Why book stores secretly hate fantasy tomes
I was listening to a Brandon Sanderson masterclass on storytelling, publishing, and whatnot — as one does when writing becomes their vocation — when he mentioned something interesting. He said how one of his books (I can't remember the title) was approximately 400,000 words long, which caused physical bookshops to get a little… ANTSY. Sanderson […]
I deleted dragons from TDR. Here’s why
It’s true. While I’d never be a defence attorney for a dragon, there was a time when I did consider weaving them into The Divided Region. What can I say… It’s easy to follow everyone else when you are wet behind the ears in a new industry — or, in my case, a new genre. […]
11 movies I’d watch over and over again
There’s nothing I love more on a cold, wet, and miserable day than to draw the curtains and watch a movie. And I don’t discriminate either (okay, maybe I do. No romance/chick flicks). While binge-watching a series on Netflix can satisfy this itch, nothing — and I mean nothing — hits the spot quite like […]
My honest thoughts about going exclusive again
And it’s a wrap! Not just for the week, but also Master Liam’s first birthday, which was as exhausting as it was rewarding (especially when you consider we also had my mother’s 60th celebrations later that evening, too). I usually groan when birthdays swing around. They always have a knack of throwing off my routine, […]
It’s my son’s 1st birthday
Born at 14:14, Master Liam took his first breath, weighing in at an uncanny 7 pounds and 7 ounces. I often ponder the meaning of it. Now he stands proudly in his cot, greeting us every morning with an “Uh-oh” and a smile that erases the drudgery of the night before. Such are the juxtapositions […]
Will I ever write sci-fi?
A few weeks ago, I emailed you to ask where sci-fi ranked in your world. Many of you wrote in and confirmed my suspicions: QUITE HIGH. That came as not much of a surprise to me. Fantasy and sci-fi have always been blood brothers in many ways, bound by their love for speculative narratives and […]
My “meh” two-month anniversary
It's been two months since returning to the book retailers, and it's probably one of the only anniversaries I feel somewhat "meh" about. Obviously, it's nice to offer readers on different platforms an opportunity to read my work. Because at the end of the day, I'm not looking to punish readers. I'm not even looking […]
15 years…
That's how long it has been since Lady Laura and I saw Usher perform here in Lowly London. And as fate had it, we sat in the same spot we were back then. TALK ABOUT NOSTALGIA. Back then, we were two young, fresh-faced 20-somethings with no responsibilities, no kids, no worldly stresses, and propped up […]
3 writer “rules” I break often
Sometimes, gladly. And no, this isn’t some cringy attempt at being “edgy,” nor am I trying to cement my status as a rebel. The fact is: We’re all adhering to rules whether we like it or not. Some are good (like laws that keep societies from breaking down into barbarism), and others are not so […]
The second reason I quit horror
New and old-time revellers of the Legion will know (unless you’ve been captured by dementia) that the main reason I quit writing horror and answered the call of fantasy was that I encountered something of a creative bottleneck. That still remains the #1 reason why I jumped ship. What most people don’t know, however, is […]
3 very interesting reader questions
Let’s not dilly-dally with pleasantries. Instead, let us jump straight into this week’s #AskWatson. Starting with this one from a recent Patron: ===== Hey DJJW, Been smashing through Tiny Epics – some real gems in there! It got me thinking… does writing something so short and punchy change how you approach writing the much longer […]
My unhealthy obsession [PIC INSIDE]
I’m a wildlife man through and through. Some of my earliest memories are of me snatching the TV remote from my sister and flicking over to National Geographic and Animal Planet. I devoured everything from sea shepherds protecting whales to cheetahs chasing down zig-zagging gazelles, yet through it all, one animal stood out: CROCODILES. Namely, […]
Even great novels aren’t immune to this
A good book always sticks in the mind. For a while, at least. But even the most epic of stories aren’t immune to the corrosion of time. Let enough years slip by, and you’ll be left scratching your head as you recall names and standout scenes while the rest dissolves into fog. Sure, books are […]
My baseless opinion on Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
I say baseless because I haven't read Fourth Wing and have no desire to – especially after happening upon a recent post in a hugely popular fantasy FB group (I lurk everywhere) that validated everything I suspected the book would be. Laced with smut… Graphic secks scenes (yes, that was an intentional misspelling – blame […]
4-minute shower confirms why I don’t do deadlines
The other day, Lady Laura, Master Liam, and I were running late to a family gathering. Being a militant for punctuality, I refused to WhatsApp the crew and let them know we would be 10 minutes behind. Why? Beyond being a man of my word, it means I'd have to accept defeat—conceding that the day […]
Am I a born-again Tolkien?🤔
Occasionally, I’m reminded just how dizzying the indie author gig can be. Case in point: Last night, after clearing some emails, I fired up the Facebook app and was immediately hit by a wall of text from an author doing a bajillion things and asking for feedback on what else she could possibly add to […]
The biggest problem readers face these days
I’m in the mood to address a few elephants in the room. Namely, five, but first, let’s tackle the main boogeyman: ATTENTION SPANS ARE SHORTER THAN KIM KARDASHIAN’S SKIRT. (Mine included, as Lady Laura loves to remind me often.😠) Between work, commitments, and the demands of offspring (or bosses), it seems we’re all getting busier […]
My author hero (not who you expect)
This is going to be a good one. *crack my knuckles in preparation* Over the past couple of months, I’ve been secretly collecting a bunch of questions from fellow writers that I’ve wanted to answer in a segment of #AskWatson, but never really had enough to run with… until now. Makes sense, given the Legion […]
Goodbye, old friend
"One sec," I said to Master Liam as he wrestled to get out of Laura’s grip. I leaned past our bed and laid my MacBook Pro on the carpet before turning to open my arms to him. Instead of greeting me, he went straight for the TV remote, bee-lined to the edge of the bed… […]
A warning to Mac users
A couple of days ago, I noticed my MacBook Pro was acting a little… strange. While formatting Tiny Epics Vol. 1 (which you can now get here), I noticed the fan whirred more than it used to, and my lap would burn as if a cave troll had rubbed it with a calloused fingertip. Needless […]