Ask the Author: Richard C. White
Answered Questions (5)
Richard C. White
Unfortunately, Byron Preiss, who was packaging these books, died in 2005 and the company closed shortly afterward. This meant the license for the Gauntlet books reverted to Midway Entertainment, so unless another publisher wants to pick up the license, it's unlikely any more books will be written.
Richard C. White
I wish there was an easy answer to this, but I tend to work on multiple things at the same time.
What I should be working on is my thesis, but that's a story for a different day.
Currently, I'm working on "The Pearls of Darkness Affair", which is a fantasy noir novella that will be teamed up with my "Full Moon Affair" novella and released as a book this November.
Also, I'm working on "Crossed Swords in the Moonlight", which is a short story for a Three Musketeer themed anthology. I'm finishing the edits on "Sword of Fate", the final story in my "For a Few Gold Pieces More" short story collection. And, I'm working up the outline for a new media tie-in story, but more on that later.
Also, I'm working with an editor to take my "Terra Incognito" columns that I did for Penumbra Magazine and turn them into a book on world building which I hope to be selling at conventions in 2015.
So, yeah, I've got a few irons in the fire. Plus, I have some novels I need to get back to writing here in the future . . . AFTER I finish my thesis.
What I should be working on is my thesis, but that's a story for a different day.
Currently, I'm working on "The Pearls of Darkness Affair", which is a fantasy noir novella that will be teamed up with my "Full Moon Affair" novella and released as a book this November.
Also, I'm working on "Crossed Swords in the Moonlight", which is a short story for a Three Musketeer themed anthology. I'm finishing the edits on "Sword of Fate", the final story in my "For a Few Gold Pieces More" short story collection. And, I'm working up the outline for a new media tie-in story, but more on that later.
Also, I'm working with an editor to take my "Terra Incognito" columns that I did for Penumbra Magazine and turn them into a book on world building which I hope to be selling at conventions in 2015.
So, yeah, I've got a few irons in the fire. Plus, I have some novels I need to get back to writing here in the future . . . AFTER I finish my thesis.
Richard C. White
The groupies and the non-stop parties . . .
Actually, it's seeing my ideas and dreams come to life on the page. Sure, there's a lot of work in the initial creation and a whole lot more work in the editing phase to get it ready for public viewing, but when I go to a bookstore and see that finished product on the shelf, or go to an on-line site and see the e-version of my latest story there, it's a feeling that's impossible to replace.
One of the other things I love about being a writer is the feedback from the fans. Sure, not everyone is in love with my writing style and I get my fair share of criticism about my work, but for every knock, I've been lucky enough to get some very positive reviews. I even ran into someone at the last BEA (May 2014) who was a big fan of a work I had done back in 2004 and we had a great time talking about how the book came together. That made the entire trip to NYC worthwhile.
So, getting to see my dreams come to life and finding fans who enjoy the worlds I create - what is there not to like about being a writer?
Actually, it's seeing my ideas and dreams come to life on the page. Sure, there's a lot of work in the initial creation and a whole lot more work in the editing phase to get it ready for public viewing, but when I go to a bookstore and see that finished product on the shelf, or go to an on-line site and see the e-version of my latest story there, it's a feeling that's impossible to replace.
One of the other things I love about being a writer is the feedback from the fans. Sure, not everyone is in love with my writing style and I get my fair share of criticism about my work, but for every knock, I've been lucky enough to get some very positive reviews. I even ran into someone at the last BEA (May 2014) who was a big fan of a work I had done back in 2004 and we had a great time talking about how the book came together. That made the entire trip to NYC worthwhile.
So, getting to see my dreams come to life and finding fans who enjoy the worlds I create - what is there not to like about being a writer?
Richard C. White
When I get asked this question by a new writer, the first thing I ask them is what are they currently reading? Good writers are voracious readers, and not only in their genre. An aspiring writer should be familiar with the genre they're wanting to write in simply because you should know what the tropes are and which ones have been done to death (both recently and over time). What might seem new and exciting to a beginning author might have been "the next big thing" ten years ago and agents and publishers might be sick and tired of it right now. Which is not to say don't do it if it's the story you really, really want to tell - just understand you're going to have to not only hit a home run with it, but probably a grand slam to get someone's attention.
However, along with being familiar with your genre, you should be familiar with other genres and other strong writers. You can learn a lot from seeing how people put sentences together, how do they evoke emotions from their readers, how do they make "you" want to turn the next page? Don't be afraid of a different genre, to include non-fiction.
And speaking of non-fiction, it helps to do your research, no matter your genre. No one is going to expect you to be a subject matter expert on everything, but little things like having your characters traveling on actual streets in NYC would help keep the reader into the story. There's nothing worse than running into a factual error to make your readers stop. Either they simply quit reading because if you can't be chuffed enough to make sure whether 34th Street runs east-west or north-south in Manhattan, then why should they bother reading any further. Or else, now they start reading your story looking for more errors. Either way, you've yanked them out of the story for something you could have easily solved with a few minutes on Google or a visit to a library.
Finally, I always recommend new authors become familiar with the business side of writing. Do your research and know what industry standards are so you can make a good decision when it comes time to signing your work away OR whether you should self-publish. I highly recommend authors become familiar with Writer Beware (http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/f...) and visit our blog at http://accrispin.blogger.com. Yes, I said, our, since I'm one of the three current members of the Writer Beware team.
Remember writing is an art, but publishing is a business. Make yourself smart about both sides before you send your manuscript out into the cold, dark world. *grin*
However, along with being familiar with your genre, you should be familiar with other genres and other strong writers. You can learn a lot from seeing how people put sentences together, how do they evoke emotions from their readers, how do they make "you" want to turn the next page? Don't be afraid of a different genre, to include non-fiction.
And speaking of non-fiction, it helps to do your research, no matter your genre. No one is going to expect you to be a subject matter expert on everything, but little things like having your characters traveling on actual streets in NYC would help keep the reader into the story. There's nothing worse than running into a factual error to make your readers stop. Either they simply quit reading because if you can't be chuffed enough to make sure whether 34th Street runs east-west or north-south in Manhattan, then why should they bother reading any further. Or else, now they start reading your story looking for more errors. Either way, you've yanked them out of the story for something you could have easily solved with a few minutes on Google or a visit to a library.
Finally, I always recommend new authors become familiar with the business side of writing. Do your research and know what industry standards are so you can make a good decision when it comes time to signing your work away OR whether you should self-publish. I highly recommend authors become familiar with Writer Beware (http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/f...) and visit our blog at http://accrispin.blogger.com. Yes, I said, our, since I'm one of the three current members of the Writer Beware team.
Remember writing is an art, but publishing is a business. Make yourself smart about both sides before you send your manuscript out into the cold, dark world. *grin*
Richard C. White
I get hungry.
No, actually, I get inspired by a number of sources. Since I write primarily fantasy, I enjoy doing research on folklore, fairy tales, and superstitions. I'm more than happy to sit down and read an encyclopedic book from cover to cover the way some people read novels.
I also have a fascination with pirates and have two complete shelves in my library dedicated to non-fiction pirate books and sailing books.
Music is another source of inspiration. Some songs just seem to cry out for a story to explain them. Other times I'll pick out a line or two from a song that just seems to stick with me and insist I incorporate it into a future work. One song I'd love to do something with is "The Running Man" by Al Stewart. If you're not familiar with it, it's worth finding.
Finally, art is a great inspiration. Coming out of the comic world, I've always been fascinated by people who can draw or paint. I have absolutely no talent there, but I loved writing scripts and then seeing what the artist would draw based on my ideas. I wound up developing an entire book series around one picture called "Robot Geisha" by Alan Gutierrez. I saw it on the cover of an Archon program several years ago and fell in love with the art. I knew there was a story there and I developed that picture into a group called "The Angels of Steel" which will be appearing in the Darkside Codex steampunk series by Musa Publishing.
No, actually, I get inspired by a number of sources. Since I write primarily fantasy, I enjoy doing research on folklore, fairy tales, and superstitions. I'm more than happy to sit down and read an encyclopedic book from cover to cover the way some people read novels.
I also have a fascination with pirates and have two complete shelves in my library dedicated to non-fiction pirate books and sailing books.
Music is another source of inspiration. Some songs just seem to cry out for a story to explain them. Other times I'll pick out a line or two from a song that just seems to stick with me and insist I incorporate it into a future work. One song I'd love to do something with is "The Running Man" by Al Stewart. If you're not familiar with it, it's worth finding.
Finally, art is a great inspiration. Coming out of the comic world, I've always been fascinated by people who can draw or paint. I have absolutely no talent there, but I loved writing scripts and then seeing what the artist would draw based on my ideas. I wound up developing an entire book series around one picture called "Robot Geisha" by Alan Gutierrez. I saw it on the cover of an Archon program several years ago and fell in love with the art. I knew there was a story there and I developed that picture into a group called "The Angels of Steel" which will be appearing in the Darkside Codex steampunk series by Musa Publishing.
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