State of the Cat Farm

[rolanni]

First, thanks to everyone who sent along header files -- we're all set now, and very much appreciate the assist.

Since my last electric letter, I have more-or-less recovered from the Fluish Thingy. Alas, it hit Steve somewhat harder, and also took my counterpart in the English Department for a ride. Steve is now starting to feel human, and I'm hoping Jo is, too. Discretion dictated that we cancel out of SnowCon, which was the right thing to do (friends don't go to cons sick).

The weatherbeans are calling a snowstorm for tomorrow, so we will be joining the Traditional Pre-Storm Trip to the Grocery Store today, then I plan to settle back on the sofa and read Scout's Progress. With luck and a tailwind, I'll be able to start writing Mouse and Dragon Monday evening. Yep, I do read slow.

This may be a good place for a word about process. The story-shaping time is strangely fragile; it's a time when ideas perk and rise and spin out in silly directions; when connections are made. It frequently includes some "I didn't know that!" moments as information and ideas make new patterns. Reading Local Custom, I was amazed at the number of plot hooks that were already set and baited for this new story. Truly, the writing brain is a marvelous instrument.

I know a bunch of people are excited about this book (I am, too), and I know that readers have Ideas about how they want stories to go and what situations they want to see favorite characters deal with. This is not the time to write to the author and tell them your ideas. This seems harsh, I know, but if you've learned nothing else from reading this journal, you ought certainly to have learned that Writers are Terrible People. I certainly can't stop anyone from speculating inside the comfort of their own skull. However, I will immediately delete any letter, or post in this journal, that seems to be giving story direction, no matter how well-meant.

There are reasons for this -- and not just craft reasons. Writers and fans have gotten into nasty brangles in other parts of the forest, because a writer "stole" a fan's idea and now the fan wanted compensation. Life is too short; and I don't want to go there. Ever. Also, yanno, there are those hooks, all set and ready to be used.

And so to breakfast, and the adventure that will be the grocery store.

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Here's my "story direction" -- write it!

(Then we can buy it and read it!)

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Here's my "story direction" -- write it!

Pfft!

Mouse and Dragon

[phil-boswell.livejournal.com]

I like the title already: I have this feeling I'm going to love the story.

Are you going to be posting this one as you go, or will this be a more traditional gestation?

(I have this sudden picture in my head of a couple of Bujoldian artificial wombs with Fledgling and Saltation growing in them for all the world to see ;-)

Re: Mouse and Dragon

[amm-me.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, yes, lovely title (though I might have to work to keep Peter Sellers out of my head). And hanging on to unsuspected pre-existing plot hooks from Local Custom. Bye, I have to go re-read!

Re: Mouse and Dragon

[amm-me.livejournal.com]

Uterine replicators for stories, LOL!

I can see where you would like to keep it a little more private as a writing endeavor; it probably makes for a much easier final edit. But when it is accepted and in the publishing chute, please may we have snippets? Please, ma'am and sir? I think I can ASSURE you that it will not lessen the number of copies sold!

Re: Mouse and Dragon

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

But when it is accepted and in the publishing chute, please may we have snippets?

There are many things about Baen online culture that remain a mystery to me, and snippets is one.

Mind you, I'm not opposed, I just don't grok it.

Re: Mouse and Dragon

[amm-me.livejournal.com]

The most regular snippets are those organized by Eric Flint, of his, David Weber's, and others of his collaborators' books - Eric in many cases posts regular snippets at his site and a Barfly, often "Drak Bibliophile," copies them to the Bar. This is a consistent Monday-Wednesday-Friday occurrence that starts at some pre-publication date, calculated so that the collected snippets don't quite add up to what the webscription subscribers get in their first installment.

I understand that in the past, certain authors have taken great glee in distributing snippets at random times and in random places on the Bar.

In general snippets are clearly labeled as such in the title of the post, so that those who want to read the book all in one go can stay away from them. Those who want the earliest possible taste of the new book, however, are numerous, and addicted to their book-crack.

There was an amusing post a couple of years ago describing a troika bounding over the steppes in winter, David Weber driving and Eric Flint frantically scribbling and tossing pages over the back to the racing horde of wolves who slavered, "Snippetses! Snippetses!" and snatched them out of the air, as David and Eric blamed each other for creating the crazed addicts.

Snippets are basically an extension of the Baen philosophy that the more information that is disseminated to the public about an upcoming book, the more interested buyers will be created.

Re: Mouse and Dragon

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Are you going to be posting this one as you go,

Can't; it's already contracted and the advance paid. Also, this one, I suspect, is structurally unsuited to being written online.

[jessara40k.livejournal.com]

Is it acceptable to say I really don't want it to end before Daav leaves the clan to persue his Balance? And that I'd really love to know if he'd invented Professor Kiladi before or after he met Aelliana?