Tag Archives: Juliet McKenna

Poacher Turned Gamekeeper? by Juliet E McKenna

Posted on 7 May 2024 by Jacey Bedford

When I became a published fantasy author, I didn’t really plan on developing a sideline as a creative writing tutor. The first time I ran seminars was at a convention, when the writer scheduled to do them had no choice … Continue reading →

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How To Be Original and Still Get Published by Juliet E McKenna

Posted on 2 April 2024 by Jacey Bedford

Can a good writer remain unique?Does a writer need a track record before originality can be attempted? I’m always surprised when hear people saying the easy way to get published is to retread the same old tracks, present the same … Continue reading →

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The Art of Writing Fantasy by Juliet E McKenna

Posted on 5 March 2024 by Jacey Bedford

Is your story the one you cannot bear not to write? Does thinking about it consume your idle moments? Do you lie awake at night worrying about bits that aren’t working? Do you leap out of bed in the morning … Continue reading →

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But Don’t You Just Make It All Up? by Juliet E McKenna

Posted on 6 February 2024 by Jacey Bedford

People can be quite surprised when I mention doing research as a fantasy writer. Until I explain how imagined worlds and peoples have to be solidly based in reality. Places and characters have to be believable and accessible. There must … Continue reading →

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Here we go again. Another badly skewed list of fantasy books recommended for newcomers… by Juliet E McKenna

Posted on 2 January 2024 by Jacey Bedford

Originally published 14th September 2023 Must be a day with a Y in it. Yes, well-informed readers are pushing back against this particular dated, limited and male-dominated list, and no, I’m not going to link to it and argue the … Continue reading →

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How to be Edited – A Personal View by Juliet E McKenna

Posted on 12 December 2023 by Jacey Bedford

‘I really like the book but do you think you could change the beginning, the end and make it half as long again overall?’ This isn’t exactly what Tim Holman, my editor said, the first time we ‘did lunch’, to … Continue reading →

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Is it a steal? The questions to ask about paid-for publishing – by Juliet E McKenna

Posted on 24 May 2022 by Jacey Bedford

The Society of Authors and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain have published a joint report looking into companies that charge writers for publication. You will not be surprised to learn there are a lot of shady goings-on in this … Continue reading →

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More of the Same but Different by Juliet E. McKenna

Posted on 28 September 2021 by Jacey Bedford

Where do we find something ‘the same but different’? This is what publishing is looking for, above all else. That’s what a commissioning editor from Pan Macmillan said, giving a talk at the very first mystery and crime weekend held … Continue reading →

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Milford Goes to Dublin Worldcon 2019 by Jacey Bedford

Posted on 27 August 2019 by Jacey Bedford

This was my third Worldcon. I attended in 2014 in London, and 2017 in Helsinki. Worldcon is BIG, with thousands of fans, authors, publishers and industry professionals and an enormous choice of panels, events, readings, kaffeeklatsches, signings, book launches, and, … Continue reading →

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Book Recommendations

Posted on 11 December 2018 by Jacey Bedford

Just in time for Christmas here are some book recommendations from Milford committee members past and present. They are books that we’ve read this year (not necessarily books published this year). Contributors: Karen Brenchley, Jacey Bedford, David Gullen, Jim Anderson, … Continue reading →

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