Ask the Author: Daniel Ruth
Answered Questions (9)
Daniel Ruth
My friends and I started a book club. Every month choose a book, read it, and discuss it. So far the first is "We Are Bob". I asked the others if they wanted to publish reviews on my website but so far mine is the only one there. The next book will be Leviathan Wakes". None of these were my choices but I enjoyed the first one and hope to enjoy the second. Naturally, I read a lot more than that, but there is a short answer.
Daniel Ruth
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Daniel Ruth
Harry Harrison wrote a series called the Stainless Steel Rat. In it, the main character is a master thief, in a setting several millennium from now (perhaps more).
In the first book his arch nemesis. She is smart, ruthless and more than a bit psychotic. Once he defeats her and gets her therapy they marry and have a family. They continue their criminal endeavors and live mostly happily ever after.
The woman was smart (a genius) and was the epitome of an empowered woman. Since I like strong women in stories I was very much favor of it.
As the series goes on it seems that all of the competence of the main character is leached away into his sons and wife and he ends up in constant need of rescue. I wasn't nearly as fond of this part since I also like strong smart male leads, but for a time it was a great series of plotting and great escapes. Mission Impossible with humor and sci fi.
In the first book his arch nemesis. She is smart, ruthless and more than a bit psychotic. Once he defeats her and gets her therapy they marry and have a family. They continue their criminal endeavors and live mostly happily ever after.
The woman was smart (a genius) and was the epitome of an empowered woman. Since I like strong women in stories I was very much favor of it.
As the series goes on it seems that all of the competence of the main character is leached away into his sons and wife and he ends up in constant need of rescue. I wasn't nearly as fond of this part since I also like strong smart male leads, but for a time it was a great series of plotting and great escapes. Mission Impossible with humor and sci fi.
Daniel Ruth
My most recent book is a continuation of the first book. So I am not sure I can answer this without touching on the origin of that. Most of the concepts and ideas are inspired from an RPG that is close to my heart. The mix of science and magic, space and fantasy all come from that. Its what I love and what I wanted to write about. The specific events in the most recent books are, of course, still inspired from that but the idea I have is that each world should touch on a slightly different genre. The first was science fiction with urban magic thrown in. The second was a midieval magical realm with a pinch of the 'magical adademy'.
Daniel Ruth
I used to get inspired by playing RPGs. Since then the RPGs I played have gotten further and further from the ones I really enjoyed. So perhaps it's true to say the lack of RPGs in the genre I enjoy inspire me to create my own worlds.
Daniel Ruth
I literally just finished Book 2 of series. I have a vague idea of how the end game looks but it is not an immediate issue. I have an idea of how Book 3 should be. Naturally, it will continue the existing plot but considering there are ten worlds to go to, it is more a question of what setting is next. So, short answer... Book 3.
I did make a cute animated gif of a transforming dragon and put it on my blog, but that was just a few hours work. I don't think that really counts.
I did make a cute animated gif of a transforming dragon and put it on my blog, but that was just a few hours work. I don't think that really counts.
Daniel Ruth
My advice would be to write what you enjoy. If you don't have fun you'll eventually stop doing it. I won't comment on grammar and spelling since that would be hypocritical;) What most authors would benefit from is making the character relatable. No matter what you have him/her do, think for a moment... is this realistic? If your character comes across as stupid or unlikeable, why would someone relate to it? If they can't relate to it why would anyone care what happened to him/her? If they don't care what happens to him why would they read the book?
While I personally prefer books where I can relate to the character it's not always essential. However, even if they can't relate the reader has to care. I have been annoyed and angry when I get to the end of a book and my favorite character died. I can still appreciate the book, though perhaps I wouldn't have read it if I had known in advance. The worst book I have ever read had the main character die. I closed the book, put it down and realized... I didn't care. I couldn't relate, wasn't emotionally invested, for or against the character.
Do what you can to make the reader care.
While I personally prefer books where I can relate to the character it's not always essential. However, even if they can't relate the reader has to care. I have been annoyed and angry when I get to the end of a book and my favorite character died. I can still appreciate the book, though perhaps I wouldn't have read it if I had known in advance. The worst book I have ever read had the main character die. I closed the book, put it down and realized... I didn't care. I couldn't relate, wasn't emotionally invested, for or against the character.
Do what you can to make the reader care.
Daniel Ruth
I write mainly because I have a story in my head that no one else has written to my satisfaction. Filling in this gap is fun. Telling the story is fun too, although the process has its tedious parts.
Daniel Ruth
I am not sure I get writer's block per the definition. I generally know where I want to go it's just a matter of how to get there. If I have a difficult time thinking of how to get there I have two choices. The first and least attractive is to skip over the event and have the character remember the highlights. I had my character do this once to explain the events that led to his relative wealth. Unless the events are flavour or not too important I would avoid this since most readers feel cheated if you skipped over important parts. Of course, some authors do this on purpose and address it in a flashback ... or a prequel.
The best way I find is the second way. I imagine what my character would do in the events leading up to the situation I want him to be in. The events may be silly or stupid or even unbelievable. It doesn't matter. If the character reacts in a believable way it will become believable. Maybe he wonders what the heck is going on, or curses the events or even laughs in disbelief. If you can get your reader to believe that your character's reaction is 'real' then you can sell a ridiculous chain of events. On the other hand, if your character comes across as a cardboard cutout or people can't understand why he did what he did or his reactions don't fit the events, then you have a weak chapter... but at least your past the "writer's block". You can now get on with the story you want to write.
The best way I find is the second way. I imagine what my character would do in the events leading up to the situation I want him to be in. The events may be silly or stupid or even unbelievable. It doesn't matter. If the character reacts in a believable way it will become believable. Maybe he wonders what the heck is going on, or curses the events or even laughs in disbelief. If you can get your reader to believe that your character's reaction is 'real' then you can sell a ridiculous chain of events. On the other hand, if your character comes across as a cardboard cutout or people can't understand why he did what he did or his reactions don't fit the events, then you have a weak chapter... but at least your past the "writer's block". You can now get on with the story you want to write.
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