Tag Archives: writing

Maps and Direction: Exploring a Metaphor

Posted on June 3, 2016 by E. C. Ambrose

I recently stopped in at a local gas station/convenience store to look for a local area map that will help me think about where to buy my next house.  The woman next to me in line immediately asked where I … Continue reading →

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Drafting the Novel: How long did that take you to write?

Posted on October 27, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

On Friday, I finished the first draft of my first international thriller novel.  It’s always an exciting moment to finish a project, especially one that you’ve been planning for a long time.  One of the things that readers often ask … Continue reading →

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Developing Fictional Worlds: The Nits are All you Have

Posted on June 24, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

As you may know, my most popular blog entry (still) is the one entitled Bilbo Baggins’ Bathrobe: A Example of Poor World-building.  Every month or two, someone new discovers this post and feels they must take me to task for … Continue reading →

Posted in essays, fantasy, fiction, history, medieval technology, research, Uncategorized, worldbuilding, writing | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

The Hand-bound Book of Elisha

Posted on June 5, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

Some years ago, I did a research project on medieval bookbinding, complete with making my own (rather clumsy) examples. At a street fair in Providence, I found this amazing book offered by a graduate of the Rhode Island School of … Continue reading →

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Satirists, Lost and Found

Posted on March 27, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

Last week was an interesting one in the realm of satirical literature. It brought us word of the sad passing of a modern master, Terry Pratchett, author of the Discworld novels, and also of the re-discovery of the grave of … Continue reading →

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Finding a Balance: Cultural Appropriation and Under-representation

Posted on February 12, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

Writing fiction has lately become a bit of a minefield where, if you write about another culture, you risk charges of appropriation, and if you fail to include representatives of other cultures, then you are exclusionary. I have always operated … Continue reading →

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The Mentor Who Knew Too Much

Posted on January 8, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

I often read unpublished manuscripts, either because I am paid to critique or edit them, or because I am trading beta-reading with author friends.  Recently, I’ve read several manuscripts with a common flaw:  a secondary character who knows almost everything, … Continue reading →

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Fan Fiction: intrusion or flattery?

Posted on December 17, 2014 by E. C. Ambrose

I belong to a number of writers’ networks, and the topic of fan fiction arises on all of them from time to time.  Fan fiction, for the non-writers out there, is when a fan writes his or her own stories … Continue reading →

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The Uses of History: Inaccuracy and Injustice

Posted on June 4, 2014 by E. C. Ambrose

One of my commenters on another post included the following: Kenneth Chase cites a book called “Teppo denrai” by Takehisa Udagawa who states: “If historical inaccuracy is ignored for the sake of the message then it is not clear what … Continue reading →

Posted in Elisha Barber, essays, fantasy, fiction, history, Uncategorized, writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dear Writers, Welcome the New Year with Change

Posted on January 1, 2014 by E. C. Ambrose

Hey, it’s 2014! I have a lot to look forward to, like a royalty statement that will definitively answer the question, “How’s Elisha Barber doing?” And the release of Elisha Magus in July, which I’ll be sure to talk lots … Continue reading →

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