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Books / Re: wise mans fear sold out at Barnes and Noble
« on: March 10, 2011, 07:37:55 PM »
The New York times bestseller list does not appear to have updated. Is this common?
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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32
Books / Re: Has Anyone Read the Wild Cards Series
« on: March 10, 2011, 02:13:54 PM »
I can't see GRRM making much money off of short story books or off of Wild cards. They have to divide the money between alot of people.
33
Books / Re: Has Anyone Read the Wild Cards Series
« on: March 09, 2011, 04:16:59 PM »
The concept where you have a bunch of writers working on a shared story together is very interesting. However, I would need to know someone directly who read them to get me to try. The whole super hero premise doesn't do it for me.
Makes me wonder if GRRM does these because of his experience in television writing. Television writing is a group activity. Writing novels is a solitary job where you are by yourself all day long. This type of book lets George work as a group with other writers.
Makes me wonder if GRRM does these because of his experience in television writing. Television writing is a group activity. Writing novels is a solitary job where you are by yourself all day long. This type of book lets George work as a group with other writers.
34
Books / Re: why do editors and agents hate prologues
« on: March 09, 2011, 04:14:50 PM »
Out of curiosity. If you were pitching Eye of the World to an agent or to a publisher, and lets say they asked to see the first 3 chapters. Would you call the prologue a prologue or just call it chapter 1 ?
Peter: Thanks for your response. The prologue in mistborn was necessary. I like the term prelude since its different. It is sort of an attention grabber for me.
You said that Brandon would do things differently now that he has more experience. It would be interesting to see the Writing Excuses guys talk about previous works and what they would do differently now. Part of it is experience, part of is as you get older, your views and opinions evolve.
Also, I think it would be interesting if you appeared as a guest on the show. You know quite a bit about the industry. It would be interesting to talk about what you do. Might be interesting if you do it with some other writers assistants. You have alot of interesting things to say.
Peter: Thanks for your response. The prologue in mistborn was necessary. I like the term prelude since its different. It is sort of an attention grabber for me.
You said that Brandon would do things differently now that he has more experience. It would be interesting to see the Writing Excuses guys talk about previous works and what they would do differently now. Part of it is experience, part of is as you get older, your views and opinions evolve.
Also, I think it would be interesting if you appeared as a guest on the show. You know quite a bit about the industry. It would be interesting to talk about what you do. Might be interesting if you do it with some other writers assistants. You have alot of interesting things to say.
35
Books / Re: Wise Man's Fear--Your Take?
« on: March 09, 2011, 04:02:09 PM »
It never occurred to me that different national business like Barnes and Noble and Amazon would skew differently for genre sales. Thanks for the tip on that Peter. Very interesting.
36
Writing Group / Re: Fallen Fantasist
« on: March 08, 2011, 05:02:16 PM »
I would like to see more gritty fantasy. Not necessarily dark. Something where you take a gritty political thriller that could take place in the real world and put it into fantasy.
One thing to point out... the middle age era that most fantasy takes place in was a much bleaker world. Even in dark fantasy the authors rarely make it as dark as life really was. Virtually no one bathed. The infant mortality rate was over 50%. The fairy tale Hanzel and Gredel is based on actual truth. When the famines hit in the 1300s, people abandoned some of their children since they could not feed them all.
The leaders of Europe were basically a military aristocracy. The kinds were military dictators. The vast majority of these nobles could not read. People were hacked to pieces in wars. The average lifespan was probably in the 30s. Peasants rarely left the villages they were born in. Serfs were basically slaves that you did not have to feed yourself.
It was common for children to go to sleep hungry at night.
There was very little technological innovation. so the only way to get wealth was by oppressing others. The catholic church was corrupt. (this is not church bashing, this is what lead to the reformation).
I think its hard for people to realize the difference in lifestyle in a modern/western society from how most of people in most of history lived. Even today most people in the world do not have access to quality medical care.
One thing to point out... the middle age era that most fantasy takes place in was a much bleaker world. Even in dark fantasy the authors rarely make it as dark as life really was. Virtually no one bathed. The infant mortality rate was over 50%. The fairy tale Hanzel and Gredel is based on actual truth. When the famines hit in the 1300s, people abandoned some of their children since they could not feed them all.
The leaders of Europe were basically a military aristocracy. The kinds were military dictators. The vast majority of these nobles could not read. People were hacked to pieces in wars. The average lifespan was probably in the 30s. Peasants rarely left the villages they were born in. Serfs were basically slaves that you did not have to feed yourself.
It was common for children to go to sleep hungry at night.
There was very little technological innovation. so the only way to get wealth was by oppressing others. The catholic church was corrupt. (this is not church bashing, this is what lead to the reformation).
I think its hard for people to realize the difference in lifestyle in a modern/western society from how most of people in most of history lived. Even today most people in the world do not have access to quality medical care.
37
Movies and TV / Re: Del Torro Quits the Hobbit
« on: March 08, 2011, 04:52:18 PM »
I think they had alot of trouble getting financing due to the economy and financial meltdown. These movies are expensive.
38
Books / Re: Wise Man's Fear--Your Take?
« on: March 08, 2011, 04:49:05 PM »
@Bookstore Guys: I was half kidding. I rely on you guys for authors I have not read or maybe authors I have read in the past, but they are doing something different now. Even though I don't agree with all of your reviews (I did not like the first Stephen Erickson book. I had to force myself to finish it.), I like the way you write them.
that being said, how come you don't request DAW arcs? They seem to do alot of fantasy and science fiction.
that being said, how come you don't request DAW arcs? They seem to do alot of fantasy and science fiction.
39
Books / why do editors and agents hate prologues
« on: March 08, 2011, 04:46:03 PM »
I have been reading quite a few writer, editor, and agent blogs lately. It seems like alot of agents hate prologues. The prologue to the Eye of the World sets up the whole series. It draws you and makes you want to read the entire book.
I am not really sure how a prologue is necessary all that different than a first chapter. You just call it a prologue so it stands out as setup material. Is it just that alot of people write them poorly?
I am not really sure how a prologue is necessary all that different than a first chapter. You just call it a prologue so it stands out as setup material. Is it just that alot of people write them poorly?
40
Books / Re: Wise Man's Fear--Your Take?
« on: March 07, 2011, 07:18:00 PM »
what day of the week does the new york times bestseller list update?
I am wondering if the lack of enough books at bookstores will hurt him in the rankings or if he will still get #1.
I am wondering if the lack of enough books at bookstores will hurt him in the rankings or if he will still get #1.
41
Books / Re: Wise Man's Fear--Your Take?
« on: March 07, 2011, 02:41:16 AM »
When will the Elitist review be up? I am actually at the point where I don't read new fantasy books unless they review it. Well I won't go that far for this book.
42
Books / Re: wise mans fear sold out at Barnes and Noble
« on: March 07, 2011, 02:35:12 AM »
good point peter. I made sure to ask. I went to Borders too. They are out. I have never seen this happen.
I guess, Patrick won't have to boil paper to make it sound like soup any more.
I guess, Patrick won't have to boil paper to make it sound like soup any more.
43
Books / wise mans fear sold out at Barnes and Noble
« on: March 06, 2011, 05:22:42 AM »
Went to the Barnes and Noble near my house in Northern Virginia. It is sold out. Wow. I have never heard of that happening with a bestseller new release.
44
Books / Re: post apocalyptic Sci-Fi
« on: February 25, 2011, 03:07:27 PM »
I read World War Z. It was so good, I don't really have any desire to read more zombie books. I would prefer something other than a zombie book for post apocalyptic area.
This one just got nominated for a Nebula Award. Looks to be post-apocalyptic and in Africa which I find very interesting.
Who Fears Death, Nnedi Okorafor (DAW)
This one just got nominated for a Nebula Award. Looks to be post-apocalyptic and in Africa which I find very interesting.
Who Fears Death, Nnedi Okorafor (DAW)
45
Brandon Sanderson / Re: Way of Kings Annotations
« on: February 25, 2011, 02:58:50 PM »
Where did Brandon get the idea to put annotations on his website? I have not seen other authors write them. They are very interesting. Its fun to see what went through his head when he was writing a certain part.
I would think it would be pretty time consuming to write annotations on Way of Kings 2+ years after he finished it. Even if he re-reads it, trying to remember what he was thinking after completely switching gears to other projects (I think he wrote another Mistborn book last fall and an urban fantasy book as well right? plus WoT Book 12).
I would think it would be pretty time consuming to write annotations on Way of Kings 2+ years after he finished it. Even if he re-reads it, trying to remember what he was thinking after completely switching gears to other projects (I think he wrote another Mistborn book last fall and an urban fantasy book as well right? plus WoT Book 12).