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Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: Tage on May 08, 2009, 06:53:49 PM

Title: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Tage on May 08, 2009, 06:53:49 PM
I just wanted to congratulate Peter on getting officially hired on by Brandon. (Which reminds me, does that make you an employee of Dragonsteel Entertainment, or is it being done another way?) I've known Peter for years and know he'll do a great job.

As everyone on the forums has probably noticed, Peter's very helpful about communicating and keeping facts straight. He's got the detail-oriented nature of an obsessive fan, and the professionalism of an industry editor. So congratulations and keep up the hard work!
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 08, 2009, 07:34:31 PM
Thanks! You're so nice, Tage.

Yep, I'm an employee of Dragonsteel Entertainment.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Vatdoro on May 08, 2009, 11:01:27 PM
oops! I just congratulated Ookla in the The Way of Kings : pre-release (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=6682.msg148466#msg148466) thread before seeing this thread.

Congrats! I'm sure Brandon is plenty busy enough to use a full-time assistant. The amount of quality writing he is able to crank out is remarkable. I'm glad his new assistant is a regular here on the forums. Maybe regular is too light of a term. Ookla is more like a knowledgeable Elder willing to share his great troves of knowledge.

I don't know you personally Ookla/Peter, but maybe we'll meet some day at a signing or event in Utah.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: ErikHolmes on May 08, 2009, 11:11:41 PM
Hey Ookla, since you are his assistant do you know if he is still reviewing the submissions from his class or did mine get lost? (I'm thinking that now that he's decided to write a third book that he's too busy to finish them).  :(
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 08, 2009, 11:21:36 PM
He was working on them right before his Nebraska trip but I thought he had finished them. Are you waiting for a grade or something?
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: ErikHolmes on May 08, 2009, 11:29:56 PM
I was auditing the class, but he told me he'd look at my submission and tell me what he thought of it.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 09, 2009, 12:47:55 AM
OK, I'll ask him.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Wolfstar on May 09, 2009, 08:12:06 PM
Congrats Ookla!  You've already shown you're an amazing resource here on the forum, so I have no doubts that you'll be a great official member of the team, haha.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 09, 2009, 09:57:13 PM
Erik, Brandon said he hasn't looked at any of the auditing students' submissions yet. He plans to when he takes a plane trip at the end of the month. Or something like that.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: ErikHolmes on May 10, 2009, 07:40:04 PM
Sweet! I should have known I was just being impatient (but then I kept reading posts from all of the others people who'd been in the class talking about how they got their replies back already).

Now I won't have to hunt him down like a stalker at Conduit!  :D
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 10, 2009, 10:25:14 PM
Congrads Ookla!! I'm very happy for you!!   ;D :D ;) :)
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Shrain on May 12, 2009, 12:40:49 AM
Yeah, congrats, Ookla. I remember you posting something about your new job as EUOL's all-knowing lackey--er, assistant. How are you enjoying it so far? You're still in Cali, right? How is that working, since EUOL is in Utah?

Edit: Oops. Guess you *did* move to Utah. Just saw your post on the BBQ thread in Site News. I hope the move wasn't too rough!
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Ogge on May 12, 2009, 10:13:16 AM
Grats! :)
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Renoard on May 12, 2009, 10:24:56 AM
I think I congratulated you elsewhere, but I can't see how he allowed himself to take on such a huge work load without an Editorial assistant and a personal assistant too.  It was a good choice, and obviously your experience makes you a good choice.  Hope he's not paying you in Breaths. ;P
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 12, 2009, 05:04:06 PM
Hope he's not paying you in Breaths. ;P
LOL.

The job is working out well so far. I'm enjoying it and keeping busy.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: darxbane on May 12, 2009, 05:13:03 PM
As happy as I am for you, Ookla, I just can't help but groan over the fact that you will once again know the stories first, and subtley torture us during our theory sessions *cough*Mistborn*cough*  :-\
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 12, 2009, 05:37:17 PM
I was going to know the stories first anyway since I would have been an alpha reader regardless, and there are actually more limits now on what I can torture you with.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bookstore Guy on May 12, 2009, 06:15:04 PM
I, however, am not quite as restrained as Peter, and will continue to torture.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: mccullough on May 12, 2009, 08:03:01 PM
Ooh, I wanna be an Alpha reader!  :P
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 12, 2009, 08:46:43 PM
Your not the only one!  ;D  :-\
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: ryos on May 12, 2009, 08:57:35 PM
I, on the other hand, would rather consume the finished products. :)
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: darxbane on May 12, 2009, 10:01:55 PM
I agree.  Being an Alpha Reader means error and continuity checking, grammar and prose recommendations, etc, and that is a little too much like work.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 12, 2009, 10:58:13 PM
I wouldn't mind it if it meant read a book seceral month early. I think it's worth it. But that is coming from someone who want to be an edtitor.  ;)
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: mccullough on May 12, 2009, 11:36:01 PM
I'm with Bastille. I love to find typographical errors. I must admit, though, that if it felt too much like a job, then I would not enjoy it nearly as much.  :-\
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: FantasyAngel on May 12, 2009, 11:49:11 PM
I have to agree I would love to be an alpha reader.  Dealing with typos, grammar etc is a small price to pay to see the book early, to see it develop. Awesome
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 13, 2009, 12:33:50 AM
That's how I see it. It should feel good to see the finished product and know that you helped it. I would just being able to read the book another good part of the job.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 13, 2009, 03:03:01 AM
Typos and grammar are actually the least helpful suggestions an alpha reader has to give. Things like that can get fixed very late by basically anyone. It's generally the big-picture comments that are more helpful to a writer early on.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: mccullough on May 13, 2009, 03:54:25 AM
Ookla, by big picture comments do you mean comments on story flow, continuity, cohesion, and character development?
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Silk on May 13, 2009, 04:44:52 AM
Yeah, all that kind of stuff.

I'll agree that doing that stuff makes me read a book differently, but not in a bad way; I actually like doing that stuff. (As anyone who has ever received a crit from me on RE could probably surmise. ;) )

I might as well add my voice to the chorus of people expressing envy on the job- mind you, I basically envy anyone with a job that's not mine at the moment ::)

Congrats Ookla.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 13, 2009, 06:59:28 AM
Yeah that's exactly what I meant. And sometimes you have to ignore spelling and grammar errors and not let them get in the way of your useful analysis.

Thanks, Silk, and everyone else.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: FantasyAngel on May 13, 2009, 08:02:12 AM
Ookla, by big picture comments do you mean comments on story flow, continuity, cohesion, and character development?

Ookla don't get me wrong I am definitely aware of this fact however at the time I wrote the comment I was very tired and they were the first things that popped into my head plus I was to lazy to write the rest which is why I added the etc.  Also I was trying to point out that I don't have a problem with that sort of thing and can still enjoy a book despite that.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: mccullough on May 13, 2009, 05:52:43 PM
So, how does one become an Alpha reader? Not necessarily an Alpha reader for Brandon, though that would be fun. Is it best to become part of a writing group? Or is it possible to not be a writer and still be an Alpha? Thanks for your insight.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: ryos on May 13, 2009, 11:09:59 PM
So, how does one become an Alpha reader? Not necessarily an Alpha reader for Brandon, though that would be fun. Is it best to become part of a writing group? Or is it possible to not be a writer and still be an Alpha? Thanks for your insight.

Quite simply, know an author, and you might get asked. Being an alpha reader is a personal favor you'd typically only ask of a friend that you know you can trust..
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 13, 2009, 11:54:30 PM
It sounds easy but it sounds hard at the same time.   :-\
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: mccullough on May 14, 2009, 01:31:00 AM
Thanks for the information Ryos. I guess that, in a sense, I am an Alpha reader for my brother, who is an aspiring novelist. Hopefully he trusts me.  :P
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 14, 2009, 01:38:08 AM
That's cool.  :D Is it as fun as it sounds?
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: zas678 on May 15, 2009, 04:49:19 AM
Ooh! Congratulations on also becoming a forum moderator!
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on May 15, 2009, 04:53:32 AM
Am i the only one that is happy people do that job so i don't have to? being an alpha reader and doing Ookla's job sounds like...well...too much work. I would rather write the book if i have to put that much energy into one
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Silk on May 15, 2009, 05:50:17 AM
Critting a book takes time, but is way less time- and energy-intensive than actually writing one.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 15, 2009, 06:12:17 AM
I also get paid way less than Brandon does.
Ooh! Congratulations on also becoming a forum moderator!
First I've heard about it...
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 16, 2009, 03:53:54 PM
Yeah, your a mod now. Your names up there with EOUL.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: firstRainbowRose on May 16, 2009, 10:06:46 PM
Wait, Ook, you weren't a mod before?  I always though you were.  I maen, you've been around from the beginning, right?
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 17, 2009, 12:00:14 AM
I was suprised that he didn't know.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 17, 2009, 04:00:12 AM
No, I wasn't a moderator before. I turned it down once because I thought it would make my hinting seem meaner, but it makes more sense now. I'm guessing it's Tage's doing.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Renoard on May 17, 2009, 11:17:34 AM
Your hinting?
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 17, 2009, 02:47:40 PM
Ook is always hinting about books that aren't out yet and he gives us hints about what might or could be in them. It gets rather annoyong. But it is fun sometimes.  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 17, 2009, 07:10:22 PM
There hasn't been much for me to hint about since Mistborn 3 came out, but it was pretty entertaining before that and got some good discussion going.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 17, 2009, 08:00:01 PM
True. We need another big release.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Ehran on May 17, 2009, 08:07:21 PM
True. We need another big release.

Way of Kings.

More scoopage please.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: firstRainbowRose on May 17, 2009, 09:35:13 PM
Scribber will be tons of fun to tease about.  Of course, a lot of people have already read it, so it might not be as good.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 18, 2009, 12:16:54 AM
True. We need another big release.

Way of Kings.

More scoopage please.

Well, I have to start that seris before I hear any spoilers. It's going to take well into the summer for me to read the first 8.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 18, 2009, 05:51:26 AM
Way of Kings isn't in the Wheel of Time, Bastille. :)

But the hinting really doesn't work until you have a frame of reference to theorize about. When people have read Way of Kings and are itching to figure out what happens in book 2 of The Stormlight Archive, then's the time to start hinting.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bookstore Guy on May 18, 2009, 03:47:22 PM
But the hinting really doesn't work until you have a frame of reference to theorize about. When people have read Way of Kings and are itching to figure out what happens in book 2 of The Stormlight Archive, then's the time to start hinting.

well played.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Ehran on May 18, 2009, 04:11:05 PM
I was hoping more along the lines of release dates maybe?

Please?

 ;)


When I heard that BS was going to finish the series I had never heard of him, so I bought Elantris.  Now I'm hooked.  While I'm interested to find out how WoT finishes (FINALLY!!) I'm more interested in seeing what he does with his own material.  I really like his writing.   

I know this statement will make some of the WoT fans unhappy but I'd rather see the WoT stuff get pushed back than WoKs.  I know due to marketing etc it will never happen, but we can wish anyway right?
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bookstore Guy on May 18, 2009, 04:56:02 PM
If things go well, the plan is for Way of Kings to be published next year. If you want to read some of Brandon's own material (other than Elantris), pick up the Mistborn Trilogy, and then next month pick up Warbreaker (a stand-alone fantasy novel). That's 4 novels to keep you tied over until WoT and then next year's Way of Kings.

and you aren't the only one who wants to see his own stuff rather than WoT. I do, however, think that WoT has made Brandon a better author, so it's hard to complain :)
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on May 18, 2009, 05:01:57 PM
The goal is for it to come out in 2010 at least a month before the next Wheel of Time book comes out in November. For that to happen, of course, Brandon has to finish the book to his satisfaction.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Ehran on May 18, 2009, 07:04:36 PM
Sorry, didn't list all I've read.  Ever since Elantris I've read the MB trilogy (got a signed copy of HoA at release) and I've downloaded Warbreaker, although I haven't finished it.   I'm going to buy the full book when it does come out.

Just eager for "new" material.
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bastille on May 18, 2009, 09:06:05 PM
Way of Kings isn't in the Wheel of Time, Bastille. :)

But the hinting really doesn't work until you have a frame of reference to theorize about. When people have read Way of Kings and are itching to figure out what happens in book 2 of The Stormlight Archive, then's the time to start hinting.

Crud. Worng seris!!  ;D I'm looking foreward to Way of Kings as well though.

Hey Ehran, if your looking for new BS material you should try the Alcatraz seris. I highly recomend it and it's a really good read.  ;)
Title: Re: Congrats to Ookla The Mok
Post by: Bookstore Guy on May 18, 2009, 09:27:04 PM
just keep in mind that Alcatraz is written for a young crowd.