Ask the Author: John Scalzi
Answered Questions (21)
John Scalzi
There are certainly things I wish I had said more artfully. But most of them time when I've made an ass of myself in writing, I've had the sense to apologize for it, and to learn from it a bit. In those cases, I wouldn't take it back because I've learned something useful.
John Scalzi
I would still like to do it -- I need to find a story I'm happy with, and then time to do it. We'll see.
John Scalzi
I'm pretty much open to trying anything (creative) once, but the real limiting factors for me are time and other obligations. I'm beginning to confront the possibility that one life might not be enough time for everything I would like to try.
John Scalzi
No books that made me say "I can do that," but quite a few that made me say, "I want to do that." The difference between the two is small but telling.
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John Scalzi
The short answer is: Maybe? If in the writing it makes sense to do so, then I will. Otherwise, you'll have to do the fan fiction version of it. Get to it!
John Scalzi
How much I end up traveling. As an example, in the last three weeks, I have been home a total of four days -- all the rest has been traveling to or being at conventions and trade shows. I in no way expected that.
John Scalzi
The Rough Guides to Sci-Fi Movies is now out of print (Rough Guides cancelled all its non-travel books), so there will be no new edition of that book from that publisher. However, the rights to the book have reverted to me, and I would like to update it at some point. What form that takes is, at the moment, entirely up in the air.
John Scalzi
No, because I only do one draft -- that is to say, I edit as I go along, which takes the place of multiple drafts. So that makes it easier to get my story straight.
John Scalzi
Yes, when I'm writing a novel I write daily, usually in the morning when my brain is still fresh and not bogged down with e-mail and Twitter. Writing daily gets my novels written more quickly, which leaves more time for the important things: Video games.
John Scalzi
I don't listen to music while I'm writing my novels because I find it too distracting. If I'm writing e-mails or other non-creative stuff, I'll put on mellow stuff: vocal stuff from the 50s or 60s, or yacht rock. Something that's good as background filler.
John Scalzi
I think I would have been a pretty good teacher if I had gone that direction; I think I would have enjoyed teaching history. I do teach occasionally at writing workshops and it's usually an enjoyable experience.
Also, I was a drummer in high school and college. Maybe that?
Also, I was a drummer in high school and college. Maybe that?
John Scalzi
Basement insulation.
(More seriously, I'll give them to friends)
(More seriously, I'll give them to friends)
John Scalzi
Yes, I do. It's usually fun to do, and I think I'm good at it, so there's pleasure in doing something you know you do well. It doesn't keep it from being a job, but in general it does make the job pleasant. I'm lucky to have a job I like most of the time.
John Scalzi
I'm not trying to write plays at this point, so, no, Shakespeare doesn't make me want to give up. But even if I were writing plays, his work wouldn't have that effect on me, mostly because I wouldn't be trying to write like Shakespeare, I'd be trying to write like me.
In larger sense, I don't tend to feel intimidated by other writers, even the ones that are acknowledged masters, like Shakespeare. I'm not worried about being better writers than them; I'm interested in telling good stories for readers. You don't have to be Shakespeare to do that.
In larger sense, I don't tend to feel intimidated by other writers, even the ones that are acknowledged masters, like Shakespeare. I'm not worried about being better writers than them; I'm interested in telling good stories for readers. You don't have to be Shakespeare to do that.
John Scalzi
I've written ten of them, so yes! I have non-fiction books on several subjects, some of which have done very well. My very first published book, in fact, was a book on finance.
In terms of fiction, I would like to at some point write a book outside the SF/F genre, but at the moment I'm happy within the genre, so it's not a priority. We'll see what happens.
In terms of fiction, I would like to at some point write a book outside the SF/F genre, but at the moment I'm happy within the genre, so it's not a priority. We'll see what happens.
John Scalzi
Because of the way The God Engines ends, it's difficult to make a sequel to it, so, no, I probably won't. But I might write other stuff like TGE from time to time. It's nice to do other things than what one is usually known for -- indeed, one of the reasons I wrote TGE was to make the point that just because I'm known for one particular style of writing, doesn't mean I'm not capable of other styles as well.
John Scalzi
My mortgage. Which sounds like I'm trying to be a smartass, but which is actually true. Writing is my job; I don't do anything else. If I don't write, I don't get paid, and like everyone else, I have to make money to get along. I like my house; I want to keep it. So I am inspired to write.
John Scalzi
I'm aware that my books might be optioned for other media, but I don't specifically write with that in mind. In my opinion if you write a novel with the intent of having it developed for another medium, you're both getting ahead of yourself and also not focusing on your job -- i.e., writing a really good novel. So I focus on writing the novel; the rest of it will happen or not.
John Scalzi
There will definitely be a Lock In book tour -- we're in the process of planning it now. I can't confirm specific stops yet, however. I suspect we'll announce it soon.
John Scalzi
At this point, publishers send me a ton of books -- anywhere from ten to forty books a week -- because they want me to blurb the books or because I'm spotlighting the author on the "Big Idea" feature on my site. So I don't really have to work hard to find new authors. They literally show up at my door on a daily basis.
With that said, one of my favorite things to do (still) is to go to a bookstore and just wander around and check out what's on the shelves. You can't beat that for serendipitous discovery.
Reading now: "The Story of the Jews" by Simon Schama.
With that said, one of my favorite things to do (still) is to go to a bookstore and just wander around and check out what's on the shelves. You can't beat that for serendipitous discovery.
Reading now: "The Story of the Jews" by Simon Schama.
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May 24, 2015 12:10PM