How Fantasy Writing Changed My Life

w/ Angelina Adams(mod), Mercedes Lackey, Christopher Paolini, Chris Jackson, and Larry Dixon

Stories about Readers:

• Lackey gets told all the time how Vanyel touched gay readers
• Dixon – this is his 263rd panel. “We’re still fans, too.“

What book/story would you point to for getting you into SFF?

• Saucer of Loneliness – Lackey
• The Ruby Knight by David Eddings – Paolini.
  • SFF tackles the big issues
  • Paolini was a scientist for 20 years, now is a full time writer, it literally changed his life.
• The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon & Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey – Jackson
  • – fantasy doesn’t need to be PG
• Catseye by Andre Norton & Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey – Dixon.
  • “I was very young at a young age”.
  • It showed a time period that was neither period, nor unfamiliar
  • There was a process by which McCaffrey went from his idol to “Annie’s got my art on her guest room wall.“

How do you diversify your writing style

• honing your voice vs learning things to help the original style – Adams
• It helps to be schizophrenic. It’s vital to stretch. His writing group has a new writing exercise every month – Jackson
• Variety inspires your writing – Paolini
• You cannot edit nothing – Jackson
  • NaNoWriMo is good for beginner writers.
  • Ass glue – gorilla ass glue is helpful.
• Sanderson does vignettes that he says helps keep him from losing his minds – Paolini
  • After Eragon, [my] next dragon would be evil. (Because of burn out)
  • It’s hard to write a story from the villain’s point of view, they won’t BE the villain. (Because you make them sympathetic)

What did you think of the movie? [Eragon]

• Paolini – Officially? It was the director’s vision and [he] can’t help but be grateful for the millions of new readers it brought in.
• Unofficially? [He’s] trying to get it remade. The studio didn’t quite understand fantasy [tropes/etc].
• Lackey – As Bradbury said, “at least I cashed the check.“

For gamers- do you write what you game?

• Dixon – I had to quit a game module, because the GM didn’t let anyone change anything or add anything.

Odds & Ends and Quotes

• Lackey – Publisher won’t let her write more 500 Kingdom’s because it doesn’t make enough $$$.
• “Getting old ain’t for the weak” – Lackey
• “The books don’t age.” – CP

Who is your favorite character you’ve created?

• Skandranon Rashkae- The black griffin – Dixon
• Vreva Jhafae – the Courtesan Spy – Jackson
• Saphira –  the dragon – Paolini
• Victoria – romance writer/techno-mage and Joyeaux Charmond – a hunter in a dystopia – but that’s who I’m working on right now… – Lackey