The Every Day Novelist

After fighting through nearly two weeks of obstacles, Dan and Gail get some words on the board.

Gail gets her feet under her, while Dan gets hit by

Dan and Gail discuss their grand writing ambitions for the coming month.

Mike asks:Dean Wesley Smith, Harlan Ellison, and other authors have talked about the quotes they’ve used to stay motivated and on task. What are some of yours?Resources mentioned:Dreams with Sharp Teeth

Herb asks: I know you’re a big fan of cycling for revision, but what about retyping. Lawrence Block in his book on writing novels, which is from the 70s, spends some time discussing how retyping to make a clean copy for submission is a great way to add polish. In this age of word processors, retyping for a clean copy for submission is an alien idea, but I’m thinking about retyping my shorts from a printout before submitting or collecting them as a test run before doing it to a novel. Thoughts? Resources Mentioned: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)Titan AEAlien ResurrectionFireflySerenity

Tim asks:Have you ever developed ancillary materials for one of your stories? The Man in the Rain

Nichole asks: What are your Editorial pet peeves? Resources Mentioned: All You Zombies and The Door in to Summer, by HeinleinBack to the Future trilogyThe Time Machine by HG WellsDonnie BrascoStar Trek IVThe Big Sleep Crudrat Open Vistas Anthologies My Luck, by Mel Todd

Tim asks:What kind of pressures work best for you creatively? Deadlines? Self-imposed or other consequences? No pressure at all?

Nichole asks: What are your favorite 80’s TV shows and why? Any that work especially well from an adult’s and writer’s perspective? Quantum LeapThe Greatest American HeroMagnum PIWiseguyDallasThe A TeamBattlestar Galactica (original)Buck RogersThe Real GhostbustersBabylon 5Murder She WroteDuck Tales (original)RevengeScarecrow and Mrs. KingMoonlighting

Tim asks:I remember you telling Dave Robison on the Roundtable, when discussing one of his story ideas, that he should ‘try to stay interested, rather than obsessed’ and I’m curious if you could elaborate on the difference between the two states of mind. Resources MentionedRoundtable Podcast: First Anniversary Episode

Caine asks:What would the world be like if AI could make and remix film/tv/novels to your tastes and preferences, on demand.

Caine asks: I’d be very interested in hearing your thoughts regarding the theory about “ancient aliens” directing and interacting with early humans.Resources:Chariots of the Gods by Erich von DanikenAt the Mountains of Madness by HP LovecraftBattlestar Galactica (original series)Stargate film and seriesThe Book of MormonExodus story of the Rod of AaronThe Revelation of St. John the Divine

Tim asks: I’ve looked back to the first novel I ever wrote – when I was 14 – over the last week. I was surprised to find it had a stronger theme than most of my books. What kind of value do you place on the theme, whether discovered or planned, in a work of fiction? Resources Drawing on the Power of Resonance in Writing — Dave Farland/WolvertonStar Wars original treatyIndiana Jones Trilogy

Indiana Jim asks:In Secrets of the Heinlein Juvenile, chapter 18, you write about the protagonists making adult moral choices. Can you go a little deeper into specifically how modern YA fiction manifest the “native idealism, flippant _fait accompl_i, and/or deep self-seriousness,” and how to avoid it? Resources MentionedThe Secrets of the Heinlein JuvenileBonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison

Nichole asks: Could you talk about different things that you do or can’t do if you want to go out to the wilderness and write? 100w Portable Solar KitPortable Power Bank1500w Inverter GeneratorManual TypewriterMy Luck, by Mel Todd