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Recent Posts
- Cory Doctorow – Little Brother – For your reading pleasure April 13, 2021
- Researching Historical Fantasy April 6, 2021
- Brent Weeks – The Way of Shadows – The Night Angel Trilogy #1 – For your reading pleasure March 30, 2021
- What have I learned about writing? March 23, 2021
- Kari Sperring: Living With Ghosts – For your reading pleasure March 16, 2021
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Tag Archives: jacey bedford
Researching Historical Fantasy
The first scene of Winterwood came to me almost fully formed. I knew there was a young woman paying a deathbed visit to her estranged mother and finding that there was still no forgiveness between them. I knew the young … Continue reading
What have I learned about writing?
Writing is a funny old business. Writers probably learn most by reading. You are what you read. Reading develops your ear for tight prose and snappy dialogue. Without even thinking about it, you learn about character and plot. The difficulty … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, reading, science fiction
Tagged donald maass, jacey bedford, misc.writing, usenet, writing, writing advice
2 Comments
Building a Universe – Law and Order in The Psi-Tech Novels
More about the universe in which the Psi-Tech books are set. The Monitors – Galactic PolicingFormed in 2391, the Monitors are an interstellar policing force largely concerned with providing law in the space-lanes and for those newly established colonies that … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, psi-tech, psi-tech trilogy, stephan martiniere, worldbuilding
1 Comment
Building a Universe – Power Structures and Personal Stories.
When I started to write Empire of Dust I didn’t really know much about my setting. I didn’t build my universe first and then people is and dream up stories. The people came first, and along with them a predicament. … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, psi-tech, psi-tech trilogy, space opera, SpaceX, trilogies, trilogy, worldbuilding
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Looking Both Ways – 2020 and 2021
As a year, 2020 sucked bigtime. It was not fit for purpose. If I’d paid good money for it I’d want a refund. Sure, it wasn’t too bad in January and February. The weather was miserable so I mostly stayed … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged 2020, 2021, Amber Crown, Covid-19, jacey bedford, The Amber Crown, writing
2 Comments
Scene 1 of Winterwood – author analysis
This was first written for Tiffani Angus’ blog. Tiff teaches creative writing and publishing. Story interspersed with my comments in bold italic. This first scene pretty much sprang into my mind fully formed. When I started to write I didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, historical fiction, reading, writing
Tagged analysis, jacey bedford, Rowankind trilogy, Winterwood, writing
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Books etc. for Christmas
2020 has not been the year it was supposed to be. (Not fit for purpose. Can I get a refund?) I didn’t get anywhere as much writing done as I could have, but I read, and re-read an awful lot. … Continue reading
Space Opera
I write science fiction. I’m pretty sure my sub-genre is space opera. I’m happy with that definition. I grew up reading my dad’s Lensman books and the distinctive Gollancz yellow jacketed SF, however I wasn’t aware of any distinction between … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged jacey bedford, science fiction, space opera, stephan martiniere, writing
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Book Blogs
I’ve been posting writing-related blogs every other Tuesday, and I’ll continue to do that, but from now on I’m also going to do reading-related blogs on the intermediate Tuesdays. Yes, that’s right, this blog is going weekly. I blog everything … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged book blog, book reviews, jacey bedford, psi-tech trilogy, Rowankind trilogy, shelfies
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The Belgian Refugees of World War One
In 2017, when Alma Alexander asked if I’d be interested in writing a story for her refugees anthology, Children of A Different Sky, I jumped at the chance. There are so many refugee crises in the world that a writer … Continue reading
The Geography of Words
Writing science fiction and fantasy involves worldbuilding. Sometimes we take a concept, strip it right down to basics and invent a planet where the sea is pink, the sky is upside down and the dominant life form has seven tentacles … Continue reading
How Long is a Piece of String?
Chopping and Changing – Revisions, Cuts and Additions. How long should your story or novel be? A piece (story, novel or poem) should be as long as it needs to be – but that’s not always as long as you, … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged Ann Leckie, editing, fantasy, jacey bedford, revision, science fiction, Sheila Gilbert, word count, writing, writing advice
2 Comments
A Moment of Stuckness
Anyone who knows me will testify that I’m not usually stuck for words. It’s not that I don’t believe in writer’s block (obviously it is a thing) it’s that I’ve rarely experienced it. However, recently I had a period where … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged jacey bedford, music, writers' blosk, writing, writing exercises, writing idead
2 Comments
How I Got Here From There
First published on Gillian Polack’s blog in March 2020 for Women’s History Month It took me a long time to get here, possibly too long. If I’d known then, what I know now, it might not have taken so long… … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged book deals, DAW, jacey bedford, milford, Milford SF Writers, misc.writing, psi-tech trilogy, Rowankind trilogy, Sheila Gilbert, writing
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Reading Writing and Rewriting
I was a voracious reader as a child, working my way steadily through the stock of my local public library children’s department. My literature of choice was anything with horses or ponies in it. Some of the books in my … Continue reading
Quantifying Success
A few years ago, Chuck Wendig posted to his Terrible Minds blog saying: ‘It Only Gets Harder Once You’re Published’. (http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2015/08/19/it-only-gets-harder-once-youre-published/) How true. That article really resonated with me. I wonder if authors ever get over the self-doubt thing. When … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged empire of dust, jacey bedford, psi-tech trilogy, Rowankind trilogy, shelfies
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Updated Blog Archive: 2013 to 2019
2013 Bated Breath Seven Short Men and a Waif Preparing for Milford Jumping in at the Shallow End Serendipitous Book Browsing Four days to go Three Book Deal Milford Writers Publishers Marketplace Announcement Editor Talk New Book Log on LJ: Karen Traviss: … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged Blog post index, jacey bedford
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Creativity and the laugh-track of my life
I signed up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) at the beginning of November, a commitment to write 50,000 words in a month. It’s fewer than 2000 words a day, so it should be—if not easy—not all that difficult. I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged creativity, jacey bedford, making time to write, muse, writing, writing inspiration
2 Comments
Retro-Blog of a Pre-published Writer from Autumn 2008
With hindsight this is really interesting. This (edited) collection of blog posts is from the early days of writing The Amber Crown, which then had the working title of Spider on the Web. (Sometimes the working title became That Bloody … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, writing
Tagged Baltic, Baltic novel, jacey bedford, milford, Retro-blog, retrospective, The Amber Crown, writing
3 Comments
Writers Injuring Characters
I went to visit my dentist for a particularly difficult tooth extraction today, so as I write this I’m sitting nursing a sore jaw as the anaesthetic is wearing off. I can’t deny that I felt a bit wobbly after … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged head injuries, jacey bedford, Peaky Blinders, Promethius movie, psi-tech, psi-tech trilogy, PTSD, writing, writing injuries
5 Comments
Home from Milford – Tired but Happy
I’ve just arrived home from Milford SF Writers’ Conference in North Wales, and I could sleep for a week. I’m not ready for the real world yet. After a week of intense writing critique punctuated by meals taken with fourteen … Continue reading
Science for Fiction 2019
Science For Fiction is an annual event organised by Dr. David Clements at Imperial College, London. It’s a series of lectures by scientists at the cutting edge of their field, specifically aimed at writers. (Unsurprisingly a load of Science Fiction … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged David Clements, Imperial College, jacey bedford, science, science fiction, Science for fiction, writing
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Book Browsing
This is a revamp of a post from 2013, updated The tor.com blog had a feature on book browsing back in September 2013 and it prompted this original post, reminding me that I so very rarely got to browse real … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged book browsing, book shops, book stores, books, jacey bedford, reading
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Submission, Rejection, and my Coping Strategies
I’ve always written. I started my first novel when I was fifteen. (It was dire, and I never finished, but I loved writing it.) It took me years to actually tell anyone I wrote, and even more years before I … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged jacey bedford, psi-tech, rejection, rowankind, writing, writing advice
4 Comments
NASA’s Free Photo Library
NASA has released its whole photo library, complete with a searchable database, and made all its images free for public use. Yes, their entire collection of images, sounds, and video is now available. I can’t begin to tell you how … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged astronauts, images of space, jacey bedford, NASA, NASA photo library, writer resources, writing inspiration
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Read the first chapter of Silverwolf
You can read the first chapter of Winterwood (Book 1 of the Rowankind trilogy) here. Silverwolf Book 2 of the Rowankind Trilogy by Jacey Bedford (Published by DAW, USA) Chapter One Happy Ever Afters Deep in the Old Maizy Forest, … Continue reading
Milford Writers’ Retreat
So here I am, in the wilds of Welsh Wales on a writing retreat organised by Milford SF Writers (of which I am the secretary – so yes, theoretically I organised it myself). The venue is Trigonos, the village is … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged jacey bedford, milford, trigonos, writers' retreat, writing
1 Comment
What I Like to Read, and Why
Though I have a large collection of paper books, some of them from my childhood, I mostly read fiction on Kindle these days. It’s not that I prefer electronic to dead tree books, but books are books and it’s the … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged books, characterisation, jacey bedford, Joe Abercrombie, Lois McMaster Bujold, reading, Sebastien de Castell, writing
1 Comment
Updated Blog Archive: 2013 to 2018
2013 Bated Breath Seven Short Men and a Waif Preparing for Milford Jumping in at the Shallow End Serendipitous Book Browsing Four days to go Three Book Deal Milford Writers Publishers Marketplace Announcement Editor Talk New Book Log on LJ: Karen Traviss: Star … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged authors, blog archive, blogging, blogs, fantasy, guest post, jacey bedford, reading, sci-fi, writing
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Looking Back and Looking Forward: 2018 and 2019
It just so happens that my alternate Tuesday blog falls on 1st January 2019, so it’s a good time to assess 2018 and see if I can peep into the future to 2019. I’m not sure where 2018 went to. … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged 2018, 2019, Christmas, conventions, jacey bedford, milford, rowankind, writing
2 Comments
Happy Book Day to Me
My new book, ROWANKIND, is out today. WHOO-HOO! It’s my sixth published book, and the third in my Rowankind trilogy, so it represents a milestone. It not only completes my second trilogy, but it means that my published words have … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged Corwen Silverwolf, historical fantasy, jacey bedford, Ross Tremayne, rowankind, Rowankind trilogy, Silverwolf, Winterwood
2 Comments
Jacey’s Quick Book Links
With the publication of Rowankind just a few days away (27th November), I thought I’d post links to all my books. Obviously the (not-so-hidden) subtext is, go out and buy them, but seriously folks, those advance orders for a new … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, psi-tech trilogy, rowankind, Rowankind trilogy, Silverwolf, Winterwood
2 Comments
Winterwood Chapter One – Read it Here
In anticipation of the publication of Rowankind, due on 27th November, the third book in my Rowankind Trilogy, I offer for your delectation, the first chapter of Winterwood. It’s the beginning of the trilogy, Rowankind is the finale – with … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, writing
Tagged books, jacey bedford, novels, rowankind, Rowankind trilogy, Silverwolf, Winterwood
13 Comments
The Reading Conundrum
When I got my first publishing deal back in 2013 I found that when I was writing to a deadline it was difficult to keep up with my reading. This reading conundrum is something many writers suffer from… When I’m … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged book blog, book blogging, Dreamwidth, jacey bedford, Jodi Taylor, reading, writing
7 Comments
Cover Reveal Rowankind
Cover reveal: Rowankind, the last book in the Rowankind trilogy is due in November from DAW. Need to read the first two? They are Winterwood and Silverwolf in that order. The cover illustrates Ross (Rossalinde) with Corwen the wolf shapechanger … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, writing
Tagged book covers, fantasy, historical fantasy, jacey bedford, Larry Rostant, rowankind, Silverwolf, Winterwood
5 Comments
Men in Science Fiction and Fantasy
A comedy panel at Eastercon 2018 with Jaine Fenn (moderator), Juliet McKenna, Adrian Tchaikovsky and Jacey Bedford. Comedy panel on Youtube
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged Adrian Tchaikovsky, comedy, conventions, eastercon, fantasy, jacey bedford, Jaine fenn, Juliet McKenna, panels, science fiction
9 Comments
Pleasantly Pleasing Progress
I’m delighted to say that I’ve beaten my February 28th deadline and already delivered a draft of Rowankind to my publisher. OK, only 3 days ahead of schedule, but AHEAD is the important word here. Of course the book isn’t … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged Amber Crown, jacey bedford, milford, publishing, rowankind, trigonos, writing retreat
5 Comments
What’s the Psi-Tech trilogy about?
Nimbus, the final book in my Psi-Tech trilogy, is out now. Who-hoo, I have five books out and this is the first complete trilogy. Sometimes big ideas start with a bang and arrive fully formed, sometimes they start small and … Continue reading
Bladdered or Shitfaced? The gentle art of word choice and the bogglement of page-proofing.
No, I’m neither bladdered not shitfaced – that’s one of my characters. I’m sober as the proverbial judge, and doing page proofs. Five hundred and thirty four pages of closely printed text – almost one hundred and seventy thousand words. … Continue reading
Posted in science fiction, writing
Tagged ben benjamin, books, Cara Carlinni, editing, jacey bedford, Nimbus, proofreading, psi-tech, psi-tech trilogy, sci-fi, science fiction, SF, space opera, writing
4 Comments
Corwen Silverwolf Speaks
Denby Hall, September 1801 I don’t usually get the opportunity to say much. It’s not that I’m henpecked, you understand, but—well—my author is female and she lets my beloved, Rossalinde, tell the story. So it’s nice, for once, to be … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, writing
Tagged books, characters, Corwen, Corwen Deverell, fantasy books, historical fantasy, jacey bedford, Magic, reading, Ross Tremayne, shapechanger, Silverwolf, Winterwood, wolf, writing
2 Comments
Due Process
My publishing process goes like this: The publisher offers a contract (negotiated by my agent) which may be for one, two or three books, and on signing I get half the advance. My agent takes the agreed cut and I … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, psi-tech, publishing, rowankind, Silverwolf, Winterwood, writing
3 Comments
Worldbuilding for a Series
In the last blog I talked about Committing Trilogy, but glossed over the worldbuilding aspects so I could talk about them in this blog entry. I’m going to (mostly) talk about the worldbuilding involved in my futuristic SF trilogy, though … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, science fiction, space opera, worldbuilding
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Cover Reveal: Nimbus
Nimbus isn’t due until October 2017, but I just got the cover and permission to let you all see it. So here it is: Nimbus, the third in the Psi-Tech trilogy. Cover by the fabulously talented Stephan Martiniere. In a … Continue reading
Posted in science fiction, writing
Tagged book cover, books, DAW, jacey bedford, Nimbus, science fiction, writing
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Style Sheets
There’s a lot of information to keep in your head if you’re writing a book. There’s even more if you’re writing a trilogy or a series. I happily wrote seven books without having a single style sheet… and then I … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged jacey bedford, psi-tech, style sheet, writing, writing advice
1 Comment
Ten Quick Tips for Writers
Here are ten quick tips for writers (not necessarily in order of usefulness and not necessarily complete). Feel free to ignore what doesn’t work for you. Remember: ‘Follow no rule off a cliff.’ – C.J. Cherryh. Besides these are not … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged empire of dust, jacey bedford, writing, writing advice
2 Comments