ISBW #56 - Nancy Kress Interview
In October I spoke with Nancy Kress about her books, professionalism, the muse, and NaNoWrimo. Skype had some hiccups near the end that clipped off some of our conversation. This is Skype - not clumsy editing. I didn’t edit anything from this interview. And the dog is barking in the background…
Me? I’m so tired of this novel that I’m boring myself when I complain about it. Thus, I am putting a hold on stuff until it’s done. This includes podcasting.
I mention Ze Frank’s video podcast.
Promos: Jim Kelly’s Free Reads, Matt Selznick’s Five Minute Memoirs
About the Author: I am a writer and podcast producer, writing for magazines and RPGs. I am a wanna-be fiction writer with several short fiction, comic scripts, and one novel sale. Playing For Keeps will be out August, '08.
Cameron | Dec 18, 2006 | Reply
This was a very timely podcast for me.
I like the sound of Nancy’s books. I launched into my story with only a minimal plot, and now all my vague margin notes and ”insert description here” reminders are coming back to bite me. In a deliberate effort to avoid doing something about it I started a blog (what a great way to blow away large chunks of your life).
I haven’t looked at my MS for a few weeks (it’s starting to give me dirty looks) but I’m feeling a bit inspired again, so thanks for that.
Oh well, back to the margin notes.
(Mmm… “don’t go to the Pillar of Otters.” I wonder what I was thinking when I wrote that…)
Graham | Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
The way Mrs. Kress writes sans plan sounds like the way I write. So I’ll be picking up one of her books at the earliest oportunity. Now, just have to write a story as good as Beggars In Spain…
Bryan | Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
I have a suggestion for your caller who has 50k of his novel and doesn’t know where to go from there. I was in a similar boat after Nano and looking for a way to beef up the count and make a more satisfying read.
Look for areas of possible conflict. Whether it is characters or the world in general, seek out differences and stresses where you can put things into question and create tension. Look for ways to keep people guessing and keep things unresolved.
In my fantasy novel, I had the problem of having one race of people that got along a little too well with each other. I realized this is completely unrealistic. Eutopias are boring. Even a profoundly just and ecological society is going to have factions and tensions. By exploring these possibilites, the culture became so much more rich and believable.
Anonymous | Dec 19, 2006 | Reply
It was Neil Gaiman who worked on several project. - L-M
Dr. Lisa | Dec 20, 2006 | Reply
Imagine a short, round woman with grey hair and glasses doing the little DJ hand-hovering gesture to accompany this: “Go, go, Mur….Go, go, Mur…Go, go Mur.”
It’s a marathon, and you are really close to the end; the rest of us are handing you virtual cups of Gatorade to drink.
Happy holidays, too, and congratulations on getting this far.
Dave T | Dec 20, 2006 | Reply
Very inspiring and encouraging interview. Thanks, Mur, and keep plugging away on the book. I’m sure you’ll get it soon.
tribalecho | Dec 22, 2006 | Reply
Hi Mur. I just found Escape Pod and listened to your Christmas story. I loved it.
As one who has suffered 44 years of writer’s block, I”m vaguely uncomfortable to have found your blog.
Ho, ho, ho. And a Merry, that holiday that I used to sorta like still despite the crass commercialism, until the right wingnuts ruined it for everyone.
Kat | Dec 24, 2006 | Reply
Hey there.
I just randomly searched “writing” and found your blog.
I feel im very much in the same boat as you about writing except im not at the point where you are with the freelance.
Mig | Jan 18, 2007 | Reply
I liked the advise you gave the fellow who’d discussed his world building and WIP with his lady friend and was troubled that she came up with so many story ideas while could’t. But I think you missed an important point. I thought that his unstated real problem was that he shouldn’t have been discussing the details of his WIP with her in the first place. I like Stephen King’s and other writer’s advise that you should not discuss with anyone your WIP until after it is done, that includes all the rewriting. Discussing the project threatens discouragement and getting sidetracked by other people’s input. Exactly what happened to your listener. If anyone should keep his WIP to himself, it was this guy.