Blather

  • LTUE 2026 Presentations

    ByJohn Brown

    I always enjoy presenting at the Life, the Universe and Everything writers conference. This year they asked me to present the following.

    The 3 Little Secrets that Make Plotting So Much Easier

    No, the secrets don’t have anything to do with the hero’s journey; 3, 7, 8, or 9 acts; Lester Dent; or cat-saving beats. An average novel has around 40 to 70 scenes. If you’re like me, those abstract plot structures spark an idea or three, then dump you in front of a blank wall. So where in the heck do all the other scenes come from? Well, a whole heap of them stand up and present themselves when you use these 3 little secrets. If you struggle with plotting, this is your chance to put that behind you for good and start generating fun and exciting plots with ease. Come learn the 3 little secrets that make plotting so much easier. 

    Here’s the handout.

    The_3_Secrets_that_Make_Plotting_So_Much_Easier_Handout_2026_John_D_BrownDownload

    Vivid And Clear

    Despite the oft-repeated 11th commandment for writers—show, don’t tell—writers never show. They can’t. It’s all tell, tell, tell. The trick is to tell in a way that helps your readers imagine with such vividness and clarity that your story triggers an emotional response.  In this session learn the five critical prose techniques that help you do just that. 

    Here are the presentation slides.

    vivid_and_clear_2026_john_d_brownDownload

  • 24 Hours in Ancient Rome

    ByJohn Brown

    One of the best tricks for building fantasy worlds is to start with real history. Tolkien did it. George R.R. Martin did it. I do it too. In The Drovers, I draw, in part, on the cultures around the Black Sea. 

    This is why I read a lot of “daily life” books. And I found one that is unlike anything else I’ve read. 

    It’s called 24 Hours in Ancient Rome by Philip Matyszak. 

    Instead of dry lists of facts, it gives you twenty-four stories — one for each hour of the day — told through the eyes of Romans: a watchman, a baker, a carter, a senator, a slave girl, a mother with a sick child, and plenty more. 

    Each short chapter drops you right into their lives. I couldn’t put it down. By the end, I felt like I’d actually walked the streets of Rome. And I kept telling my family, “Did you know this? Did you know that?” 

    If you love history, or if you’ve ever wondered what daily life in Rome really felt like, I think you’ll enjoy this one. 

    A big thanks to those who responded to the last email with castle recommendations: John E, John D, Nikki, Tom, and Robert. Skipton, Bamburgh, Mad King Ludwig’s places, Carnarvon, Carcassonne, and many more, including some in Japan if I ever get over there. I now have a terrific list, and want to visit as many of these as I can. 

    And thanks to those who sent me their first names and told me how much they enjoy the books. (We luvs to hear that, Precious.) 

    I will also say this: there are some fascinating people on this newsletter list. Of course, when I sit down with anyone, I find they’re fascinating in their own way. I’m honored to have you here. 

    Here’s to books that make the past feel like an adventure—and the present feel richer for it. 

    Sincerely, 

    —John 

  • Presenting at the League’s Summer Symposium

    ByJohn Brown

    I’ll be presenting this Saturday, June 8, at the league’s summer writer symposium at USU. Here’s the description of my presentation.

    Make ‘Em Beg For More!
    How do you keep your readers begging for one more page? The answer is probably not what you think. Come to this session to learn the surprising secret—along with plenty of examples and how-tos. When you’re done, you’ll know exactly what you need to do to write stories that are devilishly hard for readers to put down.

    Check out the schedule below. Looks like there will be some great presentations. If you attend, please come and say hello.

    https://www.leagueofutahwriters.com/summersymposium

  • Interview with John Goodwin of Writers of the Future

    ByJohn Brown

    During LTUE this year I sat down with John Goodwin, who manages the Writers and Illustrators of the Future contest, to chat about the contest, my win, and other writerly topics. I had a great time with John.

    If you’re a new writer or illustrator working in the science fiction or fantasy genres, I strongly recommend you submit each quarter. There is no fee and the prize is generous. Best of all, it comes with a week long workshop with pros.

    In the mean time, enjoy the interview.

    Here’s the teaser on YouTube.

    And here’s the full podcast.

  • LTUE 2024 Writing Presentations

    ByJohn Brown

    Yesterday, I gave two presentations at Life, The Universe, and Everything, a SFF writers conference in Provo, Utah. A number of the attendees wanted copies of the presentations. I’ve linked to them below.

    The Two Types of Plots Every Writer Should Know

    There are two types of plots that power almost all successful commercial fiction. Are you using them in your stories? Do you know how they work? In this class, you learn both plot types, their key beats, the 3 big mistakes writers make, how to generate scenes, and much, much more. Come learn how to make plotting easier and deliver the ride your readers are looking for.

    My lecture notes.

    How to Banish Writer’s Block, Fear, and Doubt and Unleash Your Awesome Power

    The #1 thing that slays more writing dreams than anything else is the writer’s own head games. In 2005 I fiddled with death. Cognitive therapy (and God and a good counselor) saved me. And gave me an explosion of insights about writing stories and the distortions that sabotage so many of us writers. In this class, you learn the distortions, the truth, and a tried-and-true technique for removing the distortions that anyone can follow. You don’t need to struggle anymore. Banish your writer’s block, fear, imposter’s syndrome, comparisonitis, and more. Come learn how to unleash your awesome creativity and have a blast writing.

    PDF of presentation slides.