Timewaster's Guide Archive

I'm not sure where we put these 'Hey' threads any more.  So, I'll just stick one here.

So, I'm on the east coast again.  You still in the Virginia area?  I'll be down in Tyson's Corner from Sunday-Thursday of next week.  I brought the book for Jeffe.  It would be cool if the three of us could do dinner some time.  I'd still like to meet him, and at the very least, I'd like to get together with you and chat.

Hey, who all will be stopping by?  Looks like all books will be 25% off, and there will be prizes, music, and food.  

http://www.mahonri.org/?op=displaystory;sid=2005/5/16/7447/52670

I know that HoM will be around.  He's giving a lecture at 2:00 (according to that article.)  

Fireme, are you doing anything?  

I'll be there from 1-3, doing signings.  (My first ever.)

Well, I did the interview.  I have to say, I was impressed with those guys.  They really knew what they were doing, and it seems like they have a really good show.  I'd recommend it--I think I'm going to go listen to some of the archives.

My piece will be up on their website the 11th of July.  
It'll play on XM radio the 17th.

Please post general responses to the book here--things you think might spark discussion, and therefore (hopefully) help me make a better book out of the novel.

In answer to a question Ookla asked on the other thread, Yes, I've read Lemony Snicket.

I've recently been reading a lot of YA and middle-grade, something I had always wanted to do, but never really had a good excuse for.  As I read, Lemony Snicket stood out to me as probably the best line-by-line written of the works (aside from Harry Potter.)

I had a problem with it, though.  I have a lot of trouble latching onto the characters in the LS books.  I think that's because the level of absurdity is SO high.  Also, there doesn't seem to be character progression, or even really progression through plotting.  In other words, the books are amazingly good little comedic essays, but they just aren't as good in the 'storytelling' department.

I also read Artemis Fowl.  This had better storytelling, but the writing just wasn't (in my mind) up to the caliber that it could have reached.  There was some very nice character development, but the plotting was just a tad weak.

So, my thought was "Why don't I plot something like Artemis Fowl, then try and make it a little bit zany, a little more like Lemony Snicket."  Then, to try and make certain it wasn't TOO derivative, I put the Brandon stamp on it--i.e. a cleverish magic system, some fun characters, and some puzzle-style plot twists.

So, that was my philosophy for this book.  I realize that it's going to be rough in parts still.  I wrote and edited it in eighteen days!  Also, I worry that in places it sounds a little TOO much like Lemony Snicket.  (Personally, I think this is a bigger problem in the beginning--for instance, the author introduction to chapter two--than it is in later chapters.)  

Advice, comments, and identification of problem spots would be appreciated.

Fell:

Moshe was intrigued by our idea.  He's going to see what Tom thinks about it next time they talk.  However, talking with him, it kind of came out that this project would need four things:

1) It would ideally be short.  (No complaints here.)
2) It would have to be written really fast.  (The movie comes out next May.  The question here is do you think you can commit to a project that will be this time consuming?)
3)  It would need to be FUNNY.  Very funny. (Your job?)
4)  It would have to have a good plot on its own.  (My job?)

He says if we could throw down a couple of sample chapters, we could probably sell the project off of those, assuming Tom was interested.

Ooo!  Ooo!  Go check bn.com.  I'm the #184 best-selling book on their website.  

I know a lot of people have asked for one of these, so I decided to throw one up as the 'May Goodie' for Elantris.  You can find it linked on the main page.

Find 'em and put them here!  Make your first edition copies more valuable!  Get a special acknowledgement on my website!

MoD's husband already has dibs on:

"The planting season is upon us, my lords," Sarene sad.

(Pg 124)