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Rebecca Alasdair
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  • on writing,  tags and top posts

    5 must-read blogs for the novice self-editor

    Rebecca Alasdair / 14 March 2018 / No Comments

    Editing is not the simple act of reading through your novel and correcting spelling and grammatical errors. It is, in fact, a comprehensive process, and one that many of us beginners struggle with. Today, I share some of the best blogs and blog posts I've come across that shed light on what editing really is! >>

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  • excerpts,  graceborn,  updates

    Old Blood draft is FINISHED!

    Rebecca Alasdair / 10 March 2018 / No Comments

    I am OVER-THE-MOON-CRAZY-EXCITED to announce that the first draft of my epic fantasy novel Old Blood is DONE! Here are the stats, my future plans, and a special EXCERPT to celebrate! >>

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  • updates

    MONTHLY UPDATE: January-February 2018

    Rebecca Alasdair / 27 February 2018 / No Comments

    In my neck of the woods, January and February are prime summer holiday time, so I've got a LOT of writing and reading done. Here's your chance to find out more about where my WIPs are at! >>

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  • goals & reflections

    2017 in review

    Rebecca Alasdair / 31 December 2017 / No Comments

    Today, we bid farewell to 2017, and I find myself in a contemplative mood as I reflect on all that has happened in the last 365 days. >>

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  • graceborn,  updates

    UPDATE: Old Blood reaches 100,000 words!

    Rebecca Alasdair / 11 December 2017 / No Comments

    Today, I celebrate a milestone in the first draft of my fantasy novel, Old Blood. And it's a big one. The 100,000 word one. >>

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  • about me

    A day in my summer writing routine

    Rebecca Alasdair / 27 November 2017 / No Comments

    What's a typical day like in my summer holiday writing routine? Well, it's not always as productive as you might think...or as I intend. >>

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  • excerpts,  graceborn

    In the wake of the storm

    Rebecca Alasdair / 6 November 2017 / No Comments

    I am about to embark on a two-week stint without access to technology, so to tide you by I thought I'd share a snippet from the prologue of Old Blood, my fantasy WIP. >>

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  • on writing

    Fitting writing into the work-life balance

    Rebecca Alasdair / 31 October 2017 / No Comments

    One of the questions I’m often asked is where do I find the time to write? I've given this some thought, and now share how I fit writing into my work-life balance. >>

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  • on writing

    How to conquer Evil Incarnate (a.k.a. thesis writing)

    Rebecca Alasdair / 17 October 2017 / No Comments

    Thesis writing is the work of the Devil. But there is a method to the madness, and if you consider it in terms of the story writing process, you may just find a way to conquer Evil Incarante. >>

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  • excerpts,  holding up the sky

    Holding Up the Sky excerpt out now!

    Rebecca Alasdair / 14 October 2017 / No Comments

    "One day when I was five, I thought the sky was falling." Read the first chapter of my YA contemporary novel Holding Up the Sky. >>

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Welcome! I'm Rebecca Alasdair, an Australian indie author whose one true love is fantasy—the more epic, the better.

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What is the most common/popular paperback trim siz What is the most common/popular paperback trim size where you live?

Here in Australia, at least in my city of Melbourne, the most common is the "B format" 129×198mm (about 5.1x7.8"). A lot of fantasy novels initially release in the larger 6×9" format, which I genuinely dislike because it's so damn big in my small hands, but these tend to be replaced by the smaller B format version after a year or two.

But I'm curious about what size(s) are most common in other places, especially the US and UK, as I ponder what size to publish my epic fantasy series in. What size do you prefer? Would the B format (my fave) seem strange to you?

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#bookdesign #bookformatting #booksize #bookstagram #booklover #indieauthor #authorsofig #writerslife
R is for the Red Plague! 👇 This next post in R is for the Red Plague! 👇 

This next post in the A to Z of worldbuilding elements in the #GracebornSeries is all about plagues. What's a fantasy world without a good plague—either current or historical.

In my world, the Red Plague was a highly contagious and fatal plague that devastated the Ten Dominions around three centuries after the Fall of Corraidhin. A cure was eventually found by Follain the Healer, but not before the population had been decimated. People still fear the Red Plague even now, and Graceborn Healers are constantly on the lookout for a resurgence.

What's the most interesting plague or illness you've come across in a fantasy novel? 🤒🦠

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#worldbuilding #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #epicfantasy #fantasywriter #fantasyauthor #indieauthor #writersofig
Look, I'm sure it feels great to have your book hi Look, I'm sure it feels great to have your book hit a bestseller list, but there's something to be said for the quiet achievements.

"Success" in writing and publishing looks different for everyone, and it's not all about the number of copies sold. I would LOVE for my upcoming epic fantasy series to do well, but as I work through my line edits, I feel pretty damn proud of the story I've told. And that's worth celebrating. 😊

What do you think?

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#writingquotes #writinginspiration #writersofig #authorsofig #indieauthor #fantasyauthor #writerslife #authorlife
Line edits are in! Wish me luck as I dive into the Line edits are in! Wish me luck as I dive into them over the next few weeks and polish this book off. 😅

There's still plenty of work to do to get it ready for publication, but it finally feels like I'm creeping closer!

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#amediting #bookedits #writerslife #authorlife #indieauthor #fantasyauthor #fantasyseries #gracebornseries
Happy 1st birthday to the bestest writing buddy a Happy 1st birthday to the bestest writing buddy a girl could ask for 💜🥳

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#birthdaygirl #birthdaydog #dogsofinstagram #minischnauzer #writingbuddy #writerslife #writersofig #indieauthor
Say hello to Tora Kolmarden, a key character in th Say hello to Tora Kolmarden, a key character in the #GracebornSeries...

...or don't. You might want to run and hide, actually. Most people do when they hear Tora's name. She's something of an enforcer for the Council of Eight: cold, ruthless to the point of cruelty, and her tongue is as sharp as her blades.

But this death-wielding warrior has her reasons. She has her secrets, her hidden dreams. And her arc throughout the series is not what you might expect. I can't wait for you to meet her in book 1, "Blood of Old", in (hopefully) 2026!

Another big thank you to the talented @sophielouisedraws for capturing Tora so perfectly!! 🤩

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#characterart #characterartwork #artreveal #digitalart #indieauthor #fantasyauthor #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #epicfantasy
Are you ready? There's only one more sleep until m Are you ready? There's only one more sleep until my next piece of character art is revealed! 😱

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#characterart #characterartwork #artreveal #digitalart #indieauthor #fantasyauthor #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #epicfantasy #gracebornseries
Q is for qava! 👇 In today's post on the A to Q is for qava! 👇 

In today's post on the A to Z of worldbuilding elements in the #GracebornSeries, I wanted to talk about food and drink in fantasy novels.

Do you enjoy seeing new types of food or drink—or even new names for known types of food or drink—in the books you read? I find it adds a certain richness and depth to the worldbuilding in fantasy fiction.

I haven't been all that creative in my own epic fantasy series, but I have come up with a drink called "qava", which you may note bears a striking resemblance to coffee... 🤣☕️

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#worldbuilding #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #epicfantasy #fantasywriter #fantasyauthor #indieauthor #writersofig

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