Intel

Intel

Q&A: How Do I Start Writing Fiction If I’m Not “A Fiction Writer”?

on Feb 07 2024
Question: What advice do you have for someone who can write but doesn’t feel he’s a fiction writer and yet has an idea and a working premise for a story he’s been mulling over for years? Answer: No one can tell you how TO write, they can only tell you how THEY write. So I can't tell you what will work for you. But here's something I CAN tell you, a piece of "meta-advice", if you will. "I write good scenes, but I can't seem to finish a story" is the symptom of an author who hasn't found his writing process yet. The reason Theft of Fire is dedicated to Brandon Sanderson is that this is the precise state I was in until I watched a series of his lectures recorded at BYU, on writing fantasy. His process and mine are not the same, but they are similar enough that seeing his allowed me to invent mine. You need to figure out yours.Original Post

Why Culture is Upstream of Law, Property Rights, Rent Seekers, AI & Communism

on Jan 30 2024
Devon talks about why culture is upstream of law, property rights, why we need to push back on bad ideas, AI, and more on The Fort Podcast with Chris Powers.

The Danger of Being Right Too Early

on Jan 25 2024
Guy Swann and Devon discuss the nature of story, the importance of culture, the power of stating the simple truth, the dangers of being right too early, and what we need to do to turn the tide of a dying moral code and protect our values for future generations.

A Tragedy of Writing

on Jan 24 2024
A conversation with Hump Day Calls about Conventions, Websites, Writing, Engineering, AI / General Intelligence, Imagination, and Sumo Robots.

How to Handle Exposition in Epic Fantasy

on Jan 19 2024
Epic fantasy demands heavy exposition, but good pacing hides it. Reveal only enough to avoid confusion, spark curiosity, and maintain momentum—worldbuilding should unfold gradually, not overwhelm the reader upfront.

Eating the Box of Trouble Elephant

on Jan 18 2024
1200 words last night. Mostly dialogue. Will need to go back and insert some description beats. Original Post

Q&A: What If My Scene Falls Apart While Writing It?

on Jan 15 2024
Plans fail all the time—usually for good reasons. I welcome midstream changes because they sharpen the story. Don’t fight it. That’s your brain leveling up your work. Let it.

Behind the Curtain: My Writing Process, Step by Step

on Jan 15 2024
I write like an engineer: outlines, test readers, ruthless edits, zero chill. From planning to post-production, every detail is deliberate. Not muses—just process, discipline, and total creative control.

Still Fighting My Tools

on Jan 15 2024
1,000 words down and writing momentum returning post-chaos. I need better tools for travel—current novel software hates non-spyware OSes. I could fix it… but I’d rather be writing than debugging.

The State of the Audiobook: What’s Taking So Long?

on Dec 30 2023
We’re committed to making a high-quality Theft of Fire audiobook—without bowing to Audible’s exploitative terms. Distribution, casting, and funding are underway. It’s slow, but it’s happening. Thanks for your patience and support.

Top 5 Best Sci-Fi Novel of 2023

on Dec 28 2023
Theft of Fire voted #5 in Discover Sci-Fi's best of 2023 list

The Alchemy Lab

on Dec 26 2023
Devon joins Matt Waterhouse to discuss his thoughts on writing.

Orbital Space Expands: Now a Four-Book Series

on Dec 19 2023
Orbital Space is now a four-book series. Splitting book two means reworking arcs, outlines, and pacing. It’ll take time, but it will be worth the wait.

Theft of Fire review by John Walker, Autodesk Founder

on Dec 02 2023
"This is a glorious adventure and a delight to read"

WP: A lighthouse makes light; so just for a lark, I built me a darkhouse. A darkhouse makes dark.

on Nov 17 2023
Since before man had memory, the Obelisks of Light have stood upon the shores of the Sunset Ocean, jutting from clifftops, from rocky promontories, from the coastal swamps and the pristine white sands of far west Nymeria.