Hello everyone!
I’m excited to have Brett Armstrong back with us for Wisdom Wednesday. As a freelance developmental editor for Scrivenings Press, I had the privilege of working with Brett and editing his newest release, Shadows at Nightfall!
Welcome back, Brett!
Name: Brett Armstrong
Genre: Christian, Epic Fantasy, YA
Publisher: Expanse Books, Scrivenings Press imprint
Latest Novel: Quest of Fire: Shadows at Nightfall
Writing Tip:
Draw your story. Or create Pinterest boards. Or use Canva. Add a discrete visual dimension to characters and settings from a book. Drawing in particular produces all sorts of neat details that can be worked into a story to flavor it. For instance, after drawing Jason from Quest of Fire, I realized he wore a hat. The hat then became a physical attribute I could use to show emotions based on what he was doing with the hat. For instance, instead of saying, “Jason is nervous.” I could say, “Jason wrung his hat in his hands.” Both impart the same sense, but one is telling and the other is showing.
The hat also became an important characterization tool because in Shadows at Nightfall where Jason got the hat is revealed and it says something about him and hopefully raises questions with readers because of what it implies about him through where it came from. Moreover, drawing a scene or piecing together some images can help with sorting out scene logistics, reasonability, etc. There’s so much to be gained through the translation of what is imagined and described in words to something tangibly visible. Plus, it gives you something to share with readers that is a personal touch.
Writing Tip for New Writers:
Take a good long look at yourself and your writing and ask yourself why you want to be a writer. As tempting and easy as it may be, don’t just answer with, “I enjoy writing.” Dig deeper. Especially for those looking to be published authors you need to build yourself a sort of refuge for when things are hard. Like when you get tough rejections, lose in awards contests, have bad sales, or get a terrible review…or ten. If you can isolate what made you love writing and pursue it then that can be a base on which you build your writing career. Financial, critical, every metric by which one might measure success can be what they are but writing will still hold meaning and purpose and passion for you. For believers in Christ, our foundation and rock of refuge is already laid. Leaning on Christ is something we need to do in all aspects of life, writing careers are no different. Cling to that why for writing and no matter what you face, you’ll persevere and complete the stories of your heart.
The hour has arrived… with all its terrors.
The shadows of Jason’s past have caught him. Having stepped into the Quest of Fire, Jason is pursued by a league of assassins formed of pure darkness. To his horror he discovers these creatures also were contracted to eliminate Anargen and his friends as they sought to understand the Tower of Light’s oracle. To unravel the mystery of who wants him dead and how he fits into the ages old quest, Jason must travel the lengths of the Lowlands. In the Ziljafu deserts a secret awaits him that will shake him to his core. He’ll have to move fast and cling fiercely to hope, as Anargen’s story twists down a bleak path to almost certain failure.
The creatures of darkness in the Lowlands have long waited for men to spurn the High King’s laws. With few concerned for the light and everything falling apart around them, Jason and Anargen will face the shadows of night’s falling as their world hangs in the balance.
Brett Armstrong has been exploring other worlds as a writer since age nine. Years later, he still writes, but now invites others along on his excursions. He’s shown readers haunting, deep historical fiction (Destitutio Quod Remissio), scary-real dystopian sci-fi (Day Moon and Veiled Sun), and dark, sweeping epic fantasy (Quest of Fire). Every story is a journey of discovery and an attempt to be a brush in the Master Artist’s hand. Through dark, despair, light, joy, and everything in between, the end is always meant to leave his fellow literary explorers with wonder and hope. Always busy with a new story, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and spending time with his wife and son.
Social Media Links:
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8281587.Brett_Armstrong
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brettarmstrongwv
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BArmstrongWV
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BrettArmstrongAuthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ChristianKid044
Website: https://BrettArmstrong.net
Thank you so much for joining us today! Please take a moment to check out Brett’s new release, Shadows at Nightfall and follow him on social media.
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