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Books by D.J. Butler
Tag Archives: Harry Potter
Bookshelf: Enter the Janitor
College student Dani Hashelheim doesn’t want to be a wizard, much less a supernaturally-skilled janitor, burdened with defending civilization against the incursion of blot-hounds and other Scum in the service of Corruption. Unfortunately for her, Dani is a Catalyst, possessing … Continue reading
Posted in Bookshelf
Tagged Enter the Janitor, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Josh Vogt, Wordfire Press
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Bookshelf: Five Out of the Dark
The high concept pitch for these books is as easy as it is exciting: Five is Harry Potter meets Twilight, set against the mythos of the Dresden Files. Paige is a preacher’s daughter who accidentally discovers her own magical powers … Continue reading
Posted in Bookshelf
Tagged Dresden Files, Fantasy, Harry Potter, Holli Anderson, J.K. Rowling, Jim Butcher, Stephanie Meyer, Twilight, Young Adult
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Bookshelf: The Billy Saga
Michaelbrent Collings is a writer probably best known for his horror novels, but he’s always written outside that genre, from science fiction thrillers to young adult vampire romance to karate instruction manual. With the Billy Saga, Michaelbrent gets into Middle … Continue reading
42wd
As of last week, I am a contributor to the blog over at 42wd publishing. You can see today’s post here. And two posts from last week, here and here.
Posted in How to Write
Tagged 42wd, George Lucas, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, McDonald's
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Sequels and Expectations
When you write the first book in a series, you can do anything you want. When you write the second, you can still do anything you want… but whatever you do that repeats or echoes the first book, becomes part … Continue reading
Posted in How to Write
Tagged Dan Simmons, E.J. Patten, Harry Potter, Hyperion, J.K. Rowling, Return to Exile, Sequels, Story Monkeys
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Magic, Hard and Soft
There is a distinction you will sometimes hear made by writers and readers of fantasy fiction between hard magic and soft magic. Soft magic is magic that just does what the author wants it to do in every case, with … Continue reading
Posted in How to Write
Tagged Gandalf, Harry Dresden, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jim Butcher, Kvothe, Magic, Patrick Rothfuss
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Sympathy
It’s important in writing almost any story that readers care about the protagonist. You want readers to root for the protagonist as he sets about trying to achieve his objective, which they will only do if they care. This is … Continue reading
Posted in How to Write
Tagged Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Middle Reader Fiction, Percy Jackson, Rule of Three, Sympathy, Wimpy Kid
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The Lure of the Secret World
I think one of the things I find most attractive in any novel is the feeling that it is telling me secrets about the world I live in. You see this simply and pretty clearly in a lot of middle … Continue reading
Posted in How to Write
Tagged Harry Potter, J.R.R. Tolkien, Michael Chabon, Rick Riordan, Thomas Pynchon, Umberto Eco
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Give Me Three Years
I’ll have fans like this.
Jots and Tittles: A Funny Little Example
You have to be aware of the market you’re writing for, and think about it objectively. Here’s a funny little example, from last week, in my own writing. I am working on a middle reader novel and the Story Monkeys … Continue reading
Posted in How to Write
Tagged Commas, Harry Potter, Market, Percy Jackson, Science of Writing, Story Monkeys, Voice
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