Jim Butcher's Writing Advice

HConn · Jul 11, 2006

Here is the latest installment of Jim Butcher's essays on writing. It's about a way to combat mid-book slump:

http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/1865.html

Here is the main page for his livejournal:

http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/

I recommend scrolling all the way down the page and starting from the first entry.

Jim Butcher is the best-selling author of the Dresden Files novels, a series of urban fantasies which are being adapted for the Sci-Fi channel.

Gillhoughly · Jul 11, 2006

I adore that man and his books.

I have offered to bear his children, but he's off the market.

*sigh*

Guess I'll just buy him a beer at the next convention then.

HConn · Jul 11, 2006

I heard him speak a A Writers Weekend in '05, and he talked about all the books he'd written that he couldn't sell. He was getting advice from a writing teacher about how to sell, but he kept resisting everything she said.

Finally, he sat down and wrote a book that followed all her advice just to show her. He sold it.

At the talk he gave, someone asked what I wanted to ask: What was the advice? What did she tell you to do?

He waved his hand and said something like: "Oh, that you should use exaggeration and exotic position for your characters and stuff like that..." And he went on to another topic.

I sat there in the room rolling my eyes. I wanted to say Don't skim the parts the audience wants to hear!

Later, I found the advice that he had waved away all written out on his livejournal.

He does write a damn good book, doesn't he?

rachelcaine · Jul 11, 2006

Gillhoughly said:
I adore that man and his books.

I have offered to bear his children, but he's off the market.

*sigh*

Guess I'll just buy him a beer at the next convention then.

Dude, I jet off to Boston, and look who I run into ... Hiya, G.

Jim is indeed an amazing writer. Can't wait to see him and chat writing with him ...

That beer thing, that sounds good too.

Ooops, pizza's here ...

-- R.

Josie · Jul 12, 2006

I have heard so much about Jim Butcher, but sadly have not read anything by him....(hanging my head in shame)

Thanks for the journal site for him. I am in a mid-w.i.p. slump and today have printed out his input on that to take and read with my latte at a dark little corner in SB. It looks fantastic. I have to read him!

Any suggestions on what would be the first I should read?

Not that I'm downgrading myself, but I am a mainstream/genre writer which I love to write.

Thanks again!!!

Cheers

HConn · Jul 12, 2006

Storm Front is his debut novel. That's a good place to start.

Gillhoughly · Jul 12, 2006

I have my fingers crossed that Sci Fi Channel's "Dresden Files" does freakin' great!

Woot!

:snoopy:

Branwyn · Jul 12, 2006

Gillhoughly said:
I adore that man and his books.

I have offered to bear his children, but he's off the market.

*sigh*

Guess I'll just buy him a beer at the next convention then.

LOL

Exaggerate, huh? I can do that.

Kasey Mackenzie · Jul 12, 2006

I love me some Jim Butcher. Er, I mean, the writing of Jim Butcher.

LeeFlower · Jul 12, 2006

HConn, you win at life.

I just wanted to say that.

This link totally just solved my mid-book slump problem and probably also my wordcount problem. So you win. So does Jim Butcher.

HConn · Jul 12, 2006

\o/

YAY!

HConn · Jan 7, 2007

FYI: New entries. Scenes and Sequels.

Interesting stuff. Check it out. Also check out some of the nasty reviews he gets. If you thought form rejections were hard, sheesh.

waylander · Jan 7, 2007

I remember Jim from the old Del Rey Online Writers Circle nearly 10 years back. Great to see him so successful.
I just read his latest Harry Dresden book Deadbeat - great fun!

DeadlyAccurate · Jan 7, 2007

waylander said:
I remember Jim from the old Del Rey Online Writers Circle nearly 10 years back. Great to see him so successful.
I just read his latest Harry Dresden book Deadbeat - great fun!

So I wasn't imagining things! The first time I read the flap copy for his book, I was struck with deja vu. I'd heard of that book before; I just knew it. And I had this memory of exchanging a couple of emails with him back then (nothing major; probably just a congrats on getting a contract.) I was starting to think I'd just made all that up.

johnzakour · Jan 7, 2007

I was suppose to panel with him at an old World Con. (I had actually just barely heard of him at the time, I am sure he had no idea who I was. I imagine him and the others looking at their schedules and going, "John Who?") As it turned out I had to change my schedule and not do the panel. I'm sure he was quite disappointed. ;-)

I hope his series on Sci Fi does well. Sci Fi can always use another good show, plus it can't help but to help the genre.

Saundra Julian · Jan 7, 2007

Great information. Thanks for sharing!

Popeyesays · Jan 7, 2007

Harry Dresden is an eleven ep[isode series coming to Sci Fi channel this month. Seems to be following the first book as a matter of fact.

Regards,
Scott

Alex Bravo · Jan 7, 2007

Thanks HConn, great stuff. That's the whole reason I'm here, trying to pick up on things.

Thanks again.

travelgal · Jan 8, 2007

Man, this guy rocks! I've never heard of him before. Thanks, guys!

Manderley · Jan 8, 2007

travelgal said:
Man, this guy rocks! I've never heard of him before. Thanks, guys!

If you like JB's writing advice, you'll probably like the book "Techniques of the selling writer" by D. Swain. He covers the same ground.

Willowmound · Jan 8, 2007

HConn said:
At the talk he gave, someone asked what I wanted to ask: What was the advice? What did she tell you to do?

He waved his hand and said something like: "Oh, that you should exaggeration and exotic position for your characters and stuff like that..." And he went on to another topic.

I sat there in the room rolling my eyes. I wanted to say Don't skim the parts the audience wants to hear!

Later, I found the advice that he had waved away all written out on his livejournal.

So, umm, what was it?

Don't skim the parts the audience want to hear!

Misty_Blue · Jan 8, 2007

Very useful links! thanks HConn

Manderley · Jan 8, 2007

Willowmound said:
So, umm, what was it?

Don't skim the parts the audience want to hear!

Well, that's really what this thread is about... If you follow the links here, you get to read his advice on livejournal.

HConn · Jan 8, 2007

Manderley is right on. Click over to Jim Butcher's LiveJournal and start reading from the first post, all the way at the bottom of the page.

Jadezuki · Jan 8, 2007

Jim Butcher's Writing Advice

Whore for genre

Grumpy writer and editor

Whore for genre

Whore for genre

Grumpy writer and editor

Print release:Sept.1,'09

One Hit Wonder?

Lurker Extraordinaire

Whore for genre

Whore for genre

Who's going for a beer?

Absolutely Fazed

Dangerous with a Keyboard

A work in progress

Now departed. Rest in peace, Scott, from all of us

Slowly does it.

Lightly salted

Slowly does it.

Whore for genre

Jadezuki