John Murzycki, Author

October 15, 2019

My Inspiration for The Story of Elthea’s Realm

Good writing is unbelievably complicated. I feel that’s especially true for novels. Fiction authors have many decisions to consider when crafting stories that are enjoyable and easy to read.

But it all starts with the seed of an idea that can be developed into a plot.

I used a college course called The Utopia Project to help me write a story that became the science fantasy series The Story of Elthea’s Realm. The course was the springboard for everything that followed in my books.

September 5, 2019

Great Books by Super Authors

I will often decide to read a new book based on someone’s recommendation. If you’re the same, read this post.

Because of my writing experience, I’ve become friends with a group of remarkable authors. You might not be familiar with their books, but be prepared for great reading in a variety of genres, both in fiction and non-fiction.

I highly recommend these authors and their books because of the flair they have for telling a story, or in the case of non-fiction, explaining a place and activity.

August 8, 2019August 8, 2019

The Ups and Downs of Writing

I always appreciate you taking the time to read my Journal posts. I try not to post too often, only when I feel I have something meaningful to discuss. Plus, as I’ve often said, I would rather be writing my next book than talking about it.

But the fantastic thing about this Journal is that the more you know about the person writing the book, the better your experience as a reader. You’re able to learn something about me and the reasons why I want to share my stories with you.

In this post, I’ll discuss a few of my thoughts about how I write and the motivation I use to keep writing.

July 1, 2019October 14, 2019

Great Information About My Upcoming Novel

Here are nine facts about the latest novel I’m currently writing.

1.) I expect to publish the book later this year, hopefully by this fall.

I wish it could be sooner. I’m thrilled to share the story with you because I believe it’s really, really good. But it takes time for me to craft a tale, especially a good one. I had decided long ago that the books I produce will be the best I can make them.

2.) The title of the next book will be Elthea’s Paradox.

At least that’s the title I’m working with now. Without revealing too much, the book contains a dilemma about how to use the powers of Elthea. The main character, Philip Matherson, must overcome this paradox to survive.

May 20, 2019

How to Write a Novel

During my life, I’ve read a ton of books about writing a novel. From books about character development, world building, dialog, plot development… you name it, I’ve read about it. I have an entire bookcase full of books about how to write.

Many of those books did help me understand the essential techniques needed to develop a well-written story. But for me, the most crucial part of my road to becoming a published author was to sit down and do it.

Of course, my first attempts were horrible. But I kept trying. I put those early manuscripts in the bottom drawer of a file cabinet and began again. And when those results weren’t good enough, I started the process over from the beginning.

April 17, 2019

My Next Book

I hope you enjoyed reading my first two books, Elthea’s Realm and Elthea’s Gambit. Here’s an update on my third book in the series. Spoiler alert: I still have a lot of writing and editing to complete before it’s released.

That doesn’t mean I can’t begin talking about my next novel. After all, the publishing cycle is so much more than when the book is released. Right now, I’m doing the hard work of writing and editing the first draft of the next story, making sure it’s as exciting and captivating as I can make it.

March 8, 2019

My Twenty Best Inspirational Quotations on Reading and Writing

I love finding inspirational quotations. That’s especially true when I read a quote regarding the love of reading books, or about writing them.

I always enjoy the pleasure others take in reading and writing. Even quotes about the challenges and pitfalls of writing interest me. They help me understand I’m not alone when I hit rough patches as I craft my next novel.

January 29, 2019October 14, 2019

The Joy of Writing

Next month will be two years since I released my first book, Elthea’s Realm. Since then, I’ve also published Elthea’s Gambit, the second book in the series. It doesn’t seem possible that I’m living a life I had wished for so many years ago.

But as the saying goes, careful what you wish for.

Before you jump to conclusions, let me say I love writing. Almost as much as that, I love working for myself. After spending most of my career as a marketing and communications manager at both global corporations and small tech start-ups, it’s nice to be my own boss.

December 29, 2018January 5, 2019

Wishing you the Very Best for 2019

Happy New Year!

This is the time of year that marks a transition in our lives from what has happened to what will be. We face a blank page where everything is possible for the good things we have yet to accomplish.

For myself as a writer, it’s an occasion to reflect on how I’ve evolved in this craft. I believe I’ve come a long way, but I’m always trying to improve my skills before I’m satisfied. The feeling is simultaneously one of the banes and one of the joys of being an author.

October 27, 2018October 14, 2019

My First Three Years

Well, somehow it’s been three years now since I began writing fiction full-time. I’ve learned much during this time, like how to piece together a bunch of disparate ideas into a seamless plot.

But mostly, I’ve learned that a good novel is actually a conversation between two people — the writer and the reader. To me, that’s the magic of fiction, and of storytelling. And it’s what I try to achieve in my books.

Continue reading “My First Three Years”