Jane Lindskold
Jane Lindskold
Jane M. Lindskold is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionWriter
CountryUnited States of America
both fantasy inclusion laws logical mean sad seems writers
The sad thing is that, for many writers of fantasy fiction, the inclusion of magic seems to mean that logical ramifications and real-world laws both go out the window.
characters margin narrow played rarely realistic realize realizing until ways
In any story, drama may be intensified by the characters realizing by how narrow a margin they had managed to succeed - that is, where coincidence played a role. This is one of the more realistic ways to use coincidence because rarely do we realize how important a coincidental event is until after the fact.
came dozen half novels published since
I've had over a dozen and a half novels published since late 1994 when my first novel, 'Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls' came out.
along cares finished none stages text tremendous
Even after the text is written, there are a tremendous number of stages along the way to the finished book. If a publisher cares about the finished product, none of them will be omitted.
bad diana elements elves excellent fantasy features fiction given guide sort
Diana Wynne Jones' excellent book 'The Tough Guide to Fantasyland' is a compendium of the sort of lazy writing that has given fantasy fiction - especially the sub-section that features elves and dwarves and other Tolkienesque elements - a bad name.
rarely
Copy editors are very important and too rarely praised.
along applying best complete fiction finished finishing graduate instead mood polish send seriously struck
I started seriously applying myself to writing fiction immediately after I finished graduate school. By 'seriously,' I mean that, instead of noodling along on a story, finishing it or not as the mood struck me, I set out to complete what I started, to polish it to the best of my ability, and to send out the finished story.
although expertise impressed involved met puzzled subject technical
I've never met any artist who illustrated one of my books, although I've corresponded briefly with one. I have always been impressed by the technical expertise involved in the covers, even if sometimes puzzled by the subject matter.
decided knew name specific tale
'Thirteen Orphans' is the name of a specific limit hand. The same combination is also called 'Thirteen Improbable.' Once I'd decided I wanted to write a tale where mah-jong would be at the heart, I also knew I wanted to use limit hands.
anecdotes avoided disaster element experience life onto recognized
Coincidence is a recognized element in 'real life.' All of us have anecdotes about those times when, by the merest coincidence, we avoided some disaster or stumbled onto some wonderful experience.
attentions elsewhere less manuscript notes novel
Sometimes I write less than I'd like but do research. Other times, editor's notes or a copy-edited manuscript or page proofs for a forthcoming novel mean that I need to put my attentions elsewhere for a day or two, but I always come back to writing.
art authors cover input readers regarding surprised
Readers are always surprised to learn that authors have little or no input regarding the cover art for their books.
easier harder
My feeling is that writing Fantasy should be harder - not easier - than writing any other kind of fiction.
five hosts novels short written
My first five novels were written longhand. So were hosts of short stories.