Jedi Council Forums - Interviews with Authors version 4.0

Jedi Council Forums » Fan Fiction » Fan Fiction Resource »

Post Reply | Active Topic Notification | Previous Active Topic | Next Active Topic

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 » - Previous | Next | Reload

Author	Topic: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - interview with Mira_Jade!!
JadeSolo Title: NSF managing NSWFF Registered: Sep '02	Date Posted: 5/22/06 8:06pm Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Second Interview now up - Princess_Arulmozhi!
	People never really change, you see. It's our perception of them that changes. That's just one part of your thought process I really liked. Definitely that's going to stick in my head when I read your stories from now on. Great interview! -----signature----- "If you expect a kick in the balls and you get a slap in the face, it's a victory." "May God bless you and keep you always...I mean that in a civic deist way." -Prof. Siegel "No guaranteed money, but all guaranteed fun!"
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Knight_Dilettante Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 5/25/06 1:54pm Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Second Interview now up - Princess_Arulmozhi!
	A most excellent interview! I think Diane did a great job coming up with questions. ( Thanks Diane!) And I am completely fascinated by Princess_Arulmozhi's answers. I love learning how other writers think and write and I'm planning on rereading this interview again soon (for the tenth time or something) and really savoring and thinking about each question and answer. And yup, I've got more reading to do now too. Isn't it great! KD -----signature----- An Improbable Mission (Qui/Mace) updated 10/16/05 http://doiop.com/Mission more in bio I'm so happy because I'm writing again!
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
kateydidnt Registered: Nov '04	Date Posted: 6/4/06 3:05am Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Second Interview now up - Princess_Arulmozhi!
	That was a wonderful interview! I greatly enjoyed reading it and got to know one of my favorite authors a little better. And Princess that is just about the best articulated explanation of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's relationship that I have ever read. -----signature----- R2D2: The Swiss-Army Knife of Droids The Outer Rim: Minor Character Index http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=21597215
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 6/4/06 5:07am Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Second Interview now up - Princess_Arulmozhi!
	kateydidnt posted: And Princess that is just about the best articulated explanation of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's relationship that I have ever read. I agree. She's really quite brilliant and I know that her explanation of their relationship has colored how I view them now. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/08 Fragments of Illusion- http://boards.theforce.net/bts/b10475/28456473 updated 11/20/08 jedidas3's Master At last - Hope for our country
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
ardavenport Registered: Dec '04	Date Posted: 6/4/06 7:23am Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Second Interview now up - Princess_Arulmozhi!
	I should have posted here before, for the interviews with both LuvEwan and Princess_Arulmozhi. It's so nice to be able to see who is behind the great fanfiction we're reading. Perhaps we can all use that wisdom. Great job for both the interveiwees and the interviewers. -----signature----- Links to all fics -- http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=25405090&brd=10304&start=26223917 The Heart of the Jedi -- http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/26013327 ---- Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, JA and everything you wanted to know about lightsabers
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Jennifer_Lyn Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 6/8/06 12:32pm Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Second Interview now up - Princess_Arulmozhi!
	a wonderfully insightful interview! those responses have my head reeling with ideas and editing thoughts. great inspiration from a wonderfully talented author! -----signature----- Forever in search of the perfect Obi-Wan quote but it remains something... elsewhere. Elusive. Secret agent in the OC revolution Proud Master to Kestrel_Kenobi A Stirring in the Bones - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/24526219/p5 - updated 8/30
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
FFAuthorInterviews Registered: Apr '06	Date Posted: 6/14/06 2:19pm Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Third Interview Coming Soon - YodaKenobi!
	Coming very soon, an interview with the talented and lovely YodaKenobi conducted by the equally talented and lovely Tahi. -----signature----- Know a fanfic author you think should be interviewed? PM this sock. Willing to conduct a fanfic author interview? PM this sock. Questions about fanfic author interviews? PM this sock.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
FFAuthorInterviews Registered: Apr '06	Date Posted: 6/16/06 9:21am Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Third Interview Coming Soon - YodaKenobi!
	We are indebted to the lovely and talented Tahi for the following fantastically entertaining and enlightening interview: I could describe this week's interviewee as a long-time fan of Pearl Jam and the Beatles who frequently finds inspiration for his writing in the shower. I could also tell you that his favourite SW book is Dark Tide: Onslaught, and that he writes the first draft of his stories in longhand. But I think I'd prefer to introduce him as a good friend and dedicated Beyond the Saga writer who has within the last three years completed not only a trilogy that functions as an alternative to the NJO, but also a spin-off story called Empire of the Hand, an amusing account of the affairs of the New Republic written from Jaina's point of view - I, Jaina Solo, and a series of goofy Star Wars-related parodies of Beatles songs called The Beatles sing Star Wars. If you guessed that I'm talking about YodaKenobi, then give yourself a pat on the back. Yoda is currently in the process of posting The Age of Heroes, the first book in a series that replaces the Dark Nest trilogy in his personal EU timeline; but he takes some time off here to chew the fat about his connection to Star Wars and about writing in general . . . 1. Yoda, could you share some background information about yourself with us? Well, my mom told me a few years ago that I was conceived in a trailer... or maybe it was a camper. I wasn't clear on that point but I didn't feel like asking any follow-up questions. 2. LOL – no, it pays not to go into these issues too deeply, although they say it’s always good to know one’s roots. I’m not sure if there’s a connection between campers and Star Wars or not – but can I ask when and how you first became a Star Wars fan? Well, there's a Winnebago in Space Balls... I've always liked the movies as far back as I can remember. I remember playing the video games too, but I was probably more of a casual fan. I knew who Boba Fett was but I couldn't pick a Gran out of a line-up. The release of the prequels is what turned me into an obsessed SW fan. I started reading the books after AotC, and well... you can see what a mess I am now. 3. Oh being messed up is part of the fun – after all look at dear old Darth Vader. What was it about the Prequels that got you hooked do you think? The Jedi. They were so awesome in those movies, how could one not get hooked? It was all very exciting, all the different worlds, the aliens, and of course the lightsaber action. I just got totally sucked in. Star Wars has an amazing way of transporting you to these fantastical places and forgetting about real life for two hours. It's a lot of fun. 4. You had a massive catch-up job there in the books if you only started after AotC. Where did you start – prequel era or post-RotJ? And did you follow through in order or just go randomly? I started with the Thrawn trilogy and pretty much went in order from there. I did read some prequel books here and there as I went though. I read something like 40 Star Wars novels in eight months. This is probably where the obsession took over. Anyway, I think it was actually beneficial to read the EU this way - books back to back - as I think it helped me retain a lot more of the information than I would have with big gaps between each novel. 5. Oh definitely - it helps the brain make and remember all the connections, which probably explains why your attention to detail is so good in your fics. So having kind of pigged out on the profic you obviously found your way to fan-fiction. When did you first start writing it and what drew you to it? I started writing in July of '03 and Anakin Solo's death in Star by Star is solely responsible. It didn't make any sense to me for the story of the NJO and I thought it should be changed. After some debates in the lit forum about whether it was possible to bring Anakin back in a plausible way at that point in canon (which was just as Force Heretic was winding down), I decided to try my hand at it. I wrote Revolution and I probably knew I was going to turn it into a series before the first chapter was even done. 6. Can you remember what it was precisely that made you think that? Was it that you had a very clear vision of the story you could weave from the threads you started with – or that you became hooked on the process of story telling? Both. I was having so much fun writing it that I knew I wanted to write an ending for the NJO, and have Anakin see Tahiri and his family (which I knew wasn't going to happen in Revolution). Also, the other side of that story with Kyp, Alema, and Wrev is all geared towards a sequel, with the discovery of the coralskipper farms and Wrev's deception. I kind of had an idea right away where I wanted everything to go. 7. Was writing an activity you'd always been interested in - for instance did you do much creative writing at school? I remember writing some short stories as a kid, a lot of it humor and action, but I really wasn't into any creative writing from junior high on up. I've always been a fan of good storytelling though, in any medium. 8. You said it was Anakin's death in SbS that motivated you to write. Why do you think Anakin’s death has aroused so much controversy? Beyond the fact that he was such a great character that a lot of us loved, I think because it seems to leave a lot of plot holes. I can see now why Lucas apparently didn't want Anakin to be the hero of the series, because the point of the NJO was bringing about the next Sith Lord and playing a trick on all the fanboys who defended Jacen's action throughout that series as "light side". But Anakin's death still seems meaningless to me, and ultimately harmful to the story. Too many plot threads that had been established since his birth really, but also running through the Corellian Trilogy, The New Rebellion, and of course the NJO itself, had to be dropped, and we'll never get any conclusion to them. There's also the silliness of the situation in which he died. Killing the voxyn queen so that no more voxyn can be cloned? Clones are 100% genetic replicas. If even one voxyn survived, the Yuuzhan Vong could have gone on cloning them indefinitely, and we see voxyn as late as Destiny's Way. Yet there's no explanation why the Vong don't clone them... and no one on the strike team or in the Jedi Order seems aware of this flawed logic, that killing the "Voxyn Queen" will have an affect on anything. It's a very silly way to kill off such an important character. Couldn't they have done something better? If they were determined to kill Anakin, do it in a way that would have at least tied up Ikrit's prophecy, the foreshadowing in the other NJO books, and Luke's vision in DE? Hopefully Del Rey and LFL will realize what a mistake this all was before it's too late. 9. Well - a nudge is as good as a wink to a blind man, or so they say. In other words - we won't hold our breath. But regardless of some of the perceived shortcomings of certain aspects of Star Wars profic - there is no doubt much that is inspiring. Who would you say both within and outside the Star Wars community have influenced your writing style the most? For Star Wars authors, I'd have to say Zahn, Stackpole, Keyes, and probably Stover. I think Zahn is better at capturing "Star Wars" in his books than anyone else, and I really love the pacing and adventure in Stackpole and Keyes' books. I'd have to say Kurt Vonnegut on one of my fics for sure, if we're talking about any author. As for writers here, definitely you, Tahi, and probably Mr. Ewok as well. 10. Argh - I've helped to create a monster! Seriously - thanks, and I promise to pay the rest of the bribe next week. LOL Taking into account the variety of writing styles within that band of writers you mentioned - how do you think your own personal style has evolved, and have you consciously experimented with different styles and narrative "voices"? Yes. I wrote a fic called I, Jaina Solo which was pretty much a rip-off of everything Kurt Vonnegut has ever written. For some reason I saw a similarity between him and Jaina in the voicing. Jaina has sort of a biting sense of humor sometimes, I suppose. Maybe it's just bitterness. Building walls and deflecting things to keep from breaking down in tears when the galaxy had become so horrible. So I wrote that in the first person, and it’s the only time I've done that. It did make me realize the advantages of conveying a sense of immediacy to readers by writing in the present tense, and when I read Stover's Revenge of the Sith novelization soon after, I saw a way to apply that to my fic series. There can be a sort of detachment for readers sometimes, I think, when it's all written in past tense. I think periodically taking that away and putting them there in the moment, as if it's happening as they read, is a good tool. 11. You said that you chose the Kurt Vonnegut style for the fic because you felt it matched Jaina's psyche. One of the things I've noticed in the story is a critique of her upbringing - framed of course through Jaina's eyes. (I like that inherent ambiguity, because the reader can take it as fact or regard it as her "hang-up".) I'm curious to know if you personally feel that Jaina has a point about her parents' parenting style, or are you simply presenting a possible viewpoint that Jaina might have, based on some of her musings, and also her comments to Mara, at various times in the NJO books. Well, a lot of the criticism coming from Jaina in that fic is sarcasm. Like when she repeatedly says that Luke and Mara are responsible for the war— she doesn't really believe that, she's making a joke about the HoloNet. Some of the stuff about her parents was tongue-and-cheek as well, but yeah, I don't think anyone is really going to nominate the Solos for Parents of the Year. They had other huge responsibilities that they may not have put above their children, but they seemed to gain equal footing. I mean, how many times did those kids get kidnapped? I think Health and Human Services would have taken them away from those two in the real world for not watching them close enough. I'm not saying Han and Leia were wrong though. What would have happened to the New Republic if they didn't have that kind of commitment? And two out of three of their children turned out pretty well, so I guess there's the proof that they weren't bad parents. But as you pointed out, there is real criticism there from Jaina in a lot of the NJO, and the fic was written from her POV, so I included it. 12. You have some very amusing and slightly wacky OCs in I, Jaina Solo, such as Nieus P. Sovel - the venerable Sullustan philosopher. What gave you the idea for him? Oh, Nieus. Going back to the Vonnegut thing, there are frequently characters who have some interaction or impact on the main character in his books who get referenced repeatedly with some biting sarcasm. So I guess that was the genesis. I can't really remember what made me think up the character of a Sullustan philosopher/writer, I think just the general idea of his philosophy in the book Choices and the Sentient Being was a good set-up for the chapter I was writing, so I went with it and Sovel kept popping up in subsequent chapters, often writing more books. There are a few others in the story doing the same thing, though not as much, like a lounge singer named "Leena Twan", and "Captain Bojo" who was the star of some show Jaina used to watch as a kid called "Captain Bojo's Critter Quest." It's sort of funny to me that people who readI, Jaina Solo will remember Nieus P. Sovel even though he doesn't actually appear anywhere in the story. The name was just me jumbling the two Sullustan names I knew to make it seem authentic (Sien Sovv and Nien Numb), but someone later informed me that "Nieus P. Sovel" makes an anagram of "U loves penis." Completely unintentional on my part, and hopefully not something I did subconsciously as well. 13. Well – you ARE the FADA therapist, so just make like Freud and blame it on your mother. (For those unfamiliar with FADA – it’s the community thread for fans of Anakin Solo. Yoda landed the job of therapist after he interpreted a somewhat odd and troubling dream for another of the somewhat odd and troubling FADA regulars. ) But as far as the anagram goes - when I jumble the letters, I get “pensive soul”. Does this say more about the psychology of the anagram maker than the creator of the name I wonder? Hey, you're much better at this. "Pensive Soul"... I like that. That must have been what I intended. One thing anyway - it's obvious you have a lot of fun with your writing. Which of your stories has been your favourite to write so far? My favorite story so far is definitely The Living Force. It was the conclusion to my NJO series, and I always like the conclusions best I guess. It probably helps that things worked out better than I had even hoped in the beginning. Lots of happy accidents. 14. That’s the funny thing about writing; it’s almost as if the process is a form of problem-solving. Do you have a favourite kind of story to write, and if so what kind and why? My favorite type of story to write is definitely epics. I like to try and write things that seem like the Star Wars movies and books. I, Jaina Solo was a nice break from that, but epics are where my focus is. I like them to be big adventures with jetting starfighters, flashing lightsabers, and maybe even some romance sprinkled in there somewhere. 15. That certainly IS the Star Wars we all know and love. But epics create a lot of logistical problems due to the fact they’re, well . . . EPIC. Which story has given you the most trouble so far? Again, The Living Force Funny how that works out. I had some writer's block in the beginning about some major plot points. I knew I had to tie everything up in that fic, and I was having particular trouble correlating Ikrit's prophecy of Anakin and Tahiri "becoming greater than the sum of their parts" into the conclusion and making it something meaningful and worthy of the importance I thought it deserved. Like most of my ideas, it came to me in the shower and ended up tying a lot of other things in place. TLF was a bear to write. I worked really hard on it for 6 months hand writing 1,200 pages and something like 277,000 words. So it was difficult actually getting through it all. Ultimately, it's the one I'm most pleased with though, so I guess there's something to be said for struggling. 16. It’s the satisfaction of a job well done I think. Nobody ever said writing was easy. You juggled a huge cast of characters in that story and the first two books in the series. Who is your favourite character to write and who out of the profic writers do you think wrote this character the best - and why? Well, Anakin Solo is my favorite character, but my favorite character to write is probably Jacen. He's very complex and there's a lot that has to be sorted out with him. I like a challenge, I suppose. Jacen seems to be capable of great kindnesses and tremendous atrocities. That makes for some fun writing. Probably both Stackpole and Stover wrote him best. I think they understood that Jacen is motivated by ambition - not for power like his grandfather, but for knowledge. It seems to be just as dangerous though. I think Stackpole and Stover did a great job of depicting his doubts and an underlying belief of Jacen's that he's destined for something more than being a Jedi. They also told great stories. 17. Agreed, especially about Stackpole. And as one of Stackpole’s great strengths IMO is creating great characters, this leads me to ask about what process you use to keep track of all your original characters in terms of physical description and personality traits? Like most everything else, I just keep it in my head. I probably don't have enough OCs for it to get confusing, and they are all bland and underdeveloped anyway. 18. Oh, I think your readers will disagree with that. Wrev Caster for instance, who’s been in your series ever since Revolution is a very complex OC – very human and always a little tricky. I’m never quite sure if I trust him or not. Did you base him on anybody you know at all; and has he changed from how you originally envisioned him? And how would you describe him in your own words? Wrev is a composite of a lot of the Jedi who died during the NJO, like Ganner, Wurth, and Dae'sharacor. I wasn't happy with the way all these really cool Jedi were killed off so quickly before we really got a chance to explore their characters. There are almost no new Jedi from that era (who would have trained at the academy between Kyp Durron and the Solo kids) of that series that survived to the end, which is disheartening, because they seemed like good characters. So that was the basic idea for the character, and he was vital to the plot of Revolution because I needed that mystery element, a character readers wouldn't be sure of. The biggest change to the character is that he's become more of a jerk, I guess. I think I now see him more Corellian than Coruscanti — I might have to ret-con that. As far as describing him, I'd say he's a lot like the Jedi of that era — brash, more flash than substance, and desperately needing to be taken down a peg or two. There's also something inherently untrustworthy about him, which I've been using since the beginning. I'm not sure I wouldn't classify him as a villain in a lot of different situations. 19. Do you find that readers’ feedback has affected how you’ve developed Wrev at all? Not really. There have been some threats made in the Age of Heroes thread regarding a possible love triangle between him, Jaina and Jag but I try not to let it sway me one way or the other. My basic approach with OCs is to not make them too important. The story of Star Wars, at least the way I'm trying to tell it, within the same vein as the movies/novels, is about the Skywalkers and Solos. Wrev is just a side character - a way of making things happen for the central characters of the story. We won't ever see him becoming a primary focus of anything, or a whole section of a story devoted to him and what he's doing. The character has grown to a place where I don't feel uncomfortable putting him in places with the Solos and Skywalkers, but I think he'll always remain in the periphery. 20. Actually the whole issue of feedback is interesting. It depends, I suppose, on whether a writer is posting a story that is already ostensibly complete, or if they are just a few posts ahead of the readers. Have there been any instances where you’ve maybe altered your original ideas for a story because of feedback? And what kind of feedback do you like, or find most useful? There have been a few times when readers have caught mistakes in my stories - like Stent being in Empire of the Hand when he died in "Red Sky, Blue Flame". Thankfully someone recognized it when I posted the dramatis, so he never actually appeared in the story, but as far as opinion-based stuff goes, I really can't think of anything. I typically write my stories out to completion before posting them, or at least know exactly what I want for the beginning, middle, and end, so there isn't a lot of wiggle room. I try not to let what the readers want affect my decisions. I don't really think that's art. I think it's about creating what you think is best, even if everyone else thinks it's awful. With creative endeavors, I think success is measured by whether you're satisfied with the final product rather than the responses of others. That's not to say you should be close-minded or unreceptive to what readers say. If their comments or suggestions are things that you believe will really make a story better, you should definitely do so. I just don't think you should change them simply because someone else (or everyone) told you that's the way they think it should be. 21. Well – it is the writer’s vision, after all. I’d like to pick up on something else you said earlier, and that is the fact you were originally inspired by the prequels – do you see any similarities between the post-RotJ era and the prequel era in terms of events and characters? I ask because I see quite a few echoes of the prequels in your stories. Is it a conscious decision to put them in - or do they just kind of creep in themselves, as often happens with writing? Most of it is conscious, I think. We've seen it happening in profic now that the prequels have wrapped up as well. I think it's natural to want to connect the series together as a whole that way. As for similarities between the Orders, there are definitely some. Unfortunately, Luke seems to be duplicating a lot of the mistakes of the Old Republic Jedi, as far as aligning the Jedi too closely with the government. Which is really strange and unfortunate, because he seemed conscious of wanting to keep some space there in the Bantam books. Not too sure about character similarities, as the fact that the New Order’s are allowed more freedom in the way they lead their lives allows for a more diverse group of personalities. The obvious connections would involve Jacen, but I don't really think he's much like Anakin Skywalker. And he's more frightening anyway... 22. LOL – so true! One of the many things I like about your stories is the way you pick up on things that many of us felt were left “unfulfilled” in the profic books – not only prophecies, such as the Ikrit one you mentioned, but also events. Recently in The Age of Heroes you dealt with the occasion when Lando and Karrde manipulated the voting to get Cal Omas elected. Is this a conscious decision on your part to tie up some of the loose ends, or do the opportunities arise by chance in the writing process? Again, both. Sometimes things like that just fall into place, but quite often, there are things I want to tie up for my own peace of mind. I guess that's the point of writing AUs. Ikrit's prophecy was something I felt really needed to be shown. We can't be left to believe that Ikrit slept for hundreds of years so Anakin and Tahiri could move a tree, can we? That's just not good story telling. A lot of times the things missing in canon are what get the plot bunnies breeding. I can't remember exactly how the Lando and Karrde thing came up. I remember being very troubled by their actions in Destiny's Way and especially Luke's complicity in it. I think I realized early on in the brainstorming period for The Age of Heroes that it would be a good plot device to get what I wanted, which was Omas out of office and Rodan in, while turning Luke and the Jedi into renegades. 23. You've written an astronomical number of epic length stories since you started - how do you keep up the regimen? Do you have a writing routine? (Please don't tell me you write in the nude while in the lotus position! LOL) Seriously - do you have a set time for writing, and about how many hours a day would you try and write? And do you have a method for dealing with writer's block? No, no, I promise I don't write in the nude. I save that for posting on the JC. I was much more regimented about it when I was writing the first trilogy, I'm afraid I've really gotten bad about it lately. I basically just try and write whenever I have time, a lot of it late at night because I have rampant insomnia. I try and write 10 pages a day, but as I said, I've failed at this badly lately. I'd say a couple hours a day when things are going well. Hopefully I'll get back into a better routine when I write the follow-up to AoH (working on the closing chapters right now). As for writer's block, I've been lucky enough not to get it too often. I normally have my fics pretty well mapped out before I start writing, so any mental block usually comes during the planning stages. For dealing with it though, I think a lot of it is routine and taking some time to mindlessly do something for a bit, where you can think about it without distraction. I have an exercise routine that I spend an hour and a half to 2 hours doing every night. If I don't do it, and try and write instead or something, I find I have trouble. I think that sort of activity clears the mind. The shower came up earlier too. No distractions in there, nice and relaxing. 24. [Tries not to visualize Yoda in posting mode! ] I know you keep up to date with the latest profic books. As your two series are intended as AU alternatives to the NJO and DN series, how much do you utilise actual canon material? (Obviously you use many of the characters and settings, but as you read, do you pick certain events in profic that you find particularly interesting or useful for your storyline? I ask this for those folks like me who kind of gave up on the NJO and who haven't read DN.) Nothing that's happening post NJO is used in my fics, really. There might be similarities since we sort of had the same jumping off point (my fics take off from Force Heretic 3: Reunion). But I will use stuff in the new books if it relates to background info. For example, I won't incorporate Juun or Tarfang in my fic series as much as I love them, but if the Killiks really did build Centerpoint thousands of years before the Saga (which I think it's clear they didn't) I would include something like that. 25. Writing - no matter how addictive - can be a frustrating business sometimes and I think most writers, whether they be amateurs or established authors, would admit that they're never completely satisfied with their work. There are always ways they know they could improve, given time, and most would admit to recognising aspects of writing they would like to do better. What are some of the things you know you've learned about the process of writing? And which areas do you feel you've had to work hardest on? Geez, this could be a very long list. First off, just having a basic fluidity in the writing is a struggle for me, and I've never thought I was all that good describing things, at least artistically. That's something I've really worked at, and I'm very far from where I'd like to be. Things like incorporating metaphors and remembering all 5 senses in descriptions. Some writers, like you and Ewok for instance, seem to do this very easily and it's always an uphill battle for me. I also think my OCs are largely pretty weak. Especially all the Yuuzhan Vong characters in my NJO trilogy. They came out basically as caricatures of YV, I think, either falling into two groups: ultra loyal Jedi-sympathizers or fanatical followers of the YV gods. Part of this was because the stories were so big I just didn't feel I had the time to devote to their development (and maybe it's true of most of the YV we saw in canon too), but it's something that bothers me. If I ever get around to rewriting, that will be one of the first things I'd change. I'm horrible at coming up with names and titles. I've been told I use a lot of dangling participles, which is true. I'm also too long-winded most of the time. I don't even want to think about the grammatical errors in Revolution... We'd better stop before I get depressed. But I do hope I'm improving on most of that stuff. tongue 26. Goodness gracious - you're a bit tough on yourself, old chap! But there again, I think every writer worth his or her salt is. I used to get picked up for using dangling participles, or as we used to call them back in the Stone Age – dangling modifiers – but the problem is that sometimes they sound so GOOD. And I think we all struggle with making OCs, especially minor OCs, well rounded. Let’s face it we’re all learners here. And now a question that I know your readers would like to know about - what do you have in the pipeline once you've completed The Age of Heroes? Oh yeah! There will be three fics that follow it in the Legacy of the Sith series. I should start the next one in a couple months after I take a little break. I also may write a Legacy of the Force short story with another writer here soon, but I'm not 100% sure yet. We've been kicking it around for a few months, and I want to do it. We'll see what happens. I'll also probably have a new Beatles parody sometime in the near future, and who knows? Probably something in a totally different direction likeI, Jaina Solo at some point. Also mulling over a short story that relates to a sect within my Legacy of the Sith series called the "Raithians". It would just be 4 or 5 vignettes really, giving background information on some of the characters in the time before the series. Part of my effort to make better OCs, I guess. I'll definitely keep writing no matter what. But being able to do it at a place like the JC where a lot of very nice people take time out of their day to read my stories and tell me what they think makes it all the more rewarding, and I really can't thank them enough. 27. Well, I think I speak for many readers when I say thanks for being such a good story teller. And now that I’ve pretty much exhausted all my questions – and probably you as well – I’ll end with asking what advice, if any, would you offer anyone intending to write fanfic? To not worry too much about things like readership and just write what they think is good, even if it's not "popular." And to stick with it. To thyself be true - probably a good philosophy of life there. Well that's it - the torture session is over. Thanks so much, Yoda, for giving of your time so generously and especially for allowing me to pick your brains about your fics and about the process of writing. That – along with our love of Star Wars – is the bond that unites us all. And . . . uh . . . have you considered maybe wearing a bathrobe when you post? Want to know more? YodaKenobi's profile Revolution The Eighth Cortex The Living Force Empire of the Hand The Age of Heroes I, Jaina Solo (The Great Chiss War) The Beatles sing Star Wars (Song parodies) -----signature----- Know a fanfic author you think should be interviewed? PM this sock. Willing to conduct a fanfic author interview? PM this sock. Questions about fanfic author interviews? PM this sock.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
TKeira_Lea Registered: Oct '02	Date Posted: 6/16/06 10:30am Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Third Interview Up Now! - YodaKenobi!!!
	Lovely interview, Yobi! And great questions too, Tahi I really love reading about how other authors get their stories developed and also what makes them tick. So thanks to KD for giving this thread life again. -----signature----- http://www.lominalecantina.com character often lies in contradiction ~ jfostrander01 Wingman - a post LotF fic http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28548970/p1/?219
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
SilSolo Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 6/16/06 10:49am Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Third Interview Up Now! - YodaKenobi!!!
	Wow that's ten thousand interesting things that I never knew about Yobi. -----signature----- http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27517284/p1/?11 Like this quick sketch: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/32848083/ ? Then commission me. Prices are negotiable.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
LadyPadme Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Sep '02	Date Posted: 6/16/06 6:33pm Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Third Interview Up Now! - YodaKenobi!!!
	Great post! It was fun to read about you, Yobi! -----signature----- Crest MD Naimé Evil Twin of Gabri_Jade When a baby smiles the world is happy VOTE OBAMA '08
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 6/16/06 7:02pm Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Third Interview Up Now! - YodaKenobi!!!
	Great interview. Loved the interaction between Tahi and Yoda. But what astonished me was that Yoda wrote 10 pages a DAY! Whoa, that's a lot of work. Anyway, loved it. Bravo to both of you! -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/08 Fragments of Illusion- http://boards.theforce.net/bts/b10475/28456473 updated 11/20/08 jedidas3's Master At last - Hope for our country
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Knight_Dilettante Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 6/19/06 2:32pm Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Third Interview Up Now! - YodaKenobi!!!
	I loved learning more about YodaKenobi in this interview. Very enlightening and inspiring. (10 pages a day? ) Also, just plain fun. KD -----signature----- An Improbable Mission (Qui/Mace) updated 10/16/05 http://doiop.com/Mission more in bio I'm so happy because I'm writing again!
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
FFAuthorInterviews Registered: Apr '06	Date Posted: 7/7/06 5:10pm Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Third Interview Up Now! - YodaKenobi!!!
	Coming soon, Maychorian interviewed by Dianethx! Please do keep suggestions for authors to interview coming. -----signature----- Know a fanfic author you think should be interviewed? PM this sock. Willing to conduct a fanfic author interview? PM this sock. Questions about fanfic author interviews? PM this sock.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
jagsredlady Registered: Oct '02	Date Posted: 7/7/06 5:27pm Subject: RE: Interviews with Authors version 4.0 - Third Interview Up Now! - YodaKenobi!!!
	Thanks to Tahi for that terrific interview of YodaKenobi. Well done! -----signature----- Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge. ~ Mark Twain
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 » - Previous | Next | Reload

Jedi Council Forums » Fan Fiction » Fan Fiction Resource »