ISBW #116 – Writing Magazines / China Miéville Interview
New show format, new show notes format!
Once again we are proud to have GoTo Meeting as a sponsor this week! Get a Free 30-Day Trial!
- 00:07: ISBW #117
- 00:37: GoTo Meeting Message
- 01:27: Allergy Attack!
- 01:52: Change in show format – adding interviews, subtracting nothing
- 03:57: Progress report on WAR
- 04:40: Hope to see you at Balticon- sign up for our ISBW Workshop!
- 05:30: Join me for breakfast at Balticon!
- 05:57: Promo: Jack Wakes Up
- 07:52: What can you get out of writing magazines? We peruse two to find out.
- 18:00: Promo: How To Succeed In Evil: The Novel
- 19:17: Interview with China Miéville, author of The City & The City
- 01:02:39: Promo: The Signal
- 01:04:20: Feedback! You can do book galleys at Lulu.com
- 01:07:34: Voicemail: How DO you write a prologue? We look to Nathan Bransford’s blog for answers.
About the Author: I am a writer and podcast producer. I write for Knights of the Dinner Table and other magazines, and my first novel, Playing For Keeps, was released in '08.
John W. Oliver | May 8, 2009 | Reply
I agree with your opinion about writing magazines & books. While I devoured them early on, nowadays I find time invested in them is usually not as valuable as the time I spend actually writing. That being said, I did find the latest issue of Writer’s Digest to be particularly useful. I usually browse the magazine rack and perhaps peruse a couple of articles, but rarely do I plop down the cash for them. This time I did.
Oh, and I enjoyed your interview with Mr. Miéville. The new format worked out fairly well.
Jan Karell | May 10, 2009 | Reply
China Miéville. That’s one of the authors I’ve wanted to hear on the show since I started listening a couple of years ago. I can’t comment on it yet though since I’m going to listen to the show now.
But damn. China Miéville. That’s as good as when you had Connie Willis on.
Oso | May 11, 2009 | Reply
Writing books and magazines don’t usually seem to offer me new insight, but they do remind me of things I already know (or am supposed to already know) that I might not be applying quite as I should. I don’t spend a lot of time on them anymore, but I like to peruse one every so often.
I spend more time of late trying to sure up my science than my technique.
Shawn | May 11, 2009 | Reply
Most excellent! I think it worked out just fine Mur. Personally, I can never get to much. Thats what the PAUSE button is for were I to find that point. ;o)
Thank you Mur,
As always, GREAT JOB!!
Shawn
Cesar Torres | May 11, 2009 | Reply
I was gladly surprised at China’s candid answers, debunking (from a personal point of view) a lot of general myths about how writing is supposed to happen. Like Mur says, it’s about finding out what works for you. If you are generating new copy, you are definitely writing, and hopefully developing as a writer. But a lot of the superstitions or writers’ “habits” that writers geek out about have less to do with superstition than that individual writer’s ability to find a technique, a working space or a recurring habit that promotes productivity. The harder I’ve worked at being flexible in finding ways to write, the more I have actually accomplished. This summer I will begin my third novel manuscript, and it’s because I do try to squeeze in writing into my lifestyle with dedication, but also balance.
Carrie | May 13, 2009 | Reply
Ditto Shawn:
Mur-time AND author interviews. Now, if you’d told me that “more of everything” was an option, I totally would have voted for that in the comments for the last episode!
MickBordet | May 19, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting interview – thanks for sterling work, Mur.
As you were discussing the use of adverbs and other literary devices “forbidden to beginners”, it occurred to me that there are many parallels with music composition. Certain combinations of notes that were once forbidden because of their dissonance (e.g. the “devil’s interval”) are now regularly used in modern music, whilst if a piece of pop modern music was written using only the rules of the 18th century it would most likely sound twee or stereotypical and certainly wouldn’t get the kids dancing. Some of those rules reflect the art of their time, whilst others are longer-lived, often for good reason. The former can probably be broken more easily by novice writers than the latter. As the developing writer progresses they find they can start to break more of the bedrock taboos in the right context.
Ever heard one of those “Orchestra X plays the Pops” albums? Far too many classical musicians think that by adding a drum kit to their ranks they can play rock music, yet despite their musical ability, the whole thing sounds dull, lifeless and embarrassing. The same goes for the reverse – many rock bands have tried to incorporate classical elements into their music and failed miserably. It can be done, but it takes a good understanding of both genres, the instruments available and how to make it all fit together.
When it does succeed, fantastic new music can be born, whole new genres can emerge, but it takes skill and experience. The same applies to writing – a simple twist or unusual juxtaposition of style, in the right hands, can spawn a new sub-genre that readers hadn’t even known they were missing.
joe | May 20, 2009 | Reply
I didn’t listen to this podcast, when I found it on my iPod.
Instead, I immersed myself in a world of China Miéville and reread Perdido Street Station. I am so glad I did. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed his writing.
I then listened to this podcast. The interview with China pulled me in and I was disappointed when it finished. I could listen to him talk about his craft for hours.
Thanks again for the podcasts.
PB | May 27, 2009 | Reply
I was gladly surprised at China’s candid answers, debunking (from a personal point of view) a lot of general myths about how writing is supposed to happen. Like Mur says, it’s about finding out what works for you. If you are generating new copy, you are definitely writing, and hopefully developing as a writer. But a lot of the superstitions or writers’ “habits” that writers geek out about have less to do with superstition than that individual writer’s ability to find a technique, a working space or a recurring habit that promotes productivity. The harder I’ve worked at being flexible in finding ways to write, the more I have actually accomplished. This summer I will begin my third novel manuscript, and it’s because I do try to squeeze in writing into my lifestyle with dedication, but also balance.