Writing

So basically an 18th century vibe in terms of the culture and most forms of technology, but still using swords and the like for weapons?

Yes exactly that! Though again loosely, I admit. I am doubtful my setting is more historically accurate for the real-world period than the Kevin Costner Robin Hood is for its period, but I'm telling myself that's OK since it's really secondary world. That secondary world excuse is a double edged blade though because in the beginning I really had to work to pack away the part of my brain trying to convince me that I needed to invent new words for units of time, common foods, animals, etc. 😀

Very interesting idea.

Thanks! The use of swords, bows, staffs (staves?) etc is really the main impact of this that I've shown so far. More may creep in during revision. I have done a bit of research into likely impacts in other areas, but there seem to be surprisingly few for that point in history that have been significant enough to make it into the book.

I'm a huge fan of the Powdermage series by Brian McClellan, but I didn't want to incorporate gunpowder into my magic system as he did, and I also didn't want it to be a negating factor for my magic system. I'm sure I could have worked around those concerns, but ultimately it just seemed more likely to complicate things than add much to the story. Most fantasy I've read hasn't included gunpowder/guns, and I've not generally found that I missed it. Anyhow is there really room for another page-turner flintlock-fantasy??!! ;-)

on one occasion I removed an entire 40k word section (I kept a backup in case I changed my mind.)

I'm almost pathologically incapable of deleting things. Both in my writing and otherwise. There's always a backup of anything I could ever ever see needing again. That's a huge chunk. I don't think you could pay me to delete that much without a backup.

Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty and Jack London’s White Fang are good examples here

Read both of those decades ago, I didn't even think of them - good examples, I loved them both. Now I understand better.

Richard Adams’ Watership Down

I have heard of but not read this, I will add it to my someday list.

So I think I want to write something focused on non-humans, but for an adult audience and not middle grade. Probably a limited market for it, but it’s what I want to read, which always seems like a good place to start when writing something!

I agree there, that's part of why I described my book the way I did. I want to write about people mostly trying to be good to each other. That's the sort of fantasy I always enjoyed reading the most, and although I hope it's the kind of fantasy others want to read, it's definitely he sort I want to write.

I read Tad Williams The Dragonbone Chair when it was new, so I admit I don't remember too much about it. But what has stuck with me after all these years is feeling like it's a book about true friendship, of a sort not everyone finds. I want to write books that folks remember that way years later. Bad things happen, villains exist, but the people you are going to spend the most time with are going to be the sort you would feel lucky to know IRL.

Couple of edits...