[The Critter Captain's Tesla FAQ]


Blog

Ahoy, Critterfolk!
New entry Jun 06

Critter Notices

Books from Critters!

Check out Books by Critters for books by your fellow Critterfolk, as well as my list of recommended books for writers.

How to Write SF

The Craft of Writing Science Fiction that Sells by Ben Bova, best-selling author and six-time Hugo Award winner for Best Editor. (This is one of the books your ol' Critter Captain learned from himself, and I highly recommend it.) (Also via Amazon)

Space Travel for SF Writers

Hot off the presses from ReAnimus Press! Space Travel - A Science Fiction Writer's Guide— An indispensible tool for all SF writers that explains the science you need to help you make your fiction plausible. (Also via Amazon)

Interviewed!

I was interviewed live on public radio for Critters' birthday, for those who want to listen.

Free Web Sites

Free web sites for authors (and others) are available at www.nyx.net.

ReAnimus Acquires Advent!

ReAnimus Press is pleased to announce the acquisition of the legendary Advent Publishers! Advent is now a subsidiary of ReAnimus Press, and we will continue to publish Advent's titles under the Advent name. Advent was founded in 1956 by Earl Kemp and others, and has published the likes of James Blish, Hal Clement, Robert Heinlein, Damon Knight, E.E. "Doc" Smith, and many others. Advent's high quality titles have won and been finalists for several Hugo Awards, such as The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy and Heinlein's Children. Watch this space for ebook and print editions of all of Advent's current titles!

Book Recommendation

THE SIGIL TRILOGY: The universe is dying from within... "Great stuff... Really enjoyed it." — SFWA Grandmaster Michael Moorcock

Announcing ReAnimus Press

If you're looking for great stuff to read from bestselling and award-winning authors—look no further! ReAnimus Press was founded by your very own Critter Captain. (And with a 12% Affiliate program.) [More]

~~~

MORE NEWS & NOTICES >>

CRITTERS STORE >>

 

FEATURED BOOK

~~~

CRITTERS STORE >>

Critters Inverviews

An Interview with Larry Niven

Critter member Kari Tulinius interviews Larry Niven award winning author of a numerous books and short stories, such as the Ringworld series.


Do you read fiction while writing? Do you find it alters your own work?

Yes. Maybe.

Do you only write genre fiction, or have you written other forms of fiction? Do you prefer to write genre fiction, and if so, why? Did you learn anything writing other forms of fiction that you feel has improved your skills in genre fiction?

Paying attention to what genre I'm in, would be crippling. I just write the damn story.

Have you written any nonfiction--articles, books, travelogues, restaurant reviews, personal essays, whatnot? Do you find that such writing helps your fiction, or merely gets in the way?

Sure. It's always done for the fun of it. Practice is good; versatility is good.

What is your educational/personal background (are you a PhD physicist, high school graduate, Army brat, jazz musician, skydiving hobbyist, father of ten, etc) and how has this affected your writing -- subject matter, characters, worldbuilding, ideas, etc.?

Bachelor in Math. (D. Litt, honorary.) Rich family. Former wimp, smoker, drinker. Current hiker, yoga, clean living. Everything I do, and everything done to me, works its way into my fiction.

What are you tired of seeing in genre fiction? What staples of the genre would you like to see go to their hard-earned and well-deserved retirement, in favor of something (please, anything!) else?

I've seen enough dragons, vampires, King Arthur retellings.

How long did it take for you to get from "serious about writing" to "selling writer"?

Year and a half.

Did you participate in a workshop? Where there other writers who "made it" with you in that workshop? When do you think that the right time to quit is?

Famous Writers School. (Correspondance.) I quit in the middle of "characterization", 2/3 through, because I was selling.

How did you keep writing in the face of rejections?

Stubbornly.

How do you process raw story ideas?

I play with them, let them play together, until something takes a shape.

How does a basic idea for a story become a whole story?

Sometimes it doesn't. One secret: I almost always know the ending going in.

What comes first while processing aforementioned ideas, characters, plots, setting?

I never can tell.

What do you focus on while creating plots?

"Plots" is critic's jargon. Writers don't need that. I'm just trying to tell myself a story.

How do you create characters? Do you primarily base characters on people you know, or create them from whole cloth?

Generally the story assumptions shape the characters. Who has to be there?

How do you integrate these characters into a story?

Superbly.

What do you keep in mind while writing character interaction?

Who they are. I'm talking for both/all of them. Then again, writing and rewriting them is how I get to know them.

You have worked on a number of collaborations, do you have any advice for writers who intend to collaborate?

Yeah. I wrote an article on the subject. Basic rules: Don't go into it lightly. Be prepared--both of you--to do your 80% of the work. Outline it to death. You wouldn't want to hare off in different directions.

You have often extrapolated stories from new scientific findings, anything which needs special attention when doing so?

Try not to get caught in stupid mistakes.


2 Aug 1998

DONATIONS

$
[via ►PayPal or: Square]
Happy minion   Happy minion — last donation was recent. A big Thank You! to Rachel Messinger, Larry Hodges, Vincent Bonasso, and lots of other Critterfolk for their contributions!

Critters is entirely funded by donations from Critterfolk like you, so yours is most appreciated. Click here to make the minions happy. Every dollar helps. Thanks for your support!

COOL BOOK

WHERE TO?

Manuscripts / Submissions
       (Forgot yer login/password?)
Submit
Member Woohoo!s
Member Bios
Discussion Forums
Black Holes response times
Sitemap

(Critters gets a pittance of support via advertising; Critters does not endorse any advertiser nor have control over ad content.)

SHARE THIS PAGE

Bookmark and Share

follow critters on twitterFollow critters on twitter

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO READ?

(Or want to collect money for other people reading your stories?) Check out Aburt's ReAnimus Press.

CRITTERS DIPLOMACY

Fundamental to Critters' success is how people deliver criticisms. Start by reading Critiquing the Wild Writer: It's Not What You Say, But How You Say It. and The Diplomatic Critiquer.

NOVELS

Critters has a special program to get whole novels critiqued. Read about it here.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Please follow these guidelines for formatting and submitting manuscripts to Critters.

WHAT'S IN THE QUEUE

Critters keeps a queue of manuscripts out or to be sent. See the Queue.

WEEKLY MPC AWARD

Want to jump to the head of the Critters queue? The Most Productive Critter or MPC is Awarded weekly to encourage mo' better critting. How to win...

AVOID SCAMS

General Guidelines & Tips on Avoiding Publishing Scams

FAQ

Critters has an extensive FAQ to answer your every question.

CHECK OUT ABURT'S OTHER PROJECTS

Visit the Critter Captain on Facebook:
Andrew Burt

Create Your Badge