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Topics - Ruthie

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Books / Truly unique fantasy worlds
« on: January 11, 2011, 05:00:25 AM »
I debated whether to post this in Brandon's forum, or the writing group forum, or here, and ultimately decided I wanted the discussion to go in a broad direction.

I recently finished reading WoK and was struck by two seemingly opposite thoughts: 1) the world seems completely unlike anything I've seen in a fantasy book ever, and entirely unlike earth, and 2) the culture still seems vaguely medieval European, like pretty much every fantasy book I've ever read.

What I've wondered for years, actually, is whether there's a market for a fantasy novel where the characters' culture is totally unlike European culture. Like, what if a novel based its culture on the ancient Mayans? Or the Chinese? I mean, the possibilities aren't endless or anything, since I think a fantasy set in a hunter-gatherer society would have less potential for being epic, but there are advanced societies to choose from outside Europe. I guess Egypt has been explored too somewhat, so maybe I'm overgeneralizing.

Or maybe it's been done and either I just have missed those particular novels or they haven't done well because nobody wants to read a fantasy novel about people who are vaguely Chinese. This question is of specific importance to me because I'm seriously considering doing a major revision of my current fantasy novel to set it in a non-European culture. I'm wondering how much of a mistake (or great idea) it would theoretically be.

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Brandon Sanderson / WoK interior art question
« on: January 06, 2011, 04:49:02 AM »
While I loved the interior art, it was baffling to me why the publisher placed each illustration where it was. Why was Shallan's drawing of the dog thing, for instance, placed hundreds of pages after the part where she draws it? I would much rather have had all of it a page or two away from the scene that references it.

Furthermore, why are all of Brandon's books so poorly proofread? With his first books, I assumed he was too new for TOR to want to invest much in the way of proofreading on him. Now that he's such a success, the continued poor quality just doesn't make sense. I am a copy editor, so I notice such things more than most people do, probably, but I also compare books with each other, and Brandon's seem to be in relatively bad shape typo-wise.

[Addition: My husband, also a copy editor, says the new Tad Williams book he's reading is poorly proofread too. He thinks that maybe publishers are just having to cut back on editing in this economy, or maybe in general in response to the changes in the industry, such as the move to e-books. It might be.]

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Writing Group / Weaknesses
« on: July 31, 2010, 02:30:18 PM »
What's the hardest thing for you as a writer? Is it writing convincing dialogue? Making sure your characters are round and dynamic? Getting the ending right?

For me it's detail. I get so wrapped up in telling the story I want to tell that I don't even stop to describe the scene adequately, let alone clothing, facial expressions, specific movements in a fight scene, etc. To me, thoughts, feelings, dialogue and large-scale actions are the most interesting, so that's what I write.

On the one hand, there are (good) published authors who have this weakness. Orson Scott Card comes immediately to mind. His characters are interesting and their personalities complex, but are any of them described in any sort of detail? Some scenes are described in detail; for instance, I think I have a pretty good mental picture of Battle School. But Lusitania? No way.

On the other hand, I love it when authors do a good job of creating worlds and characters in such vivid detail that I feel like I've been there and met those people. I love when I'm reading a series and will walk down the street and think, "That guy looks a lot like how I imagine Mat Cauthon looking." I want to write like that, and when I work on it, hard, I can.

At this point I'm wondering if it's a bad idea to just focus on getting the story out in the first draft and then work on fleshing out details in the second. My only worry is that writing this way will add 50 pages or more by the time I finish the second draft. Hahaha.

What are some of your weaknesses, and how are you working on making them strengths?

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Brandon Sanderson / It's becoming a joke, really.
« on: May 16, 2009, 10:47:15 PM »
Ever since Elantris was published and I obtained my own copy thereof, I've wanted to go to a signing and meet Brandon (again) and get it autographed. Of course, I already have his autograph on my copy of TLE Issue 41, but that's not the same thing.

But every. single. time I hear about a signing, there's some reason why I can't go.

Last night, I found out that he was going to be at the Provo Library from 11 to 3. My husband had plans from about 1:00 on, but 11:00 we could do. So we packed up our kids and headed out, only to find out that the Borders employee was misinformed; Brandon was doing a 2-hour-long panel (great without kids, not so great with two under the age of 3), followed by a signing from 2 to 4. I almost (almost!) decided to stay anyway, but then my 3-year-old got hungry and tired and cranky a little after noon, and we had to go.

I thought about coming back alone, even with the two kids, but my one-year-old has been napping for most of the 2–4 time slot. Ah well. At least Brandon lives here and there will be other days.

Incidentally, the little boy who pulled the fire alarm today was part of the group we abandoned when we left early. Maybe it's just as well.  ;D

I did SEE you today, Brandon, but I will have to wait for the signed books. I'll get you next time, Sanderson, if it's the last thing I do.

(No, I'm really not at all creepy.)

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Brandon Sanderson / Mistborn 2 Editorial Review
« on: July 20, 2007, 07:13:57 PM »
I'm surprised there isn't a thread about this already, but when I went to Amazon's page for The Well of Ascension, I noticed there was an editorial review for it. It sounds pretty positive, even if it isn't terribly long.

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Everything Else / Hello, and a request
« on: February 09, 2006, 11:12:35 AM »
I feel weird posting out of the blue when I actually do browse here fairly frequently. :) Mostly to see updates on Mistborn and stuff, actually, but also to catch up on the old TLE gossip.

Speaking of gossip, I'm not sure if I've told y'all that I'm expecting a baby April 2. He's a boy, and I think we'll name him Raoden. Okay, maybe not.


Also, my husband has been looking for editing work since early October and has found nothing by looking the normal ways. I know at least several of you are working as editors (whether in Utah or elsewhere), so if you know of any job openings where you work, please let us know. His email address is jonathon at galacticcactus dot com if you need to reach him.

Thanks!

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Everything Else / It's been a while
« on: May 12, 2005, 12:21:45 AM »
So I grew up, got married, and graduated from college. I'm now working as a writer/editor at a company in downtown SLC. I ran into Kristy (sorry if I spelled your name wrong!) at the TRAX station, and she filled me in on all y'all a little bit.

I promptly went out and bought Elantris and started reading it. I then found out it was about $10 cheaper at Amazon, ordered it there, returned it to Barnes and Noble, and have been about to bite my hand off ever since. It shipped yesterday. It can get here tomorrow, right? Right?!

It's groovy that this place is still here. I even remember who some of you are. So, yeah. Hi. :)


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