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Manuscript complete – and some useful takeaways from the journey!
UPDATE 1 October 2017: ‘I will never claim to have finished a manuscript again, until it is either binned or metamorphosed into a beautiful book, sitting in the stores and waiting for a new owner. I first posted this blog …
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Posted in Avid Book Lover, Books, Jonathan K Benton, Latest News, Writing
Tagged dark fantasy, fantasy, Jonathan K Benton, young adult
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Hooray for being a Kiwi! – Jonathan K Benton
Feeling a little home sick: it’s times like this that I love being a Kiwi. Pink Floyd’s new album reached number one in NZ. I’ve always known Kiwi’s have great taste. My B’day is just around the corner and I …
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Posted in Books, Jonathan K Benton, Latest News, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged Jonathan K Benton, New Zealand, Pink Floyd
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There be good reviews, and there be bad – Jonathan K Benton
There be good reviews, and there be bad, as the pirates would say. A critical review from someone who didn’t like your work is still a good review – carefully considered criticism can be extremely useful. I learn from some …
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Two more P’s and a progress update – Jonathan K Benton
Halfway through the year, and I’m about to start writing the climax to my new novel. It’s Part One of a young adult fantasy trilogy and should be finished by January 2014. I’ve spent the last nine months polishing the …
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Posted in Books, Latest News, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged #yafantasy, Jonathan K Benton, young adult
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The five P’s are the five keys to getting published – Jonathan K Benton
Passion: I believe authors write because they have to. They cannot stop that fountain of words bubbling up inside them. Some writers might dream of fortune and glory, but these fantasies play second fiddle to a passionate desire to express …
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Posted in Avid Book Lover, Books, Jonathan K Benton, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged getting published, Jonathan K Benton, young adult
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Occasionally, very rarely and mostly never I need to remind myself why I love writing – Jonathan K Benton
Writing isn’t easy, and when it gets really tough, I sometimes need to remind myself why I stick at it. Here are the top five reasons I persevere: 5) Books saved me: Books changed me, as I wrote in this …
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Posted in Books, Jonathan K Benton, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged Jonathan K Benton, writing
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A piece on laughter and my two ‘all-time’ favourite jokes – Jonathan K Benton
Catch 22 is one of my favourite books. It’s also one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Colours and shades, tears and laughter. The saddest stories have the funniest scenes, as the author takes you on an emotional roller …
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Posted in Books, Jonathan K Benton, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged a better future, a better world, Jonathan K Benton, young adult
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Writing tip no. 3 and my thoughts on New Zealand
Writing tip This one is subjective, but I hear it lot, and it works for me. Don’t edit the first draft until you’ve finished it. Write your story from beginning to end – smash it out. Don’t worry about sentence …
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Posted in Books, Jonathan K Benton, Reviews, Thoughts, Writing
Tagged dark fantasy, Jonathan K Benton, young adult
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Lessons Learned – if I could impart one piece of advice to first-time authors this would be it.
I am a perfectionist, in terms of my writing. Most authors probably are. This doesn’t mean we think our writing is perfect. It means we’ll never be content with the finished product. I’m constantly looking for ways to improve the …
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Posted in Books, Jonathan K Benton, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged A Wicked Kind Of Dark, dark fantasy, Jonathan K Benton, young adult
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My favourite first sentences – in no particular order. Jonathan K Benton
Without a great book to support them, the following sentences might not have been so great. Each sentence appeals to me in a different way. For example: Douglas Adams’s unique voice exudes personality. Dickens’s words are profound, and who knew …
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Posted in Books, Thoughts, Writing
Tagged dark fantasy, JonathanKBenton, young adult
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