7/27/03 3:32:23 PM Opening "Chat Log 7/27/03"
TheUsurpKing: Hi Paul Dhewco: My first time like this time too..... HOST WPLC Sushi: so you can see me ? G1ft0fgabn0t: Welcome everyone to the special chat with Piers Anthony HOST WPLC Sushi: my first time in this sort of chat room TheUsurpKing: Hi Dhewco Online Host: Lera al has entered the room. TheUsurpKing: Hi Lera HOST WPLC Sushi: cecil, how many chat windows can you see? TheUsurpKing: Yes I can see the Sushi man Dhewco: is everyone here a fan? or just writers here for advice? TheUsurpKing: Stage Chat area and Audience Chat area G1ft0fgabn0t: Lots of storms about tonight my friends. We'll pray for juice all the way ;) HOST WPLC Sushi: wow, so you type and it comes out on the bottom window? TheUsurpKing: yes HOST WPLC Sushi: this was arranged in advance by AOL, as I understand it JES No Time: How do the two screens work? TheUsurpKing: Good, two areas, Stage Chat Area in top screen and Audience Chat Area in lower screen Sunan21: The speaker is in the stage chat area if I've read the directions correctly. Dhewco: I feel so inferior down here at the bottom :P Fjm3eyes: can we bottom guys get to the top? Docks153: This must be the place. The address is quite different from what I had. BornToVector: Hi Steel, gabby, paul and of course you Sry G1ft0fgabn0t: I love your Xanth novels and I'm a very unique individual :::grinning::: HOST WPLC Lyric: yes, everyone is having AOL trouble at the moment Mr. Anthony G1ft0fgabn0t: hopefully the problems have been corrected Dhewco: I preferred the Immortality series better than the Xanth SteeIBtrfl: Mr. Anthony - you are on the stage area SteeIBtrfl: which is the right one HOST WPLC Lyric: Okay, for those of you who don't know what is going on HOST WPLC Lyric: This is a special auditorium type chat room Docks153: As long as the planking is solid. HOST WPLC Lyric: the main conversation will be going on in the top screen HOST WPLC Lyric: so that if people don't behave by observing protocol HOST WPLC Lyric: the main discussion will not be disrupted and so that people can follow much easier HOST WPLC Lyric: So for everyone in the bottom screen Docks153: How will I know where the questions are coming from? HOST WPLC Lyric: sorry but we won't be able to see your comments if we're paying attention up here HOST WPLC Sushi: jes, we ought to use Protocol or there may be chaos G1ft0fgabn0t: We will post the questions for Mr. Anthony in the top window SteeIBtrfl: Docks - Lyric will post your questions SteeIBtrfl: Right here Docks153: Okay. HOST WPLC Lyric: Tonight we will be observing strict protocol Docks153: I keep trying to read that name as Steel Butt. SteeIBtrfl: Members of the audience were invited to send in questions prior to tonight HOST WPLC Lyric: since we're in this auditorium instead of our normal chat room SteeIBtrfl: Docks - <grins> HOST WPLC Sushi: you can email me questions, and I will select some more. HOST WPLC Sushi: so we can have 'fresh' ones along with those pre-submitted Docks153: It looks more interesting on the lower stage where the people are. HOST WPLC Lyric: Dion, we will all notice Docks153: I gather everyone can read both stages? HOST WPLC Sushi: <-- one of Mr Anthony's aliens (not people) ;-) HOST WPLC Sushi: Eagle, everyone, please email me your questions HOST WPLC Sushi: I will sort 'em out HOST WPLC Lyric: Okay, gang Docks153: And I always see LOL as Lots of Love. HOST WPLC Lyric: tonight we're pleased to welcome Piers Anthony to our chat HOST WPLC Lyric: He is the author of 124 books HOST WPLC Lyric: INCREDIBLE books HOST WPLC Lyric: Books that entertain and change lives Docks153: Hello. HOST WPLC Lyric: we are incredibly excited to have him here tonight TheUsurpKing: Hello, Mr. Anthony HOST WPLC Lyric: I know you all will have questions HOST WPLC Lyric: but please DO NOT IM him, me or anyone else on stage HOST WPLC Lyric: We will take questions from the audience by email only HOST WPLC Lyric: please email them to HOST WPLC SUSHI ChicagoGail1988: Thank you for coming welcome HOST WPLC Lyric: and he will pass them on to me to post on stage, okay? HOST WPLC Lyric: Mr. Anthony, can you please tell us a little about how you got started as a writer HOST WPLC Lyric: what made you WANT to write Docks153: Yes. In college I needed to decide on my major, and I pondered it overnight, and realized I wanted to be a Docks153: writer. It was like a light turning on, and it guided me ever since. Docks153: I'm not sure how to signal the end of my answer. HOST WPLC Lyric: How long from realizing you wanted to be a writer HOST WPLC Lyric: till the time you wrote your first successful book? HOST WPLC Lyric: you can type ga for go ahead if you like Docks153: Eight years for my first story, five more to my first novel. Docks153: ga HOST WPLC Lyric: So it definitely wasn't an overnight process! LOL HOST WPLC Lyric: LOL means laugh out loud in this case! Docks153: Definitely not overnight! It isn't for anybody, I think. ga HOST WPLC Lyric: a few people in the audience have asked, what made you stick with it? HOST WPLC Lyric: not give up hope? ga Docks153: I tried fifteen types of employment. The only one I like was writing--the least successful. ga HOST WPLC Lyric: Sunan asks HOST WPLC Lyric: What do you feel, out of your 140 books, written in numerous genres, would you consider your most personal work HOST WPLC Lyric: hmm did I get it wrong, is it 140 or 124? HOST WPLC Lyric: sorry the last word should be accomplishment Docks153: But I need to know the question: my most personal what? Book? Sex experience? Job? HOST WPLC Lyric: book Docks153: The book that means the most to me in Tatham Mound, my first big historical novel. HOST WPLC Lyric: Of your 124 books which one do you think is your best HOST WPLC Lyric: is it because of the subject or the research? Docks153: However, I feel all of them are good. HOST WPLC Lyric: I frankly, agree! Docks153: Yes, I favor my historicals, because they require much more work, and have greater relevance to people. HOST WPLC Lyric: Frank would like to know, what kind of writer's schedule you maintain and how do you feel about revisions? Docks153: For fun, of course, it's Xanth. Docks153: I try to start my day at 9, work to 1:30, break for lunch and a slew of mail, then work from 3-5 and 6-8. Docks153: But usually that pattern gets interrupted, so it's an ideal more than a reality. ga TrounceM13: Whoa! I am impressed with his writing regimen. He works about 9 hours a day on it. HOST WPLC Lyric: wow HOST WPLC Lyric: and how many words or pages do you turn out every day HOST WPLC Lyric: we all wonder how you got to be so prolific! ga Docks153: One thing to clarify: I love to write. I resent the breaks, but force myself. Docks153: I would write all the time if life did not get in the way. ga Docks153: oops, now I'm typoing. I trust the essence came through. HOST WPLC Lyric: it did! HOST WPLC Lyric: Frank also wanted to know how you felt about revisions HOST WPLC Lyric: and if you employed an editor Docks153: I like revisions I do myself. I tend to feel that editorial revisions should be outlawed. AttyBBlack: WE ARE IN PROTOCOL IN THE AUDIENCE CHAT. IT CAN BE SEEN BY THE STAGE TrounceM13: What would be the point of having an audience chat area if the audience couldn't chat? HOST WPLC Lyric: lol, we all do Tdmsrm9801: true that Genjii555: LOL HOST WPLC Lyric: how do you deal with those. ga Docks153: To address an audience remark: I agree: folk should get to chat. HOST WPLC Lyric: Then the guest prevails HOST WPLC Lyric: as long as it's tame conversation down there HOST WPLC Lyric: LOL HOST WPLC Lyric: We CAN see you by the way Docks153: How do I deal with editorial revisions? I got to the point where I could ban them. For the past decade Docks153: I've had none. I had to leave a publisher to make my point, but I made it. ga HOST WPLC Sushi: Yes, please DO stay on topic. Anyone gets rowdy, please note, that mythical Host zapper is real! :-) HOST WPLC Lyric: Jasmine wanted to know specifically about your editorial problems TrounceM13: Strict Protocol... I'll try to give you a concise explanation but I am no expert, either... HOST WPLC Lyric: with But What Of Earth....... HOST WPLC Lyric: How common are the difficulties you encountered with writing that novel in the publishing world? HOST WPLC Lyric: and When did you get your original manuscript back, and how could you read it, (considering all the editing/slashing it received. ga Docks153: But What of Earth was such a disaster I got it reverted, the publisher apologized, and shut down the line. Docks153: They never showed me what they were doing to my novel. HOST WPLC Lyric: gee if they do that to you, the rest of us don't have a chance HOST WPLC Lyric: lol Docks153: I found out when it was published. They had rendered it into an illegal collaboration, degraded. ga TheUsurpKing: LOL HOST WPLC Lyric: Gabby loves your Xanth line so I'm going to let her ask some questions about that Docks153: They did it to me only once. HOST WPLC Lyric: While we're waiting for Gabby HOST WPLC Lyric: Marie wants to know Docks153: That editor is no longer in business in this genre. He screwed too many writers. HOST WPLC Lyric: What ingredients did you stir together to create Xanth, and how long did it have to cook before you were read HOST WPLC Lyric: you were ready to serve it HOST WPLC Lyric: ga HOST WPLC Lyric: (Really, was this something that you thought about for a long time, or was it an inspiration?) Docks153: This is dull: I wanted to work with Lester Del Rey at BALLANTINE, and he was the fantasy editor. Docks153: So I wrote a fantasy novel. It just sort of filled in from Florida, with magic added. not very original. ga G1ft0fgabn0t: Yet somehow you have almost a cult following now. How do you feel about that? G1ft0fgabn0t: ga Docks153: I love having a following. I just wish my publisher knew it. Docks153: ga G1ft0fgabn0t: We'll have to do something about that. Perhaps some of the nightmares can set them straight ;) HOST WPLC Lyric: lol G1ft0fgabn0t: Do you find it difficult to continue writing the Xanth novels after so many have been written? Docks153: The fact is, all publishers want from me is Xanth. They won't ever read anything else. HOST WPLC Lyric: Mr. Anthony, can you tell us something more about how YOU got involved in science fiction/fantasy? Docks153: Xanth is easy, and I like it, and it makes a lot of money. So it's fine, as long as I'm not confined to it. g HOST WPLC Lyric: sorry, my question was premature HOST WPLC Lyric: can you see it? Docks153: I discovered science fiction at age 13, and disappeared into it, never emerging, really. SteeIBtrfl: Do you still have the opportunity to read much science fiction/fantasy today? Docks153: I don't read much of anything, because as I said, I'd rather write. I make myself read one or more books a SteeIBtrfl: ga Docks153: month. ga SteeIBtrfl: Which authors do you like to read the most? SteeIBtrfl: ga Docks153: This is a problem, because when I reread a favorite author, he/s"he may not remain a favorite. SteeIBtrfl: lol Docks153: I'm way more critical as a reader now than I was when younger. So I can really answer. ga SteeIBtrfl: Do you feel your 'writing' has ruined some of your 'reading' enjoyment? SteeIBtrfl: ga Docks153: oops, that should be I cannot really answer. Docks153: Does writing spoil my reading enjoyment? To a decree, because I see all the flaws. HOST WPLC Lyric: PulitzerPlease asks: can you talk about the crisis of being stereotyped as a mid-lister HOST WPLC Lyric: ga HOST WPLC Lyric: perhaps you can also tell us more about the problem with Xanth? HOST WPLC Lyric: ga Docks153: I surely could say a lot about being steor--I forgot dot to spell it--stereotyped. The essence is I hate it. Docks153: There's no problem with Xanth except that it prevents publishers form considering my more serious work. SteeIBtrfl: Have any of your books or series been optioned for movies? ga Docks153: For example, ChroMagic, my most serious fantasy, had to go to a small press. ga HOST WPLC Lyric: Mr Anthony, what advice do you have for us, following in your footsteps, not to be in the same stereotyped HOST WPLC Lyric: situation? HOST WPLC Lyric: ga Docks153: Three series have been optioned for movies: Xanth, Adept, Incarnations. Docks153: Advice? as someone in the trenches below remarked, I think, there are worse things than having a ready Docks153: market for a series. so it may be better to be steor--whatever, than ignored. HOST WPLC Lyric: Donna asks: How do you know when you are finished rewriting / editing a book? Docks153: over the years I have learned to be professional. I can write to a specific length, and it ends at that HOST WPLC Lyric: Do you rewrite? Docks153: length. I know my editing schedule, and follow it. So I always know when the end comes' it's no surprise. Docks153: I do rewrite when it goes wrong, as it sometimes--not often--does. HOST WPLC Lyric: Genjii555: I'd like to ask what his longest dry spell he's had or period he's gone without writing anything Docks153: I don't have dry writing spells. Dry selling spells, maybe, but then the novels pile up. HOST WPLC Lyric: Actually, Gabby had a question about that HOST WPLC Lyric: about dealing with all the plots dancing in your head Docks153: Yes, RB--I don't have to do rewrites. That comes under the heading of non-editor-interference. HOST WPLC Lyric: how do you manage them? G1ft0fgabn0t: Yes. How do you deal with all the plot bunnies? I'm sure there are many :::grinning::: G1ft0fgabn0t: ga HOST WPLC Lyric: Welcome Back SteeIBtrfl: errant magic SteeIBtrfl: zap HOST WPLC Lyric: yes, a wizard is fooling around with you Docks153: I must have typoed. Suddenly I was out of AOL. SteeIBtrfl: <---- completely innocent Docks153: tell me where I was and I'll continue. HOST WPLC Lyric: I think Gabby was still asking her question You have just entered room Careers & Work (Special Events II) Docks153: PS, you who was glad I was gone... HOST WPLC Lyric: What do you do with all the ideas in your head you can't get to HOST WPLC Lyric: that was gabby's question SteeIBtrfl: Docks - Gabby wanted to know if you get lots of storyline ideas while you are writing G1ft0fgabn0t: and how you deal with them <g. SteeIBtrfl: etc... Docks153: I don't remember what I was in' I was blanked by the oust. Docks153: I do get story ideas while writing. Docks153: I save them and look them up later when I need them. Docks153: But I'm not sure than answers the question I had been in. HOST WPLC Lyric: Sushi would like to ask a question Docks153: ga HOST WPLC Sushi: In "Hard Sell" you have many details about several very specialized careers. How much research do you do? HOST WPLC Sushi: g/a Docks153: Hard Sell: I followed up on things I was interested in, so it wasn't much research for that project HOST WPLC Sushi: how? ga Docks153: Bur rather the project using what I had .ga HOST WPLC Sushi: so these were things you already knew about Docks153: Yes. I have many interests. HOST WPLC Sushi: cool! :-) ga HOST WPLC Lyric: JES No Time: He went from Happy go lucky stuff in Xanth to Rides a Pale horse about the figure of death. How Docks153: in fact I'm interested in just about everything, and feel I won't live long enough to learn about everything. HOST WPLC Sushi: Refresher for newcomers: we have lots of Q's lined up. If you have more please email them to me. :-) HOST WPLC Lyric: can you go so easily from one to the other? ga Docks153: I make notes on ideal and projects, so when I change from one to another I do spot homework in my notes. Docks153: It takes a few minutes to orient, and them I am on my way. Docks153: ga Online Host: STROMBOS has entered the room. HOST WPLC Lyric: Bev would like to know: When you write a book, do you know what the ending will be when you start writing? Docks153: Yes, I know the ending. What I don't know is the middle, and I can get in trouble there. Docks153: To those below: my presence is supposed to end at 8. be patient. HOST WPLC Lyric: Donna had also asked a similar question HOST WPLC Lyric: how much plotting do you do? Docks153: 8 my time, not necessarily yours. HOST WPLC Lyric: We appreciate as much time as you can give us HOST WPLC Lyric: please don't let anyone rush you out Docks153: Plotting: if I don't have a plot, I don't have a story. I work hard to figure it out, always. sometimes Docks153: my notes are longer than my text. ga HOST WPLC Lyric: Honey, a teen writer asks: Do you ever find yourself doubting your writing abilities? How would you overcome HOST WPLC Lyric: overcome that feeling, and what would you suggest an unpublished writer do? Docks153: Doubting my writing abilities? Not any more. What I doubt is the ability of the editors to appreciate them. HOST WPLC Lyric: roflol G1ft0fgabn0t: lololol HOST WPLC Lyric: Adam asks: Just how close do you think Fantasy is to Sci-Fi? Docks153: I have been in the business several decades now, you see. go Docks153: I see fantasy and SF as two quite different genres. But they get lumped together, so okay. I once tried to Docks153: merge them, in the Adept series, experiencing [?] loud screams of protest. HOST WPLC Lyric: Frank asks: Should a first time novelist work with an agent? Several people are asking that one! Docks153: But the only objection I ever got was from a reviewer, and they are hopeless. HOST WPLC Lyric: Please don't worry about answering the questions I post until you are ready Docks153: Agent: a first time novelist can't get an agent, so it's academic. HOST WPLC Lyric: Frank asks, along with many others, should a first time novelist use an agent? HOST WPLC Lyric: I've heard that the publishers, this year, really don't even want to publish established writers Docks153: I didn't get an agent until I had soled several novels on my own. HOST WPLC Lyric: any advice for those of us who haven't established our careers? Docks153: I have my doubts that publisher ever want to publish anything other than a best seller. But I regard publishers as idiots. ga HOST WPLC Lyric: Susan asks As a teacher, what do you think is the most important piece of information you could pass on to a student to help him or her become a better writer. HOST WPLC Lyric: ga Docks153: Just keep learning, keep writing, keep submitting pieces, and hope for some good luck. I did that for 8 years HOST WPLC Lyric: NovelEagle asks: Could you please tell us something about your experiences in working with Xlibris? Docks153: Writing can be a distressing job, because publishers really don't care. Docks153: I am a part owner of Xlibris, and am on it's board of directors. Docks153: I wanted to help open up the system. Docks153: So I'm not an objective judge. I learned a lot about major financing, though. HOST WPLC Lyric: AWeiss4338 asks: How did it feel to be successful as a writer, when you had your first best seller. Docks153: Overall I think Xlibris is okay, but so are the other self publishers. Docks153: I loved making it to bestsellerdom, and hated coming off the lists when publishers messed up the marketing. Docks153: Let's fare it, it's better being on top than on the bottom, as you folk HOST WPLC Lyric: hart asks, What's your opinion about the need for writer's to have formal training, like MFAs and attend Docks153: there is the bottom window know. ga HOST WPLC Lyric: writing workshops such as Breadloaf? Docks153: A writer doesn't need formal training. if he can write well without it, that's good enough. HOST WPLC Lyric: lol, yes we are trying for everyone in the bottom window Docks153: I happen to have a BA in creative writing, but that wasn't what got me published. HOST WPLC Lyric: Cecil asks: Are you involved in any critique groups, if not why, and if so do you think you still have room t Docks153: I had to keep learning and improving for six years after my degree. Docks153: Some good writers are high school dropouts, like Fred Pohl. ga HOST WPLC Lyric: room to improve your writing by using them? Docks153: I was once in a critique group, and it was great. But that was decades ago. HOST WPLC Lyric: He also wanted to know HOST WPLC Lyric: Do you have to consciously think about pacing your books or do you just write and come what may? Docks153: For those still learning, I think it's good. ga Docks153: Xanth I know where it places. other I write for the love of it. Those don't sell. Docks153: For the average writer, it is important to know the market and write for it. Docks153: But luck still plays a huge part. ga HOST WPLC Lyric: Marie asks HOST WPLC Lyric: When did you decide that such usually horrifying creatures could be so funny/human/appealing? HOST WPLC Lyric: in reference to Xanth Docks153: When I started fantasy, I found I just couldn't take it seriously. So everything was funny, even monsters. HOST WPLC Sushi: Any further Q's please email them to me. :-) HOST WPLC Sushi: and do make them as clear as possible. :-) Docks153: We are running out of time. I don't want to miss my supper. HOST WPLC Lyric: BBlack asks: We are honored to have him. Why does he give so few interviews? Docks153: I'd rather be writing than interviewing. HOST WPLC Lyric: and we'll make that the last question then HOST WPLC Lyric: I tried to get in as many questions as possible everyone Docks153: The funny thing is many writers don't seem to like to write. I do. ga AttyBBlack: thank you so much for your time HOST WPLC Lyric: if it were up to me, we'd be here all night answering them for everyone TrounceM13: Thank you so much for your time. Dhewco: thanks HOST WPLC Lyric: we had over 125 questions submitted by email! TheUsurpKing: Thank you Mr. Anthony, I enjoyed your session and hope to see you again. Rdpelleg: thanks G1ft0fgabn0t: wow! NovelEagle: Thank you for "And, Eternity" HOST WPLC Lyric: I think you did a great job answering what you could! Tdmsrm9801: yes, thank you very much I've been a fan for years Docks153: Nice to meet you folk down there in the hole below. STROMBOS: Thank you so much. This was inspiring. I intend to go on being cranky. TrounceM13: Standing ovation for Mr. Anthony. PulitzerPlease: Dock....thank you for time and opinions HOST WPLC Lyric: Thanks so much for coming. Any thing you'd like to have us run out and publish HOST WPLC Lyric: besides your autobiography? Dancingcloud42: great fans, and enjoyed everything you said tonight. Fjm3eyes: nice meeting you, Docks! HOST WPLC Sushi: I disavow all responsibility for this setup JES No Time: Great having you Mr. Anthony HOST WPLC Lyric: me too! G1ft0fgabn0t: Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with us Docks153: I'm just being my usual ornery self. but thanks. G1ft0fgabn0t: Me three gang ;) HOST WPLC Sushi: we have had better suggestions -- but far too late for this occasion :-/ Lera al: great job BornToVector: I truly enjoyed it. thanks Mr. Anthony and those who arranged it SteeIBtrfl: thank you Piers Genjii555: LMAO Brag SteeIBtrfl: very cool chat HOST WPLC Sushi: there are other ways to arrange these chats, or so I am told -- again and again ;-) Braguine: thanks you Docks for your time HOST WPLC Lyric: lol, we don't consider that ornery, but we'll take what ever you've got! Docks153: Okay, I'll go now, so you folk can have your chat room back. Bye! HOST WPLC Lyric: :::::: APPLAUSE::::::: HOST WPLC Lyric: thanks for coming!! Rdpelleg: bye G1ft0fgabn0t: <><><>Clapping<><><> RBOZO55: bye Docks, thanks for coming Dancingcloud42: bye STROMBOS: Bye and thanks hosts too HOST WPLC Lyric: Clapping Trecho226: bye, piers...from oenone...terri Tdmsrm9801: if he thinks that's ornery he should meet my Grandpa TheUsurpKing: Great Job Sry! Braguine: good work, HOSTS Lera al: Thanks, Lyric, for setting this up Sunan21: Thanks for coming Docks JES No Time: Thanks again Docks AttyBBlack: That was so cool Tdmsrm9801: thanks again Fjm3eyes: Sushi...Lyric....that's very good to know///////////// AttyBBlack: Sry, Excellent job!!!! G1ft0fgabn0t: A big round of applause for the hosts with the mosts AttyBBlack: Thanks for arranging it Dancingcloud42: It was great HOST WPLC Sushi: THANKS to everyone :-D G1ft0fgabn0t: <><><><><><><><><><><> TheUsurpKing: Great Job to all the Hosts! BornToVector: Bye and THANKS to the hosts Sunan21: Great job HOSTS JES No Time: I second that. Great job Sry AttyBBlack: already Sry they're asking for the next rabbit you're pulling out of your hat HOST WPLC Mgr: The reason for the two-level room is so that you can see the questions and answers Trecho226: me too...here's an evil little plan...go to his website and send e-mail asking your unanswered questions Dhewco: hehehe Trecho226: www.hipiers.com AttyBBlack: That man really writes. What a schedule!!! Sunan21: Good night everyone HOST WPLC Sushi: Anyone interested in our regular critique group, please email me for info HOST WPLC Sushi: we meet every Monday :-) JES No Time: The hour really zoomed right by. See you guys tomorrow. HOST WPLC Lyric: Thanks for sticking with us guys, I know this format wasn't the best HOST WPLC Lyric: some of you didn't understand to email questions HOST WPLC Lyric: But I really tried to get in as many as I could HOST WPLC Sushi: adios, amigos
7/27/03 5:15:53 PM Closing "Chat Log 7/27/03"
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