Our interview with Josh Rutherford, author of The Fourpointe Chronicles, provides aspiring fantasy novelists valuable insights on how to create a believable fantasy world, how to develop characters over a series of books, and how to apply screenwriting techniques to novel writing. Josh also encourages new writers to get started, even when you don’t have it all figured out, and to find the right type of feedback during the writing journey. You won’t want to miss this episode.
Great Moments in the Episode
00:00 - 06:12 About Josh and his books.
06:12 – 07:34 How to balance point of view in fiction writing.
07:36 – 09:35 How to build a convincing fantasy world through character development.
09:36 – 11:47 Why you don’t need everything figured out to get started.
13:13 –15:02 When you’re lost in the middle, the value of cutting, and what to do with the cut material.
15:03 – 16:37 The wisdom of “Start late, end early” and how the principle creates suspense.
16:38 – 20:21 Principles of screenwriting applied to novel writing, specifically the importance of creating a sensory experience for the reader.
20:22 – 22:44 How to develop characters in a series, and the importance of not rushing character development.
22:45 – 24:49 How to get into a character’s head when you don’t have much in common with the character
25:20 – 27:23 Finding opportunities to write when writing isn’t your full-time job, and the power of forgiving yourself when you don’t show up.
27:53 – 29:59 How to find the right person to review your work, how to seek the right feedback, and how you use feedback in the revision process.
30:-00 - 35.05 The benefits of self-publishing your fiction, the power of beta reviews in promoting your book, and how to use Amazon ads.
Words of the Episodes
macabre (adj): disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury.
esperance (n): the belief that what is wanted can be or that the events will turn out for the best.
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