46
Books / Robin Hobb
« on: February 14, 2010, 04:22:59 AM »
I would like to try out her books. Which one do you recommend ?
News:
"Magic is what makes fantasy fantastic," someone says, "you can't apply rules to them or else it loses wonder!" I respond, "Sure, but if you want to write them you will certainly want to know how they work." Writing is all about execution, and I find applying some basic laws of physics to magic systems make them more understandable and realistic. Here, I'm going to outline my basic method for developing a magic system.
Column by Chaos2651
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47
Books / McMillan/Amazon deal will lead to lower revenues for Authors
« on: February 11, 2010, 12:55:27 AM »
I found these two blog posts interesting. I am just a reader so I don't have a stake in the game.
http://www.publetariat.com/think/amazon-v-macmillan-authors-are-you-backing-right-horse
http://www.michaelastackpole.com/
http://www.publetariat.com/think/amazon-v-macmillan-authors-are-you-backing-right-horse
http://www.michaelastackpole.com/
48
Books / BYU Sci-Fi Magazine
« on: February 08, 2010, 06:01:25 PM »
I have read on the forums that many of you became friends at BYU at their sci-fi/fantasy magazine. How did this work? Is this short stories by students? Is it available online?
Have any of these short stories been sold? Have any of the authors other than Brandon Sanderson been published?
I am surprised that there is a Sci-Fi/Fantasy magazine at a religious school. Is it supported by the school? I went to a catholic college. I doubt the priests would have cared if we had one, but they wouldn't have supported it. They probably would have thought it was silly.
Have any of these short stories been sold? Have any of the authors other than Brandon Sanderson been published?
I am surprised that there is a Sci-Fi/Fantasy magazine at a religious school. Is it supported by the school? I went to a catholic college. I doubt the priests would have cared if we had one, but they wouldn't have supported it. They probably would have thought it was silly.
49
Books / Amazon/McMillan pricing question
« on: February 07, 2010, 03:21:24 AM »
Amazon buys the books from McMillan for $14.
Sells them for $9.99
How can mcmillan force amazon to sell the books for more. Once amazon buys the books from amazon, can't they price them? Or there some special contract where publishers retain pricing rights?
When walmart purchases from vendors, or any store for that matter, the vendor cannot tell them what to price their items at?
Sells them for $9.99
How can mcmillan force amazon to sell the books for more. Once amazon buys the books from amazon, can't they price them? Or there some special contract where publishers retain pricing rights?
When walmart purchases from vendors, or any store for that matter, the vendor cannot tell them what to price their items at?
50
Books / What is considered good book sales?
« on: February 05, 2010, 01:59:12 AM »
If you write a first book, what kind of sales would you need to get a second book contract? I know how much each book sells can vary radically. Take out JK Rowling or Stephanie Meyer, what does a well known, but not-Robert Jordan/Terry Goodkind/Terry Brooks typically sell?
Any idea about LE Modesitt, Stephen Erickson, Weis and Hickman?
What kind of marketing do publishers do for books? The only marketing I ever see are for the biggest name books. I saw some TV adds for the new Wheel of Time book. It seems like the only advertising is convincing Barnes and Noble to put it in a featured location in the store.
What kind of sales do you need for a publisher to pay for you to go on a book signing tour?
Any idea about LE Modesitt, Stephen Erickson, Weis and Hickman?
What kind of marketing do publishers do for books? The only marketing I ever see are for the biggest name books. I saw some TV adds for the new Wheel of Time book. It seems like the only advertising is convincing Barnes and Noble to put it in a featured location in the store.
What kind of sales do you need for a publisher to pay for you to go on a book signing tour?
51
Books / medical insurance for authors
« on: February 04, 2010, 02:57:45 PM »
This is a little off topic. Thanks to the person who pointed me to John Scalzi's blog. I really like it. I noticed that an author friend of his had to have emergency heart surgery and does not have medical insurance. So are you guys out in the cold when it comes to insurance and have to buy individual plans? Is there anyway you can get a plan through your publisher? Or the SFWA negotiates a group plan?
Getting insurance on your own is a problem. Companies do not like to insure individuals and if you have anything wrong with you at all you end up in the HIPAA category (roughly $1,000/month, covers only emergencies and has a huge deductible).
I am asking in case I want to write some day....
Getting insurance on your own is a problem. Companies do not like to insure individuals and if you have anything wrong with you at all you end up in the HIPAA category (roughly $1,000/month, covers only emergencies and has a huge deductible).
I am asking in case I want to write some day....
52
Books / spectacular fantasy failure in 1999-2000?
« on: February 02, 2010, 09:24:21 PM »
I am listening to Writing Excuses on how to deal with external influences. Brandon said there was some author who had a huge fantasy failure because he only read Tolkein.
Who was it and what was the book? He didn't say.
Who was it and what was the book? He didn't say.
53
Books / Authors and Publishers
« on: February 01, 2010, 08:16:04 PM »
Just curious if anyone knows. It looks like Amazon has pulled the buy button from all of McMillian authors books on their website. Then put it back, but only on used books so the authors make no money. So authors are caught up in the middle of it.
Does anyone know what an authors rights are if they are unhappy with a publisher? When they sign a contract is it for a period of time. So the contract lapses and authors can have someone else publish them or is it permanent?
this is a bit off topic. I'm new here. Is this ok?
Does anyone know what an authors rights are if they are unhappy with a publisher? When they sign a contract is it for a period of time. So the contract lapses and authors can have someone else publish them or is it permanent?
this is a bit off topic. I'm new here. Is this ok?
54
Brandon Sanderson / Brandon got a blurb in The New York Times...
« on: February 01, 2010, 04:04:22 AM »
The article is not about Brandon, but still it is better than being mentioned for something crazy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/technology/companies/01amazonweb.html?hpw
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/technology/companies/01amazonweb.html?hpw
55
Movies and TV / Anyone watch Caprica?
« on: January 30, 2010, 11:44:49 PM »
It is a prequel to battlestar galactica. I do not like the whole "robots that look like people" thing since that has been done in the Matrix and the Terminator. I really like the way they use Sci-fi, but then make the world alot like Earth. I think it is interesting.
56
Books / Good Author websites
« on: January 30, 2010, 06:58:16 PM »
What are some good Author websites? The two I read are George RR Martin (check out the blog he sounds like he is making real progress on a Dance with Dragons) and Brandon Sanderson?
Any other good sites and blogs? I check out Joel Haldermans board sometimes. In large part because alot of other authors post on it (Elizabeth Moon posts there), but other than his forum he doesn't have alot of good stuff.
Any other good sites and blogs? I check out Joel Haldermans board sometimes. In large part because alot of other authors post on it (Elizabeth Moon posts there), but other than his forum he doesn't have alot of good stuff.
57
Books / what are these books/stories?
« on: January 30, 2010, 02:56:06 AM »
Someone I used to work with told me about these 2 years ago and I can't remember their names. I think it is a shared world, but not sure. Here is what he told me.
Alternate reality armies attack our reality. This reality has muskets and flying ships because that is how they naturally evolved. In one story they fight it out with the SWAT of some city.
That is all I remember. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Alternate reality armies attack our reality. This reality has muskets and flying ships because that is how they naturally evolved. In one story they fight it out with the SWAT of some city.
That is all I remember. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
58
Brandon Sanderson / questions about brandon
« on: January 15, 2010, 09:38:07 PM »
I put some questions inside other threads about him, so I am making this thread so it is easier for people to find.
There are probably for peter...
how many hours/week does brandon spend writing? It sounds like he lives and breathes writing.
also, was the Timewasters site created by people in Utah?
There are probably for peter...
how many hours/week does brandon spend writing? It sounds like he lives and breathes writing.
also, was the Timewasters site created by people in Utah?
59
Brandon Sanderson / question about brandon's book sales
« on: January 09, 2010, 05:09:53 PM »
I see that Mistborn 1 is ranked 19th in Epic Fantasy sales on Amazon. These are weekly numbers right? Does anyone know how many books you need to sell to be at that rank? I would guess its like 5000-10,000 maybe less. Since its a specialized rank.
just curious...
just curious...
60
Brandon Sanderson / Brandon's Podcasts
« on: January 07, 2010, 01:47:34 PM »
There are alot of these. Can someone direct me to ones that talk about how Brandon broke into the writing business. I have seen some info on it. How he stalked TOR at Conventions and wrote 13 books before he got published. I am curious why his 6th Book Elantris was the first one published. Why was this one more ready than his other books?
George RR Martin(another fantasy author and friend of Robert Jordan) recommends starting with short stories. So it is interesting that Brandon was able to do it by compusively writing whole novels.
I learned about Brandon since he is the guy who took over Wheel of Time. I have started reading Mistborn and I like it so far. I like the way he jumps into the action.
George RR Martin(another fantasy author and friend of Robert Jordan) recommends starting with short stories. So it is interesting that Brandon was able to do it by compusively writing whole novels.
I learned about Brandon since he is the guy who took over Wheel of Time. I have started reading Mistborn and I like it so far. I like the way he jumps into the action.