Gifford MacShane, Author

Historical Fiction with Romance & a Dash of Celtic Mysticism

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3 Easy Ways to Write a Book Review

January 5, 2022January 20, 2023 / Gifford MacShane / 1 Comment

So you’ve accepted a free copy of a book in return for a review. Or maybe you've finished a book you want to tell everyone about. But now that you’ve read it, that next step seems daunting. So here are some tips to help you decide how to write your review. Though I’ll concentrate on … Continue reading 3 Easy Ways to Write a Book Review

At the Intersection of Music and Writing

March 4, 2016March 18, 2020 / Gifford MacShane / 7 Comments

It occurred to me the other day that the people who propound THE RULES OF WRITING are much more vocal than those of us who do not. Since I was listening to a John McCormack CD at the time (it's almost Paddy's Day, you know, and I'm learning two new songs), I wondered how those … Continue reading At the Intersection of Music and Writing

And more Rules Of Writing

November 16, 2015March 14, 2020 / Gifford MacShane / 3 Comments

If you've been following me for any length of time, you'll know that I believe most “rules of writing” need a good hard reality check. Many times, when asked for rules, a writer will recommend their writing practices, and that's not at all the same thing as universal rules. I recently read an article by … Continue reading And more Rules Of Writing

Anachronism in Historical Fiction

May 13, 2015March 19, 2020 / Gifford MacShane / 4 Comments

No matter how careful a writer is, or how much research s/he does, there’s always the possibility of anachronism showing up in historical fiction. What’s an anachronism? It something that doesn’t fit into the time period you’re writing about. King Tut would not have worn a Stetson, nor could Marie Antoinette have worn nylon stockings. … Continue reading Anachronism in Historical Fiction

Query Letter Reaction #2

March 2, 2015March 12, 2020 / Gifford MacShane / 2 Comments

I got another personalized rejection in response to a query letter recently. If you remember, the first agent liked the characters and plot of WHISPERS IN THE CANYON, but she felt my writing was too brusque. I've taken steps to correct that. The new agent likes my writing and the plot, but rejected it because … Continue reading Query Letter Reaction #2

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Gifford MacShane

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