So I'm Writing a Novel...

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The show where you join me, Oliver Brackenbury, on the journey of writing my next novel, from first ideas all the way to publication & promotion. In this unique, one-man-reality show I’ll share you with you my ever evolving thoughts and feelings on how I

Oliver Brackenbury


    • Apr 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 55m AVG DURATION
    • 100 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from So I'm Writing a Novel...

    Ep84 – Interview with Curtis Ellett

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 47:48


    Oliver sits down with the editor of the longest running, still-extant S&S magazine, Swords & Sorcery Magazine, Curtis Ellett! https://swordsandsorcerymagazine.com

    Ep83 – Interview with Charles Tyra

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 43:55


    In which Oliver sits down with a fellow publisher who is about to launch their second magazine. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crtyra/goblins-and-galaxies-magazine https://goblinsandgalaxies.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570266211248

    Ep82 – The Eyrie

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 61:45


    THE PENULTIMATE STORY OUTLINE THE LAST STORY OUTLINE EPISODE FOR...PROBABLY QUITE A WHILE Voe and Oliver dive into The Weird by way of a "Zone Story", as both seek a way for Voe to escape cosmic debt slavery to a still-mysterious entity! What does all that mean? Listen to find out!

    Ep81 – An Imported God

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 85:01


    Sword & Planet time! In which Voe fends off cosmic callousness as she rides strange beasts through a blend of colorful high adventure with grim thematic underpinnings.

    Ep80 – Love Letter to a Sailor

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 61:28


    In which Oliver writes a love letter/homage to Sailing to the Future, the first third of Michael Moorcock's most excellent Sailor on the Seas of Fate starring Elric of Melniboné. In this way Voe finds herself to encountering multiverse fatigue, an Eternal Champion labour union, a nihilist scientist, and more!

    Ep79 – Inner Sea

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 37:57


    "How do you create a warning which will outlast your own language?" is the question at the heart of this first tale in Voe's final act, the story which introduces us to her new life of cosmic debt slavery by taking her deep, deep underground in an irradiated world to search for a cure to a virulent poison running through her veins...

    Ep78 – The Final Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 37:01


    THE NOVEL RETURNS! Yes, in this episode we provide a refresher on the novel and its contents so far, then do an overview of what the final act is about, and what Oliver needed to figure out before drilling down into its individual stories that will tell a tale of cosmic horror and Voe's indebted servitude to a mysterious entity...

    Ep77 - Interview with Graham Thomas Wilcox

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 65:46


    Oliver speaks with Old Moon Quarterly editor about his Gothic Fantasy novella, Contra Amatores Mundi, that grew out from a story he published in the magazine.

    NESS Book Club #3 – The Dark Eidolon

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2024 67:39


    Valerie Valdes, Molly Tanzer, Prashanth Srivatsa and JM Clarke for a discussion of Clark Ashton Smith's classic story The Dark Eidolon. You can read the story here: http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/212/the-dark-eidolon Valerie Valdes: https://candleinsunshine.com Molly Tanzer: https://mollytanzer.com Prashanth Srivatsa: https://prashanthsrivatsa.com JM Clarke: https://www.facebook.com/J.M.ClarkeAuthor/

    Ep 76 – Shatter the Sun with Dave Ring

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 55:24


    Dave Ring of Neon Hemlock Press joins us to discuss his upcoming queer Sword & Sorcery anthology. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davering/shatter-the-sun-queer-tales-of-untold-adventure https://www.neonhemlock.com

    NESS Book Club #2 – The Fortress Unvanquishable, Save for Sacnoth

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 60:46


    We discussed 'The Fortress Unvanquishable, Save for Sacnoth' by Lord Dunsany, a proto-Sword & Sorcery tale. You can read it for free here: https://sacred-texts.com/neu/dun/swos/swos10.htm Free Audiobook: https://ia802904.us.archive.org/17/items/sword_of_welleran_1409_librivox/swordofwelleran_10_dunsany_128kb.mp3 Panelists: Jay Wolf - https://linktr.ee/mdanielmcdowell Luana Saitta - https://bsky.app/profile/minillajovov... Steve Westenra - https://stevewestenra.com Brent Lambert - https://www.brentclambert.com June Orchid Parker - https://breadsonja.wordpress.com A.P. Thayer - https://www.apthayer.com

    Ep 75 – Double-Edged Short Story Panel Discussion

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2024 71:19


    Join us for a discussion of short stories by Bryn Hammond and Dariel R.A Quiogue! These stories are connected to the novella in our Double-Edged Sword & Sorcery book, crowdfunding now! Follow the link for crowdfund exclusive perks and add-ons: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/double-edge-sword-sorcery

    Ep 74 – Double-Edged Interview with Dariel R.A. Quiogue

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2024 61:33


    Please enjoy this audio from a recent livestream interview with author Bryn Hammond, done as part of the Double-Edged Sword & Sorcery crowdfund that is running until noon EST, Oct 19th! Our Double-Edged Sword & Sorcery book is inspired by the old ACE Doubles. Two novellas back-to-back: WASTE FLOWERS is by Bryn Hammond, cover art by Goran Gligović. Flip the book over for WALLS OF SHIRA YULUN by Dariel Quiogue, cover art by Artyom Trakhanov. Follow the link for more details and exclusive perks: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/double-edge-sword-sorcery?ref=SIWAN

    Ep 73 – Double-Edged Interview with Bryn Hammond

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2024 67:11


    (AUDIO FROM THE FOLLOWING LIVESTREAM) Our Double-Edged Sword & Sorcery book is inspired by the old ACE Doubles. Two novellas back-to-back: WASTE FLOWERS is by Bryn Hammond, cover art by Goran Gligović. Flip the book over for WALLS OF SHIRA YULUN by Dariel Quiogue, cover art by Artyom Trakhanov. Follow the link for more details and exclusive perks: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/double-edge-sword-sorcery?ref=SIWAN

    NESS Book Club #1 - The Tower of the Elephant

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2024 65:45


    CHECK OUT DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD & SORCERY BEFORE OCT 19TH: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/double-edge-sword-sorcery?ref=SIWAN Join Timeaus Bloom, Valerie Valdes, Jeremy Pak Nelson and Kirk Johnson for a discussion of Robert E. Howard's 'The Tower of the Elephant' for Cimmerian September! As Short Story Chats cover contemporary S&S, so the Book Club will cover classic S&S with an extra helping of participation from the chat. You can read Tower for free here: https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/060... and join in with the discussion by posting comments and questions - see you there!

    Ep 72 – Oliver & Jay Discuss Editing

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 61:12


    Oliver Brackenbury and the editor of Beating Hearts & Battle-Axes, Jay Wolf, discuss the art of editing short fiction. This was originally a livestream as part of the crowdfund for Beating Hearts! PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

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    Ep 71 – Interview with Matt Holder

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 70:33


    Oliver sits down with Matt Holder, author of the first book in the Keen Blades line - "HURLED HEADLONG FLAMING or, the Bishop's Tale". PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep 70 – Crossover Episode: Two Books, Two Bros

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 81:12


    Please enjoy this dual interview by a pair of pals, each with new books to share! Oliver's Book: THE BEATING HEARTS & BATTLE-AXES CROWDFUND IS LIVE NOW! Matt's Book: TO WALK ON WORLDS - Oliver designed the cover!

    Ep 69 – The Return of Jirel! An interview with Molly Tanzer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024 61:06


    As part of the successful New Edge Sword & Sorcery 2024 crowdfund, Oliver sat down with Molly Tanzer in a livestream interview focused on C.L. Moore's most famous creation, Jirel of Joiry!

    Short Story Chat #7 – "Cock and Bull" by Kirk A. Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 72:42


    Recorded Feb 27, 2024 New Edge Sword and Sorcery Editor Oliver Brackenbury is joined by NESS Copy Editor Valerie Valdes, Editor Jay Wolf, and special guests to discuss "Cock and Bull" by Kirk A. Johnson. This was part of the ongoing crowdfund for issues #3&4 of NESS, which ends at 8am EST, on March 16th: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/new-edge-sword-sorcery-2024?ref=SIWANkirk

    New Edge Sword & Sorcery 2024 Crowdfund is Live!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2024 0:39


    As I type this we're at 98% funding! WILL YOU BE OUR HERO? https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/new-edge-sword-sorcery-2024?ref=SIWAN

    Short Story Chat #6 – Elric 1961 and 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024 101:23


    Recorded Jan 9, 2024, New Edge Sword & Sorcery editor Oliver Brackenbury is joined by fellow editor Jay Wolf, New Edge social media coordinator Kevin Beckett, and author Christopher Rowe, to compare & contrast Elric's first appearance ("The Dreaming City" in Science Fantasy issue 47, June 1961) with his latest ("The Folk of the Forest", in New Edge Sword & Sorcery #1, Nov. 2023). New Edge Sword & Sorcery #1 is available here, in three formats: https://newedgeswordandsorcery.com/product-category/new-edge-sword-sorcery/issue-1/ "The Dreaming City" can be found in many incarnations across decades of different Elric collections, but the original can be read here on The Internet Archive.

    Short Story Chat #5 - Dara's Tale by Mark Rigney

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2024 61:38


    Recorded Dec 13, 2023, New Edge Sword & Sorcery editor Oliver Brackenbury is joined by fellow editor Jay Wolf and special guest Matt Holder, reviewer at Strange Horizons, to discuss "Dara's Tale" by author Mark Rigney for the Sword & Sorcery magazine Tales From The Magician's Skull, a publication from Goodman Games which was released on August 1, 2022. Find out more about the author discussed here: https://markrigney.net/ Matt Holder's reviews at Strange Horizons: http://strangehorizons.com/author/mat... Download our free New Edge Sword & Sorcery issue #0 at our website! https://newedgeswordandsorcery.com/

    Short Story Chat #4 - Evil Honey by James Enge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 71:23


    Recorded Nov 22, 2023, New Edge Sword & Sorcery editor Oliver Brackenbury is joined by fellow editor Jay Wolf and special guests Matt John of The Rogues in the House podcast, and Old Moon Quarterly editor Graham T. Wilcox to discuss "Evil Honey" by author James Enge for magazine Old Moon Quarterly #3 a magazine that is currently running a Kickstarter to increase the word count of stories and insert black & white illustrations for the magazine in 2024. Find out more of the author here: https://jamesenge.com/ Old Moon Quarterly: https://www.oldmoonpublishing.com/ Old Moon Kickstarter till Nov 30, 2023 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

    Short Story Chat #3 - The Wolves of Winter Road by author T.A. Markitan

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 55:42


    Recorded Oct 18, 2023, New Edge Sword & Sorcery editor Oliver Brackenbury is joined by fellow editor Jay Wolf and special guest Matt Holder, reviewer at Strange Horizons, to discuss "The Wolves of Winter Road" by author T.A. Markitan for the Sword & Sorcery anthology A Book of Blades Volume II, a publication from the Rogue In The House Podcast which was released on June 28, 2023. Find out more about the author discussed here:  https://www.facebook.com/T.A.Markitan/

    Short Story Chat #2 - Dog in The Corner by Stephen Graham Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 49:04


    Recorded Sep 19, 2023, New Edge Sword & Sorcery editor Oliver Brackenbury is joined by fellow editor Jay Wolf and special guest Matt Holder, reviewer at Strange Horizons, to discuss "Dog in the Corner" by horror author Stephen Graham Jones for the Cullen Bunn edited Sword & Sorcery anthology Swords in the Shadows, being released to the public by Outland Entertainment on Oct 24, 2023. Find out more about the author discussed here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Stephen-Graham-Jones/151691780

    Short Story Chat #1 - The Second Death of Hanuvar by Howard Andrew Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 59:15


    https://newedgeswordandsorcery.com/ Recorded Aug 23, 2023, New Edge Sword & Sorcery editor Oliver Brackenbury is joined by fellow editors Graham Wilcox (Old Moon Quarterly) and Jay Wolf to discuss the sword & sorcery short story "The Second Death of Hanuvar" a modern classic in the making from Howard Andrew Jones. Find out more about the author discussed here: https://www.howardandrewjones.com/

    Ep 68 – Hanuvar with Howard Andrew Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 60:18


    Returning guest of the show, Howard Andrew Jones, is kicking off an amazing Sword & Sorcery book series starring his most excellent character - Hanuvar! Join us for a craft-centric discussion of Howard's writing techniques & development, as seen through the lens of his exciting new series. Check out the book! www.howardandrewjones.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep 67 – So I'm Still Writing a Novel...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2023 20:39


    In which Oliver discusses the status of the novel, the revamp of our Patreon, how publishing New Edge Sword & Sorcery magazine has benefitted his writing, and more! Check out the first ever published Voe story, "Something Oath-like" over in a Book of Blades Vol. 2! PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep 66 – Queen of Swords Press, with Catherine Lundoff

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2023 52:47


    When most of us think about publishing we tend to think of one of the Big Five (Four? How many are we down to now?), but there is a whole world of smaller, independent publishers to explore! Wanting to learn more about that world, Oliver spoke with Catherine Lundoff about her own experiences launching and running Queen of Swords Press. https://queenofswordspress.com (Twitter, Facebook, Patreon) PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

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    Ep 65 – Interview with Oliver Brackenbury

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023 62:19


    Oliver was recently approached by a 5th grader looking to interview an author as part of a school project. The results were pretty fun, and perhaps even helpful for those looking to write themselves! PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep 64 – Interview with Charles E. Gannon

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 84:51


    As an author and a reader, Oliver's interests include science fiction, alternate history, fantasy, game design…author Charles E. Gannon has written them all, so you better believe when we got the opportunity to speak with him, we leapt on it. His most recent publication is “Into the Vortex”, the second in his first ever fantasy serial, the Vortex of Worlds series, so of course we talked about that, but Charles has the kind of mind that travels far and absorbs everything, so we think anybody listening will get to learn something of interest to them! Charles' author site (Twitter, Facebook) www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

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    Ep 63 – Solarpunk Magazine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2023 49:58


    "Sometimes the protest comes in the form of literature." Oliver speaks with Abriana Tuller from Solarpunk Magazine about this social issue driven, solution-focused scifi subgenre, the magazine named after it, and more. https://solarpunkmagazine.com   www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

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    Ep 62 – Interview with Jonathan Maberry

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023 66:55


    Oliver recently talked with author Jonathan Maberry, discussing his duties as editor of the birthplace of Sword & Sorcery - Weird Tales Magazine, how he manages an incredibly full & productive writing schedule, writing techniques he uses in his epic fantasy Kagen series, and a whole lot more. Jonathan's Website (FB, TWITTER, IG) Weird Tales magazine Swords in the Shadows Kickstarter (Runs until 11am on Thurs, April 17th, 2023). www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep 61 – Swords in the Shadows with Cullen Bunn

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2023 58:09


    Oliver sits down with comic book superstar Cullen Bunn to discuss his putting on his editor hat for the prose Sword & Sorcery & Horror anthology "Swords in the Shadows"! Swords in the Shadows Kickstarter www.cullenbunn.com   www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury  

    Ep 60 – Broadswords & Blasters

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2023 58:27


    Magazine Month (tm) continues here at SIWAN as we speak with Matthew Gomez of Broadswords & Blasters about the life, death, and rebirth of the SFF magazine he co-edits. Broadswords & Blasters (Facebook) Matthew Gomez's author site (Twitter) www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    BONUS EPISODE - Sword & Soul Roundtable with Milton J. Davis, Kirk A. Johnson and Sarah Macklin

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2023 67:29


    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oliverbrackenbury/new-edge-sword-and-sorcery-magazine

    BONUS EPISODE - Gemma Files on Horror, Sword & Sorcery, The Weird Tales 100th Anniversary, and more!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2023 56:04


    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oliverbrackenbury/new-edge-sword-and-sorcery-magazine

    Ep 59 – Old Moon Quarterly

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2023 48:06


    It's "Magazine Month" on SIWAN this February, which we're kicking off by interviewing Graham and Caitlyn, two thirds of the people behind a new Sword & Sorcery magazine which debuted in the summer of 2022 - OLD MOON QUARTERLY! Their Website (Twitter and Instagram) www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    New Edge Sword & Sorcery Kickstarter is LIVE!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2023 1:03


    Click these magic words to go to the Kickstarter! We made a very cool video and campaign page with all the details...

    Oliver's Other Podcast ”Unknown Worlds of the Merril Collection”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2023 50:56


    In which I discuss Climate Fiction with scifi luminary Kim Stanley Robinson. Unknown Worlds of the Merril Collection (Also available everywhere people find podcasts) The Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy The Friends of Merril New Edge Sword & Sorcery (that magazine Oliver mentions he's making)

    Ep 58 – Worldbuilding with J.M. Frey

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2022 59:13


    Worldbuilding is one of the most enjoyable aspects of genre writing, but it can also be quite daunting. Luckily J.M. Frey, author and giver of nearly ten years worth of talks on the subject, is releasing a new book to help! Check out the book on Jess' author site Architect Breaks Down “Bridgerton” Mansions | Architectural Digest New Edge Sword & Sorcery Mailing List, FB, Twitter, IG, and the site itself. www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury  

    Ep 57 – Publishing and Promotion with Sean CW Korsgaard

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 60:44


    How do publishers promote their author's books, and what kind of decision-making goes into that? Why don't they just press the big red button marked "Instant Best Seller"? Wanting answers, we recorded Oliver's conversation about all this with Sean CW Korsgaard, who works on the promotion side of Baen Books in his roles as Assistant Editor and Media & Military Liason.   Baen Books ( Facebook, Twitter) www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury  

    Ep 56 – Interview with Scott Oden

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2022 59:14


    Oliver sat down with author Scott Oden to discuss the challenges of writing in another person's voice, especially one as well known as Robert E. Howard, and spiraled off into a wide variety of topics related to the life of a writer. Scott's Author Page (FB, Twitter) www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep 55 – Writing Workshops with Christopher Rowe

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2022 56:50


    Oliver talks with author and writing teacher Christopher Rowe about writing workshops, such as The Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop, where he recently taught. What exactly does a workshop involve? How do you get into one, and what can you expect to get out of it? How, if at all, are they changing with the times? They discuss all this, and more. Christopher Rowe's author site (Socials: IG, FB, Twitter) Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping by Matthew Salesses The Whetstone Tavern Discord www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep54 Weird Fiction & Sword & Sorcery with Scott Dorward

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022 58:32


    Weird Fiction is a term from the days which birthed Sword &Sorcery, arguably a key ingredient in the genre, but what is it exactly? To discuss this curious intersection of horror, science fiction, and S&S, Oliver sits down with Scott Dorward, an experienced horror TTRPG author, podcaster, and scholar of fiction both weird & Weird... The Good Friends of Jackson Elias (Scott's podcast he co-hosts) Beyond Lovecraft (Oliver's other interview with Scott, over on Unknown Worlds of the Merril Collection) The Tale of Satampra Zeiros (The Clark Ashton Smith story whose name you'll hear Oliver fail to recall...) Under the Spell of Keith Taylor's Bard Songs by Brian Murphy (Quoted in the interview) www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep53 New Edge Authors Say Hello

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2022 90:47


    Oliver talks with the authors behind all six original Sword & Sorcery short stories featured in New Edge Sword & Sorcery magazine in a round-robin of mini-interviews! Did....did we mention he's the editor of a brand new magazine, who's first issue just came out? Get the magazine... FREE ePub/PDF on Payhip Softcover ($4usd) & Hardcover ($12usd) on Amazon.com (but also available through most other domains) Super-low intensity mailing list to find out when there are new issues or crowdfunding for new issues. www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep52 The Gibbet

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 63:06


    Voe hits rock bottom, hung high in an iron cage hanging from a post by a major road! How will she get out of this, and what will be left of her? Among other things, Oliver discusses how to tell when there's enough "there" there, the difficulties of keeping a story interesting in a "bottle episode" , the difficulties of knowing you want to evoke an author's style without just doing a bad imitation, and more! www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep 51 -Voe Loses It

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 39:53


    In this story Voe is faced with an important choice similar to one from a previous story, and the decision she makes will echo throughout the entire rest of the novel! Among other things, Oliver discusses how to tell what's good or maybe not so good to kick down the road for Future You to deal with, the challenge of avoiding creating bad pastiche, and how focusing on character can really help with figuring out all the other facets of your story. Read Rogues in the House by Robert E. Howard for free. Read The Tower of the Elephant by Robert E. Howard for free. www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep 50 - My People

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 91:46


    Oh ho! And thus we enter the third quarter of Oliver outlining Untitled Sword & Sorcery Novel with this novella-length love letter to his favorite Robert E. Howard tale of Conan the Cimmerian, People of the Black Circle. Read People of the Black Circle for free. Read THE LEGEND OF GWÂSHBRÂRI, THE GLACIER-HEARTED QUEEN, the myth Oliver mentions in the recording, also for free. Episode 4 of the podcast, where I break down People of the Black Circle in detail, comparing it with Lin Carter & L Sprague de Camp's Conan the Buccaneer, a nautical tale which is too similar not to be inspired by People. www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

    Ep 49 - Interview with Alasdair Stuart

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2022 58:11


    Alasdair Stuart is a professional enthusiast, pop culture analyst, and writer behind the award-nominated weekly newsletter, The Full Lid, as well as a multiple Hugo finalist and co-owner of the Escape Artists podcast network. He's also a really kind and fascinating man, whom Oliver greatly enjoyed chatting with about building your own podcast empire, financing such an empire, balancing writing with other creative pursuits, best practices when trying to promote diversity within the genre writing scene, and a whole lot more! AlasdairStuart.com (Twitter) EscapeArtists.net The Full Lid - Alasdair's weekly, popular pop-culture newsletter. Both PseudoPod episodes mentioned in the interview, 1 and 49, can be found here. The terrifying live TV event from the mid-90's that Alasdair mentions is on Youtube, of course. www.soimwritinganovel.com PATREON: www.patreon.com/soimwritinganovel BUY OLIVER'S BOOKS: https://www.oliverbrackenbury.com/store SO I'M WRITING A NOVEL... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/so_writing OLIVER'S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/obrackenbury Oliver's Link Tree (For everything else): https://linktr.ee/obrackenbury

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