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Monday, January 24, 2022

Celebrating the life and works of David Farland / Dave Wolverton (links to writing advice, reviews, and a tribute)

This video tribute broke me up:

  

* * *

When Dave Wolverton passed away, I read every tribute every writer wrote. So many felt personally touched by this nearly omnipresent mentor. It wasn't just a handful that he befriended to appear magnanimous, but everyone who chose to learn from him.

I must have quoted Dave or directed traffic to his blog at least three dozen times. Most of those links appear to be dead. There are probably two or three books to be made out of the abundant advice he gave writers. Here are a few of my favorite books of his on writing that seem invaluable to me:

Drawing on the Power of Resonance in Writing 

and 

Million Dollar Outlines

When it comes to writing, the man was a mad genius who not only honed his own craft but catapulted others to the bestseller lists.

* * *

Although the main links are gone, you can get the gist to a few of these that I wrestled with (on reviews and blurbs -- I still need to ponder blurbs further. I should be more useful to writers who have done well.)

Here I wrestled with his ideas on editing. I should have included the video back then, so I'll do so here:


* * *

Here's a list of literary works of his I reviewed (I still haven't read Runelords, an error I must correct. I was hoping to interview him here when his last book came out):

MUST READS (works that enchanted me)

"After a Lean Winter" (If you read nothing else by Wolverton, read this--a classic.)

The Golden Queen

GOOD BOOKS (I loved the narrator's voice in Ravenspell):

Ravenspell Book 1: Of Mice and Magic 

Nightingale (Recommended for those who loved Steven Gould's Jumper

22 Tales (an overdue collection of his short work although it disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared)

* * *

We met a few times in person, and I took a few online classes with him. I forget all that he said, but whatever you see in videos, that's what we saw. His kindness seemed not to be a public performance but the real thing.

He came in and sat with John Campbell and I as we ate sloppy, animal-style fries and burgers at In 'N' Out. We were discussing other cultures.

Later, Dave and I talked and walked to another restaurant and we discussed how he wanted to take his time to get his last Runelords novel right. He mentioned Tolkien and the importance of taking your time: Do we want fast books or books that readers will remember us by?

Bon voyage, Mr. Wolverton. May the latest Runelords be your crowning achievements. Whatever happens, you were one of the greats, in so many ways. Thank you for sharing your life and wisdom.

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