Almost forgot it was Wednesday.

I’ve started writing a few of the one shots for a small side project. It’ll be an anthology of short stories, and I don’t even know if it’ll reach novel length. The running theme is ‘If X was sick with Y’

#writing #shortstories #TsunamiSneeze

1 month ago 1 0 0 0

Welp. Missed friday and monday's post. The weird thing is I was more aware of missing them than usual, which I chalk up to having a few posts drafted ahead of time. Having posts ready is helping me to remember I should be posting about my writing, even if not every post is drafted.
#GottaMakeAHabit

1 month ago 0 0 0 0
Advertisement

I’ve been rewatching Frieren Beyond Journey’s end again, and as always the way it does characters is just… breathtaking. Makes me want more character driven fantasy books. Let me know what your favorite character driven story is.

#anime #characters #fantasy

1 month ago 0 0 0 0

So, while it isn’t perfect, the advice to draft posts ahead of time has definitely been helping me remember to post more. Time to sit, organize my thoughts, and draft a few before writing some fanfic.

#writing #planning #authors

1 month ago 1 0 0 0

It really helps to have a second outlet to channel those creative thoughts or look at things from another perspective. Whether its fanfics, tabletop rpgs, video games, or just rubber-ducking with friends. I've been rereading my old stuff recently.

#writing #writingcommunity #author #books #planning

1 month ago 2 0 0 0

Readers wanting more of your world is infinitely better than dumping a thousand years of lore and backstory down everyone’s throats. So long as your lore sprinkling isn’t so sparse as to confuse readers, you should want readers who demand to know more.

#writing #worldbuilding #authors #books

1 month ago 0 0 0 0

The en and em dashes are the silent heroes of a story. You can’t use them too often, but they breathe such a breath of fresh air into the sentence structure and spacing of a story when used right.

#writing #writingcommunity #author

2 months ago 3 0 1 0

Now that I have the proof copy, I submitted an application to sell at Flower City Comic Con again next year. Always remember to try and look for local events and book stores, folks. It really helps let you to meet other authors and book enthusiasts.

#writimg #author #books #writingcommunity

2 months ago 4 0 0 0

I feel like after over a year of delays for publishing book two, I should be way deeper into book three. The most annoying part of the awkward pause between finishing a book and releasing it is that all the logistics sap my will to write.
#writing #selfpublishing #books #series #authors

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

So... as a fan of Naomi Noviks books... His Majesty's Iggy?

2 months ago 1 0 0 0
Advertisement

Said is a very important word. For many writers, it’s probably one of the most important and most invisible words in their toolbox. It’s something to slap on, mark who is speaking, and forget. For whatever reason, writing it drives me insane. I like action tags more.

#writing #dialogue #author

2 months ago 1 0 0 0

There will probably be a few moments that could happen, but I'm not sure she's ready to realize that. She has trouble dealing with the thought of a normal authority figure being wrong or abusing their power. Her dad is on a whole other level in her head.

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

For this book it would definitely be more trying to live up to her perception of him. She tends to see him as her hero and the type of warrior she wants to be.

Later on I can easily see it becoming trying to escape his shadow as she becomes more aware of just how much others compare her to him.

2 months ago 1 0 1 0

Also... there's probably a touch of being in her father's shadow, but I wouldn't call that drama.

2 months ago 1 0 1 0

It's less interfamily drama and more that a certain faction wants their home to stay isolated. The narrators mom and dad are both taking steps to open borders up, and the narrator herself is fascinated with the outside world. I plan to explore the grudges held against her parents projected on her.

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

A little of both. The first book I was originally going to focus on an entire group of friends before I narrowed the scope to just one, which then naturally led to the second books focus. The third book I wanted to be family well ahead of time, but I had no firm plans until finishing this one.

2 months ago 1 0 1 0

I cannot stress how important it is to master invisible writing. If every single word I wrote punched my reader in the face, it’d give them a headache. Heh... honestly... with how wordy I can get, it could leave someone in a coma. Some words are better because your reader will look right past them.

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

It's more I go into each book with a certain character dynamic in mind. Book one focused on the narrator Nightingale and her harpy friend Rak'sha. Book two is meant to focus more on her and her human friends. Whichever relationship I'm focusing on determines how things go sideways in that book.

2 months ago 1 0 1 0
Post image

The proof copy for the book came in just before the end of last week. It feels nice to finally hold it after a year of delays and life being life.
#Book #Publishing #Fantasy #Writing

2 months ago 5 0 3 0

Alright… I’ve been advised to try and draft several posts in advance to better follow a consistent schedule. I’ve got to say doing it like this helped me organize my thoughts more if nothing else. We’ll see if it helps me get used to this.

I'll be trying for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

2 months ago 0 0 0 0
Advertisement

First time running a table at a library event rather than a con. Kinda curious if it'll be just as exhausting. Like, it's only two hours, sure, but I don't really mind the part where I get to sit and people watch while waiting for a sale. It's set up, clean up, and travel that exhaust me the most.

3 months ago 0 0 0 0

The last few days have reminded me of the agony that is trying to come up with a good short description for a book.

I'm also recovering from a cold and have been pondering doing an anthology of a bunch of different fantasy species dealing with being sick as a side project.

3 months ago 1 0 0 0