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Post by marianne on Jun 2, 2008 21:51:03 GMT
coming in October, 2008
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Post by marianne on Mar 4, 2009 10:17:32 GMT
Kevin has confirmed that he will be here to chat on the 20th, 21st, 22nd of March 2009. Don't miss the opportunity to speak with one of the world's most high profile (and nicest) SF writers. With a bit of luck his lovely author-wife Rebecca might drop in too! Find all about them here: www.wordfire.com |
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Post by marianne on Mar 17, 2009 2:09:55 GMT
Only three days until Kevin gets here! Make sure you are signed up if you want to post.
MDP
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Post by marianne on Mar 19, 2009 23:04:34 GMT
Welcome to Kevin and Rebecca,
thanks for taking the time to visit us here.
I have some questions to kick things off.
Can you tell us a bit about the new series. Is it refreshing/challenging to move away from science fiction?
I'd also like to know your secret to working collaboratively. Do you begin writing projects with well defined roles or do they tend to evolve?
best
MDP
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Post by lynnejamneck on Mar 20, 2009 0:00:24 GMT
Hi Kevin, Thanks for being here, and thanks to Marianne for making it possible  First question: You're a prolific writer, and I was wondering if you have over the years developed an innate sense of 'knowing' where re-writes are concerned. How do you know that your story is (in terms of developement, character, plot etc) where it should be? Do questions of 'can it be better' ever haunt you? Lastly, have you ever seriously considered writing something completely outside of your chosen genre? Cheers for answering! Lynne |
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Post by belinda on Mar 20, 2009 0:28:47 GMT
I am currently trying to get into a more disciplined and structured manner of writing. Basically plotting the skeleton of the story, concentrating on character building exercises and research in preparation for eventually fleshing out the story. *emphasis on eventually*
My questions to both Kevin and Rebecca are....
How do you avoid going overboard with character/world building?
Do you do your research as you go along, or before you begin?
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Post by trentj on Mar 20, 2009 8:49:33 GMT
Hi Kevin,
How long have you been working on the new series? It looks like a lot of fun.
Is there a scene you're particularly proud of, or an element of the world building that you enjoyed more than than others? I suppose it would have been a good excuse to go sailing!
Trent
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kja
Feral
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Post by kja on Mar 20, 2009 17:31:55 GMT
Hi guys -- and thanks Marianne for having me here. Rebecca has just had foot surgery and is laid up with a cast, so I sit here on a portable table in the bedroom with a laptop, trying to keep on top of things. I'll log on off and on and answer questions as I can: from MDP: >>Can you tell us a bit about the new series. Is it refreshing/challenging to move away from science fiction? Well, I work on several projects during the year, so I always have something fresh to turn my mind to. The main original series I have now is "Terra Incognita" -- a fantasy set in a world much like our Age of Discovery Europe and Asia Minor, with sailing ships, sea monsters, and the crusades...only here, sea serpents are real. I did a lot of research for this series while we were in Australia and New Zealand two years ago. I've also done something really unusual here, producing and writing the lyrics for a crossover "supergroup" rock CD -- with performances by some of my favorite musicians, from Dream Theater, Asia, Saga, Kansas, and others. You can see more at www.myspace.com/roswellsix and there's also a very cool widget with sample chapters, sample songs, and an interview on my homepage at wordfire.com. >>I'd also like to know your secret to working collaboratively. Do you begin writing projects with well defined roles or do they tend to evolve? Main point is to leave your ego at the door, the project is the primary thing. My coauthor and I brainstorm the project in great detail, write the outline, split up the chapters and each write our own drafts, then we exchange computer files and revise, then back and forth until we're done. |
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kja
Feral
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Post by kja on Mar 21, 2009 1:37:50 GMT
to Lynne:
>>where re-writes are concerned. How do you know that your story is (in terms of developement, character, plot etc) where it should be? Do questions of 'can it be better' ever haunt you? Lastly, have you ever seriously considered writing something completely outside of your chosen genre?
Last first -- I've written in a lot of genres, mainly SF, but I've done horror, fantasy, mystery, high-tech thrillers. I am fascinated by the STORY not the trappings; my "Terra Incognita" is an epic fantasy, and the publisher is making a big deal, "Kevin J. Anderson is writing fantasy!" I don't really feel any difference; it's a big story with lots of characters and big dramatic events.
I have the whole story/novel in my head before I begin writing; I know exactly the plot, the characters, the dramatic scenes, the feelings I want to evoke. I go through each novel about five times, turn it loose on some tough test readers who spend a lot of time working with me on things they'd like to see improved; then I rewrite a couple more times, send it to the actual editor, get more revisions...by the time the book is actually published, I've gone over a manuscript ten times or so. There's a point of diminishing returns. I suppose it could be a perfect book if I worked five years on it...but then there are five or more other books I'd never write or publish.
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kja
Feral
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Post by kja on Mar 21, 2009 1:49:30 GMT
To Belinda:
>>My questions to both Kevin and Rebecca are....
How do you avoid going overboard with character/world building?
Do you do your research as you go along, or before you begin?
It's too interesting to do the actual writing...why should I spend all the time writing notes and doing background research? I do plenty of reading before, during writing, and during editing. For Terra Incognita I spent quite a while doing research on sailing ships and the Age of Discovery, but I could keep researching that for years. My editors wouldn't be happy with me if I was ten years late on a deadline because I got caught up in too much research. And why put the emphasis on *eventually* for getting your book done, Belinda? Just do it. Start writing. Things will grow and change as you work on the book...but that can't happen unless you get started.
KJA
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kja
Feral
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Post by kja on Mar 21, 2009 1:54:53 GMT
>>How long have you been working on the new series? It looks like a lot of fun. Is there a scene you're particularly proud of, or an element of the world building that you enjoyed more than than others? I suppose it would have been a good excuse to go sailing!
I've been fascinated by the legend of Prester John for more than a decade, and I had hoped to do a straight historical novel about him...but that was just a swamp of contradictions. But if I set the basic story in a fantasy world, then I could draw the parts I wanted and not get caught up in irrelevant details. TERRA INCOGNITA was researched during a month-long trip to New Zealand and Australia...the Shipwreck Coast near Melbourne, the Shipwreck Museum near Perth, a lot of New Zealand mythology...there are some of my best, most powerful scenes in this book (THE EDGE OF THE WORLD). But I can't give them away -- sorry!
Check out the widget and the sample chapters, and you'll get a good feel for the series.
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Post by lynnejamneck on Mar 21, 2009 2:53:05 GMT
Kevin - thanks for answering about rewrites et al. I wish I had plots and characters all worked out beforehand. It never works for me, especially not with the book I'm working on now. and I much prefer rewrites to first drafts ! Thanks for answering |
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Post by JM on Mar 21, 2009 5:58:52 GMT
Hi Kevin and Rebecca. Great to see you on the board.
Here's a question I always love to ask because it isn't the usual sort people ask.
What did the pair of you set out to do when you started writing? Was it for the money, the fame or some other derranged desire?
Also, Did you expect to get as far in the industry as you did when you started writing?
IM
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Post by marianne on Mar 21, 2009 9:40:51 GMT
Kevin, you are one of the most productive writers I know. Would you mind sharing a typical year for you in terms of books published, words written - as a way of showing people what you can achieve when you are self-disciplined.
And for me ... what would you like to do (in the writing sense) that you haven't - yet.
MDP
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Post by Sheyana on Mar 21, 2009 10:44:52 GMT
Hi Kevin and Rebecca! - thanks for coming on the board and I'm sorry to join the discussion so late (RL took over for a while).
I'm not one for very serious questions, so a few from the lighter side =D
Do you have a favourite character/s? Why them in particular?
Is one of your characters 'you', or which one would you like to be if the world they exist in is real?
And the inevitable - which genres/ authors do you read for fun?
-Shey
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