RedCircle VERIFY_TOKEN_f16a90cb-9f45-4039-a343-b2d3f81c51d0 -- Rendered At Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:47:40 +0000 Morning Edit https://redcircle.com/shows/morning-edit en-US Copyright 2025 The Arcanist: Fantasy Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Fantasy Indie Publishing with James D. Mills James D. Mills Morning Edit is your weekly peek behind the curtain of independent publishing. Host James D. Mills — editor, writer, and small press founder — shares candid updates from his publishing journey, insights on the writing life, and tips on submitting work, navigating the book business, and living creatively. Along the way, James answers listener questions and talks about the books shaping his thinking. f16a90cb-9f45-4039-a343-b2d3f81c51d0 Morning Edit is your weekly peek behind the curtain of independent publishing. Host James D. Mills — editor, writer, and small press founder — shares candid updates from his publishing journey, insights on the writing life, and tips on submitting work, navigating the book business, and living creatively. Along the way, James answers listener questions and talks about the books shaping his thinking.

]]> episodic no James D. Mills business@thearcanist.net no full How I'm Handling NaNoWriMo How I'm Handling NaNoWriMo 12 1 James D. Mills Check out my kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn It's November, which means that it's time for writers to overwork themselves and insight premature burnout! Yes, its time for NaNoWriMo. Today I'm discussing my earnest effort to achieve 50,000 words in one month. It's November 11th, and I haven't even start yet. Check out my kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn

It's November, which means that it's time for writers to overwork themselves and insight premature burnout! Yes, its time for NaNoWriMo. Today I'm discussing my earnest effort to achieve 50,000 words in one month. It's November 11th, and I haven't even start yet. 

]]> <p><strong>Check out my kickstarter:</strong> https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn</p><p>It&#39;s November, which means that it&#39;s time for writers to overwork themselves and insight premature burnout! Yes, its time for NaNoWriMo. Today I&#39;m discussing my earnest effort to achieve 50,000 words in one month. It&#39;s November 11th, and I haven&#39;t even start yet. </p> 0d14c734-8b83-4b87-9dd1-9e8129f889e6 https://jamesdmills.com Sun, 16 Nov 2025 11:58:28 +0000 1099 no full Short Books are the Future — Featuring Lee Patton Short Books are the Future — Featuring Lee Patton 11 1 James D. Mills Check out A Valley of Shadow: https://thearcanist.net/novels/avos.html Fantasy authors feel obligated to write giant books in never ending series. Trilogies composed of 800-page tomes litter store shelves. In the days of yore, this was a good thing. Now, with attention spans dwindling, authors are failing to meet the needs of their readers. Lee Patton seeks to impact fantasy by returning to the serial and standalone models that drove 20th century pulp fiction. His debut novella, A Valley of Shadow, is a searing introduction into the realm of short books. In this talk, he enlightens us on how he did it. Lee's website: https://deathlessrealms.com Follow my Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn Check out A Valley of Shadow: https://thearcanist.net/novels/avos.html

Fantasy authors feel obligated to write giant books in never ending series. Trilogies composed of 800-page tomes litter store shelves. In the days of yore, this was a good thing. Now, with attention spans dwindling, authors are failing to meet the needs of their readers. Lee Patton seeks to impact fantasy by returning to the serial and standalone models that drove 20th century pulp fiction. His debut novella, A Valley of Shadow, is a searing introduction into the realm of short books. In this talk, he enlightens us on how he did it. 

Lee's website: https://deathlessrealms.com

Follow my Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn

]]> <p><strong>Check out <em>A Valley of Shadow</em>:</strong> https://thearcanist.net/novels/avos.html</p><p>Fantasy authors feel obligated to write giant books in never ending series. Trilogies composed of 800-page tomes litter store shelves. In the days of yore, this was a good thing. Now, with attention spans dwindling, authors are failing to meet the needs of their readers. Lee Patton seeks to impact fantasy by returning to the serial and standalone models that drove 20th century pulp fiction. His debut novella, A Valley of Shadow, is a searing introduction into the realm of short books. In this talk, he enlightens us on how he did it. </p><p><strong>Lee&#39;s website</strong>: https://deathlessrealms.com</p><p><strong>Follow my Kickstarter</strong>: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn</p> 60dfd02e-0aff-4150-b5fe-34170ab77f94 https://thearcanist.net Sat, 08 Nov 2025 13:47:51 +0000 3519 no full Perfection vs. Creativity — When to let go (featuring C.D. Jensen) Perfection vs. Creativity — When to let go (featuring C.D. Jensen) 10 1 James D. Mills https://kingsumo.com/g/1j2v5k3/fantasy-book-giveaway-the-crown-and-the-caged-god-by-cd-jensen Win free copies of Jensen's books: https://kingsumo.com/g/1j2v5k3/fantasy-book-giveaway-the-crown-and-the-caged-god-by-cd-jensen All too often we get caught up in the idea perfection. Oh no! My first draft is riddled with errors, I need to go back and... we've all been there. Sometimes the pursuit of perfection is a worthy goal, other times it stands in the way of finishing your project. In this episode of the Morning Edit, author C.D. Jensen and I discuss the role of perfectionism in our creative lives and how we can use it and when to let it go. Win free copies of Jensen's books: https://kingsumo.com/g/1j2v5k3/fantasy-book-giveaway-the-crown-and-the-caged-god-by-cd-jensen


All too often we get caught up in the idea perfection. Oh no! My first draft is riddled with errors, I need to go back and... we've all been there. Sometimes the pursuit of perfection is a worthy goal, other times it stands in the way of finishing your project. In this episode of the Morning Edit, author C.D. Jensen and I discuss the role of perfectionism in our creative lives and how we can use it and when to let it go. 


]]> <p><strong>Win free copies of Jensen&#39;s books:</strong> https://kingsumo.com/g/1j2v5k3/fantasy-book-giveaway-the-crown-and-the-caged-god-by-cd-jensen</p><p><br></p><p>All too often we get caught up in the idea perfection. Oh no! My first draft is riddled with errors, I need to go back and... we&#39;ve all been there. Sometimes the pursuit of perfection is a worthy goal, other times it stands in the way of finishing your project. In this episode of the Morning Edit, author C.D. Jensen and I discuss the role of perfectionism in our creative lives and how we can use it and when to let it go. </p><p><br></p> 0db0fad7-917b-4b4a-9085-3225e86c5c20 https://thearcanist.net Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:57:08 +0000 1265 no full Crop Rotation — Write More and Stay Motivated Crop Rotation — Write More and Stay Motivated 7 1 James D. Mills Good morning fellow writers and welcome to the Morning Edit. Today we discuss my version of the Crop Rotation method of writing project management. If you are overwhelmed by myriad ideas, have a hard time staying motivated, and want to make progress on multiple projects—this is the method for you. Follow my kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn Good morning fellow writers and welcome to the Morning Edit. Today we discuss my version of the Crop Rotation method of writing project management. If you are overwhelmed by myriad ideas, have a hard time staying motivated, and want to make progress on multiple projects—this is the method for you.

Follow my kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn

]]> <p><span>Good morning fellow writers and welcome to the Morning Edit. Today we discuss my version of the Crop Rotation method of writing project management. If you are overwhelmed by myriad ideas, have a hard time staying motivated, and want to make progress on multiple projects—this is the method for you. </span></p><p>Follow my kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn</p> d509ca4e-3aa6-4b37-a18c-13d722f2c1e0 https://jamesdmills.com Fri, 17 Oct 2025 19:04:22 +0000 1681 no full Journaling the Production of Your Novel Journaling the Production of Your Novel James D. Mills Good morning fellow writers and welcome to the Morning Edit. Today we are discussing the merits of journaling your novel project and how doing so can help keep you motivated while you write, and allows you to solve major narrative issues as your write the first draft.

To read my own production journal, visit my portfolio: https://portfolio.jamesdmills.com/posts/pr/

]]> <p>Good morning fellow writers and welcome to the Morning Edit. Today we are discussing the merits of journaling your novel project and how doing so can help keep you motivated while you write, and allows you to solve major narrative issues as your write the first draft. </p><p>To read my own production journal, visit my portfolio: https://portfolio.jamesdmills.com/posts/pr/</p> 811cb533-5734-42ac-996c-105523c7c5f1 https://thearcanist.net Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:41:51 +0000 882 no full Sword & Sorcery in the 21st Century — Featuring Lee Patton Sword & Sorcery in the 21st Century — Featuring Lee Patton 7 1 James D. Mills Good morning and welcome to The Morning Edit. Today I’m joined by Lee Patton, fiction editor at The Arcanist and author of A Valley of Shadow, a modern reimagining of classic sword and sorcery. We dive into the heart of the sword and sorcery genre and ask: does it have literary value beyond swords, violence, and adventure? How can internal struggle enhance the external narrative often found in these stories? And how can the genre be modernized for today’s readers? As an avid student of sword and sorcery, Lee Patton shares why this genre still matters in 2025 and how authors can revive it for a new generation. If you’re a fan of Robert E. Howard, Conan the Barbarian, Fritz Leiber, or Michael Moorcock, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Pre-Order "A Valley of Shadow" by Lee Patton: https://thearcanist.net/novels/avos.html Follow my Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn Good morning and welcome to The Morning Edit. Today I’m joined by Lee Patton, fiction editor at The Arcanist and author of A Valley of Shadow, a modern reimagining of classic sword and sorcery.

We dive into the heart of the sword and sorcery genre and ask: does it have literary value beyond swords, violence, and adventure? How can internal struggle enhance the external narrative often found in these stories? And how can the genre be modernized for today’s readers?

As an avid student of sword and sorcery, Lee Patton shares why this genre still matters in 2025 and how authors can revive it for a new generation.

If you’re a fan of Robert E. Howard, Conan the Barbarian, Fritz Leiber, or Michael Moorcock, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Pre-Order "A Valley of Shadow" by Lee Patton: https://thearcanist.net/novels/avos.html

Follow my Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn

]]> <p><strong>Good morning and welcome to The Morning Edit. </strong>Today I’m joined by Lee Patton, fiction editor at The Arcanist and author of A Valley of Shadow, a modern reimagining of classic sword and sorcery.</p><p>We dive into the heart of the sword and sorcery genre and ask: does it have literary value beyond swords, violence, and adventure? How can internal struggle enhance the external narrative often found in these stories? And how can the genre be modernized for today’s readers?</p><p>As an avid student of sword and sorcery, Lee Patton shares why this genre still matters in 2025 and how authors can revive it for a new generation.</p><p>If you’re a fan of Robert E. Howard, Conan the Barbarian, Fritz Leiber, or Michael Moorcock, you won’t want to miss this conversation.</p><p><strong>Pre-Order &#34;A Valley of Shadow&#34; by Lee Patton:</strong> https://thearcanist.net/novels/avos.html</p><p><strong>Follow my Kickstarter:</strong> https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn</p> 5b96ab83-18d3-4de9-b7b4-1c30f068ef43 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn Mon, 08 Sep 2025 10:14:46 +0000 1845 no full Using Literary Theory to Improve Editorial Skills — Featuring Lee Patton Using Literary Theory to Improve Editorial Skills — Featuring Lee Patton 6 1 James D. Mills Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. This week I'm joined by fantasy author, Lee Patton (A Valley of Shadow). Today we're talking about of our shared experiences studying Literary Theories, such as Formalism, New Historicism, Psychoanalysis, and Post-Modernism and how these things inform our understanding of story as writers. Pre-Order A Valley of Shadow: https://store.thearcanist.net

Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. This week I'm joined by fantasy author, Lee Patton (A Valley of Shadow). Today we're talking about of our shared experiences studying Literary Theories, such as Formalism, New Historicism, Psychoanalysis, and Post-Modernism and how these things inform our understanding of story as writers. 

]]> <p>Pre-Order <em>A Valley of Shadow: </em>https://store.thearcanist.net</p><p>Good morning, and welcome to the <strong>Morning Edit.</strong> This week I&#39;m joined by fantasy author, Lee Patton (A Valley of Shadow). Today we&#39;re talking about of our shared experiences studying Literary Theories, such as Formalism, New Historicism, Psychoanalysis, and Post-Modernism and how these things inform our understanding of story as writers. </p> ae9ad71d-c640-4d74-9b9b-b886e2a0c7f5 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:51:36 +0000 757 no full I Finished My Third Book — Novel Production Post Mortem I Finished My Third Book — Novel Production Post Mortem 5 1 James D. Mills Follow Novels of Dusk and Dawn on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. Today, I'm discussing my thoughts about finishing Ashen Rider, the third novel I've written and the first I'll be publishing. I discuss the novel's themes and their relation to my life as well as the state of the publishing industry, and why indie was the clear path for a book like this. Follow Novels of Dusk and Dawn on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn

Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. Today, I'm discussing my thoughts about finishing Ashen Rider, the third novel I've written and the first I'll be publishing. I discuss the novel's themes and their relation to my life as well as the state of the publishing industry, and why indie was the clear path for a book like this.

]]> <p><strong>Follow Novels of Dusk and Dawn on Kickstarter: </strong>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn</p><p>Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. Today, I&#39;m discussing my thoughts about finishing Ashen Rider, the third novel I&#39;ve written and the first I&#39;ll be publishing. I discuss the novel&#39;s themes and their relation to my life as well as the state of the publishing industry, and why indie was the clear path for a book like this. </p> 4d107508-f078-4c57-98ac-b3b60a842690 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thearcanistsrefuge/novels-of-dusk-and-dawn Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:39:15 +0000 1620 yes full Writing SHOULD NOT Pay the Bills — Featuring C.D. Jensen Writing SHOULD NOT Pay the Bills — Featuring C.D. Jensen 4 1 James D. Mills Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. This week I'm joined by professor and author, C.D. Jensen (The Crown and the Caged God) talking about why he isn't interested in writing for a living. Passion cannot bear the weight of our finances. Read The Crown and the Caged God: https://amzn.to/45KRgVd

]]> <p>Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. This week I&#39;m joined by professor and author, C.D. Jensen (The Crown and the Caged God) talking about why he isn&#39;t interested in writing for a living. Passion cannot bear the weight of our finances. Read The Crown and the Caged God: https://amzn.to/45KRgVd</p> 85381772-9ef0-42a6-b7e5-694ab467a63b https://thearcanist.net Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:07:33 +0000 686 no full Why Fantasy Writers NEED a Community — Featuring C.D. Jensen Why Fantasy Writers NEED a Community — Featuring C.D. Jensen 3 1 James D. Mills Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. This week I'm joined by professor and author, C.D. Jensen (The Crown and the Caged God) talking about our need for artistic communities and why they're so integral to the craft of fantasy writing. Thumbnail art by Joyce Maureira, used with permission. Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. This week I'm joined by professor and author, C.D. Jensen (The Crown and the Caged God) talking about our need for artistic communities and why they're so integral to the craft of fantasy writing.

Thumbnail art by Joyce Maureira, used with permission.

]]> <p>Good morning, and welcome to the <strong>Morning Edit</strong>. This week I&#39;m joined by professor and author, C.D. Jensen (The Crown and the Caged God) talking about our need for artistic communities and why they&#39;re so integral to the craft of fantasy writing. </p><p>Thumbnail art by Joyce Maureira, used with permission. </p> 5d46c735-804f-4e37-9033-9fc5ce849474 https://thearcanist.net Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:29:32 +0000 947 no full You Need to Network With Other Authors You Need to Network With Other Authors 2 1 James D. Mills Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. The show where we can have a casual chat about writing and some coffee. This week I dive into my recent experiences networking and the frustrations I've experienced by depending on Amazon for book fulfillment. Subscribe to my Substack: https://jdmauthor.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Check out the Arcanist: https://magazine.thearcanist.net Purchase The Literary Fantasy Magazine: https://store.thearcanist.net/subscribe Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. The show where we can have a casual chat about writing and some coffee. This week I dive into my recent experiences networking and the frustrations I've experienced by depending on Amazon for book fulfillment.

Subscribe to my Substack: https://jdmauthor.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

Check out the Arcanist: https://magazine.thearcanist.net

Purchase The Literary Fantasy Magazine: https://store.thearcanist.net/subscribe 

]]> <p><strong>Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit.</strong> The show where we can have a casual chat about writing and some coffee. This week I dive into my recent experiences networking and the frustrations I&#39;ve experienced by depending on Amazon for book fulfillment.</p><p>Subscribe to my Substack: https://jdmauthor.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile&amp;utm_medium=profile-page</p><p>Check out the Arcanist: https://magazine.thearcanist.net</p><p>Purchase The Literary Fantasy Magazine: https://store.thearcanist.net/subscribe </p> 471c2631-49ea-47ae-afb4-19e0f6e56e3f https://thearcanist.net Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:03:28 +0000 1092 yes full Small Books are the Future Small Books are the Future 1 1 James D. Mills Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. The show where we can have a casual chat about writing and some coffee. This week, I introduce the show, review my submission grind and some recent successes. I also discuss why splitting my massive Fantasy book is beneficial for the current indie market. Matias Trevieso-Diaz Interview: https://magazine.thearcanist.net/the-writing-life-an-interview-with-matias-travieso-diaz Subscribe to my Substack: https://jdmauthor.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Check out the Arcanist: https://magazine.thearcanist.net Purchase The Literary Fantasy Magazine: https://store.thearcanist.net/subscribe Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit. The show where we can have a casual chat about writing and some coffee. This week, I introduce the show, review my submission grind and some recent successes. I also discuss why splitting my massive Fantasy book is beneficial for the current indie market.


Matias Trevieso-Diaz Interview: https://magazine.thearcanist.net/the-writing-life-an-interview-with-matias-travieso-diaz

Subscribe to my Substack: https://jdmauthor.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

Check out the Arcanist: https://magazine.thearcanist.net

Purchase The Literary Fantasy Magazine: https://store.thearcanist.net/subscribe 




]]> <p><strong>Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Edit.</strong> The show where we can have a casual chat about writing and some coffee. This week, I introduce the show, review my submission grind and some recent successes. I also discuss why splitting my massive Fantasy book is beneficial for the current indie market.</p><p><br></p><p>Matias Trevieso-Diaz Interview: https://magazine.thearcanist.net/the-writing-life-an-interview-with-matias-travieso-diaz</p><p>Subscribe to my Substack: https://jdmauthor.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile&amp;utm_medium=profile-page</p><p>Check out the Arcanist: https://magazine.thearcanist.net</p><p>Purchase The Literary Fantasy Magazine: https://store.thearcanist.net/subscribe </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p> 90ef7d87-8e2d-47b4-9047-6e227295fc3d https://thearcanist.net Mon, 28 Jul 2025 12:59:23 +0000 783 no