E.H. Drake's Blog
January 17, 2025
Is Subtext Important?
How important is subtext to you while reading? What do you consider subtext, typically?
Context for those who care, I was interviewing another author recently and we were talking about a scene from Kill Bill and how the villain just lays out the stakes plainly. The author said that a lot of folks might want that scene to be more subtle but I argued that the subtext of the conversation wasn't the stakes but the conflict and relationship between the characters. Now I'm reading a book my one of my favorite authors and there is definitely a lot of "spelling it out" yet I'm still intrigued and loving the ride. At the same time, there are some books that insist on telling me how they made toast (I'm looking at you Time Traveler's Wife) and I am just soooooo bored.
I'd love to get some thoughts on this
Context for those who care, I was interviewing another author recently and we were talking about a scene from Kill Bill and how the villain just lays out the stakes plainly. The author said that a lot of folks might want that scene to be more subtle but I argued that the subtext of the conversation wasn't the stakes but the conflict and relationship between the characters. Now I'm reading a book my one of my favorite authors and there is definitely a lot of "spelling it out" yet I'm still intrigued and loving the ride. At the same time, there are some books that insist on telling me how they made toast (I'm looking at you Time Traveler's Wife) and I am just soooooo bored.
I'd love to get some thoughts on this
December 26, 2024
What if you couldn't recognize the murderer?
Okay so I jut heard about this fascinating condition referred to as FaceBlindness and immediately I'm in a story about a woman who saw a murder but cannot recognize the killer.
And now, she's being stalked.... insert dramatic hamster here
Would you guys read this?
And now, she's being stalked.... insert dramatic hamster here
Would you guys read this?
November 16, 2024
Does fiction need a trigger warning?
I recently read a book with a trigger warning at the start, and I'm left with mixed emotions. The author accidentally told me how to feel while reading this book, which incidentally tainted the experience. It left me feeling meh.
Meanwhile, I read Alice Feeney's His & Hers, His & Hers which handled abuse, sexual assault, bullying, child death, & murder with no such warning and left a lasting impact. The author let me make up my own mind before putting some additional information at the back.
So I ask, what do you think of trigger warnings and art?
Meanwhile, I read Alice Feeney's His & Hers, His & Hers which handled abuse, sexual assault, bullying, child death, & murder with no such warning and left a lasting impact. The author let me make up my own mind before putting some additional information at the back.
So I ask, what do you think of trigger warnings and art?
May 1, 2024
Here's is my one tip for effortless writing
There is no such thing as effortless writing. There is no such thing as effortless marketing.
Feel like you just got click baited? I don't blame you one bit, but them's the breaks ponyboy.
I'm posting this because I keep seeing a trend on social media and authortube. If writing and marketing were easy, a lot more people would do it. Writing is grind, it's work.
Marketing is a skill and you will have to hone it and make mistakes along the way.
The good news? That means you CAN get better. You can learn how to advertise. You can build good writing habits to get you through even in those darker times.
If this isn't enough of silver lining and you'd rather be reading than writing, that's perfectly fine. Frankly, in the time you'll write one book, you can probably read twenty or more.
But I love writing. I love editing and revising. I love crafting challenges for my characters and learning new things so I can give them the tools to escape. And to have someone pretend there is an effortless method is rather irritating and insulting. Especially when those tips are vague and used to then advertise an upcoming course of some sort.
I've had people ask for writing advice, feeling lost and helpless, not sure what they are doing wrong. Usually the answer is "You're not writing, you're thinking about writing."
But when new writers are inundated with videos and essays saying it should be effortless, how else are they supposed to feel? It must feel like there is something wrong with them.
There is not. Writing is work. Marketing is effort. The question is, do you love it enough for that effort or would you rather put your time elsewhere? If the second, that's okay, I'm certainly not going to learn how to fix my own car or fly a rocket anytime soon. Everyone had different skills and areas that appeal to them and that's what give us writers stories to tell in the first place.
Feel like you just got click baited? I don't blame you one bit, but them's the breaks ponyboy.
I'm posting this because I keep seeing a trend on social media and authortube. If writing and marketing were easy, a lot more people would do it. Writing is grind, it's work.
Marketing is a skill and you will have to hone it and make mistakes along the way.
The good news? That means you CAN get better. You can learn how to advertise. You can build good writing habits to get you through even in those darker times.
If this isn't enough of silver lining and you'd rather be reading than writing, that's perfectly fine. Frankly, in the time you'll write one book, you can probably read twenty or more.
But I love writing. I love editing and revising. I love crafting challenges for my characters and learning new things so I can give them the tools to escape. And to have someone pretend there is an effortless method is rather irritating and insulting. Especially when those tips are vague and used to then advertise an upcoming course of some sort.
I've had people ask for writing advice, feeling lost and helpless, not sure what they are doing wrong. Usually the answer is "You're not writing, you're thinking about writing."
But when new writers are inundated with videos and essays saying it should be effortless, how else are they supposed to feel? It must feel like there is something wrong with them.
There is not. Writing is work. Marketing is effort. The question is, do you love it enough for that effort or would you rather put your time elsewhere? If the second, that's okay, I'm certainly not going to learn how to fix my own car or fly a rocket anytime soon. Everyone had different skills and areas that appeal to them and that's what give us writers stories to tell in the first place.
April 12, 2024
January 16, 2024
ACCEPTED
Sorry just extremely excited to just now get the news the 'The Vampire's Cold Case' has been accepted into an anthology coming out (fingers crossed) late March.
So excited and not bothering to hide it!
So excited and not bothering to hide it!
December 9, 2023
Two Books, One Year
Crazy freaking year. Last year, I was terrified & nervous to release #BloodHerring. Now I have two books out and we're getting ready to release #BloodRenegade while writing three other books.
Thank you to everyone that read and gave their honest feedback. I can't wait to see what you think of #VampiresColdCase!
Free sample chapters & signed copies www.EHDrake.com
Blood Herring: Keep Your Enemies Closer
The Vampire's Cold Case
Thank you to everyone that read and gave their honest feedback. I can't wait to see what you think of #VampiresColdCase!
Free sample chapters & signed copies www.EHDrake.com
Blood Herring: Keep Your Enemies Closer
The Vampire's Cold Case
December 5, 2023
To Oblivion & Beyond
Thanks so much to #SipIntoOblivion for inviting me into their lovely shop!
For anyone who missed us, Oblivion Coffee has become the first in-person store to carry #BloodHerring!
Grab a copy and you'll already have a fantastic place to get cozy for the first chapter.
https://sipintooblivion.com/
For anyone who missed us, Oblivion Coffee has become the first in-person store to carry #BloodHerring!
Grab a copy and you'll already have a fantastic place to get cozy for the first chapter.
https://sipintooblivion.com/
January 20, 2023
Thank you to Bookworm Café
Bookworm Café was kind enough to host our very first signing and early release of Blood Herring!
Please check out their sire and support the local business if you can. Their take-a-book-leave-a-book library is wonderful and a welcome addition to the world.
We all know the last few years were HARD on local businesses and these owners are so genuine and enthusiastic, I really want to give them a spot light!
~Drake
https://bookwormcafe.org/
Please check out their sire and support the local business if you can. Their take-a-book-leave-a-book library is wonderful and a welcome addition to the world.
We all know the last few years were HARD on local businesses and these owners are so genuine and enthusiastic, I really want to give them a spot light!
~Drake
https://bookwormcafe.org/
