Update:

This month’s update will actually come as a Writing Tips post this week as I share what to look for as you keep yourself and your readers up to date on your WIPs or soon to be published novels.

What to Expect:

November is an exciting month, at least for me, because Brandon Sanderson’s newest novel will release. The Lost Metal will release on November 15th and I’ve already pre-ordered the Audiobook on Audible. For those who haven’t enjoyed the Mistborn series, it’s one that I’d highly recommend. The magic system is well thought out and works well with character development, story themes, and keeping the readers engaged.

For those of my followers who are movie fans, don’t forget to watch Enola Holmes 2 and observe how the writers and actors developed strong character arcs while using a mirror of inner conflict for the protagonists. This film also works off a powerful theme that applies to all who enjoy it.

Now, from the Myers Fiction realm you can expect to see more Writing Tips posts as we go into the Writer’s Check in this week. On November 12th I have an exciting book review for Trouble in the Floating City the first book in the Zoboros Series by Michael Ciccarelli-Walsh. There are no plans for any other story line posts until January 2023, but I may throw up some random short stories for fun.

Reading the Classics

One of my goals this year has been to read the classic authors that built the foundation of writing we use as our guiding stones. But I didn’t just mean to read the novel length works, but also their short stories. I’ve started reading a collection of Ernest Hemingway short stories and I am surprised by how his short stories can kind of sucker punch you on the first read. One of the fun things about reading the classics like Hemingway, Dumas, Jane Austen, or Harper Lee is though the language is different, their stories have become timeless tools for future writers.

The other nice thing about the classics is that you can get digital access too much of the material for free. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is free to listen to on Audible (at a massive 52 hours), and I didn’t regret an hour of that book. While the structure may differ, watch for how the characters are developed, the plot and sub-plot arcs. If Dumas wrote this novel in modern times, it probably would have been a trilogy.

One of my favorite places to find hard copies of classic literature is at local bookstores. Often these stores sell the physical copies for cheaper than others, and sometimes you can find notes in the margins (if you like that sort of thing). I love a good B&N run, but there’s something different from experiencing the feel and seeing how much the books were read and loved before entering the old bookstore. Use it to find the books that most major bookstores don’t carry anymore.

What are some classics you’ve read recently, or plan to read?

Is there a classic author that you can’t stand to read? Why?

Who is your favorite classic author?

Conclusion

Thank you to everyone for reading and I hope you enjoyed this month’s newsletter. I plan to keep giving more and better material with each newsletter, so please comment on what you’d like to see more of. Don’t forget to check back in this week on Tuesday for your weekly Writing Tip post and Saturday for the book review of Trouble in the Floating City the first book in the Zoboros Series by Michael Ciccarelli-Walsh. Keep writing, keep learning, and as always, stay fresh, my nugs!

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