How writing fan fiction improved my writing!

I started writing THE WITCH OF ANGMAR (Shortlisted for this year's Julius Vogel Awards - fan fiction category!) mainly for fun. It was a way to get in touch with other Tolkien fans and make my own trip back to Middle Earth!

However, as I was writing the story - which took me about a year of fortnightly installments to complete - I noticed something interesting. I was finding it much easier to write about Middle Earth, Rose Fairbairn, Peri Took and Salrean of Farnost than I was about my own fantasy world and characters?

Why?

Because, unlike my own fantasy world (gulp!), I knew Middle Earth pretty damn well. I had read LOTR and the Hobbit enough times to be able to close my eyes and imagine myself there. Thanks to Tolkien, I had a detailed history and rich cultural backdrop to draw upon. With a setting like this, it was easy to write a story that flowed, that felt 'real'.

Lesson learnt, I went back and took a long hard look at my world and characters the epic fantasy series I am working on. 

I realised that although I don't have the time, or inclination, to go to Tolkien's lengths; there were a number of aspects that needed 'fleshing out'. If I didn't know my world's history, culture and topography in detail, how could I expect a reader to believe in it?

To this end, I have written a 'prequel' to the Palâdnith Chronicles (Books One and Two are already published - JOURNEY OF SHADOWS and THE CITADEL OF LIES - and I am currently working on the third book in the series - THE WELL OF SECRETS).

DEEP-SPIRE, is a novella (although a reasonable sized one - at around 35,000 words). It 'sets the scene' for the adventure to come, while drawing the reader into the story of Belythna Arran, a young sorceress, and the mother of our heroes in the Palâdnith Chronicles.

Watch this space for DEEP-SPIRE, as it will be available on Amazon soon.

Writing a prequel was a lot of extra work, but it has worked its magic. Now, as I write the third book in the series, THE WELL OF SECRETS, I can believe that this world, Palâdnith, and everyone in it, truly exist!