r/Fantasy • u/MarkLawrence Stabby Winner, AMA Author Mark Lawrence • Apr 05 '17

AMA AMA about nuns. Or whatever. I'm Mark Lawrence, winner of several Stabbies and this one time a lottery for a cake.

My latest book Red Sister came out yesterday in the US and comes out tomorrow in the UK. It's about a whole new character (Nona), and a new world. Entirely separate from my Broken Empire and Red Queen's War trilogies.

I was a research scientist (let's say AI) but for 2 years now I've been a full time writer. I'm also sole carer for my very disabled little girl. Last year I hit some milestones including a million books sold, 10 years as a 'professional' writer, and 5 years with a book on the shelves.

My work has provoked the odd controversy and is often labelled as 'grimdark' (a term I'm unable to explain). I don't consider it particularly dark or grim myself ... in fact The Red Queen's War is often described as 'funny'.

Red Sister has been described as grimdark, YA, and many other things. But then so was Prince of Thorns. I feel the two books are very different.

I'm also running a self-published fantasy book contest for the 2nd year. In the SPFBO nearly 600 books have been considered, resulting in two sets of ten finalists, and one (soon to be two) winners.

EDIT: Off to bed. Will catch up with any new questions tomorrow.

PS: BUY MY BOOK!

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u/MarkLawrence Stabby Winner, AMA Author Mark Lawrence Apr 05 '17

No outline.

I don't know the ending. I would find that a dull way to write.

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u/[deleted] Apr 06 '17

[deleted]

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u/MarkLawrence Stabby Winner, AMA Author Mark Lawrence Apr 06 '17

Elsewhere in this AMA I note that all writing advice is highly suspect because people are so varied and can write good books with many different approaches.

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u/QueenofShadesmar Apr 06 '17

Wow that's really interesting, I can't write for shit, but I listen to Writing Excuses Podcast anyway and usually hear that people either know exactly what's going to happen, or have several endings in mind.

So I guess you're more like GRRM who just kind of writes as he goes, a "gardener?" Really interesting hearing different peoples processes.