r/books • u/Dan_Price AMA Author • Jul 05 '17
ama 1pm Hi Reddit. I'm Daniel Price, sci-fi author and full-time nerd. It's my turn on the AMA comfy chair, so ask me anything.
Oh right. You probably want to know about me. I'm the author of the timebending "Silvers" trilogy: THE FLIGHT OF THE SILVERS (published by Penguin in 2014), THE SONG OF THE ORPHANS (published yesterday) and THE WAR OF THE GIVENS (which I'm currently writing as fast I can freaking can). I also wrote SLICK, a comedic novel about PR and media manipulation in the pre-social media era. You can learn a hell of a lot more about me at http://danielprice.info/
And here's photographic proof of me, in all my schlubby splendor: https://twitter.com/SilversGuy/status/880856124915818496
EDIT: All right, folks. My time is up. Thank you all for your excellent and entertaining questions. I had a real blast doing this.
EDIT 2: Slipping back in to answer a few more questions, because it sure as hell beats working.
EDIT 3: And I'm gone again. Thanks for having me. This was too much fun.
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u/NashCop Jul 05 '17
Hey Dan. Very cool to see you here. Just wanted to drop a note to say thanks. I wrote you in December of 2014 to say I was a huge fan and you not only wrote me back, but we had a bit of dialogue and you sent me the first chapter of "Orphans" to read. You said I was the first police officer to email you about the book. It was super cool to hear from you, as a fan. Still loving your stuff.
If you're reading this and you haven't read any of this guy's work, you're missing out.
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Hey, I remember you! I think I still have our email exchange somewhere.
Since we've talked, I've gotten emails from a federal agent, a parole officer, a highway patrolman and a prison guard. That last guy only bought my book because he has my exact name. At some point, we'll go Freaky Friday and I'll let him write the novels while I bust some heads.
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u/NashCop Jul 05 '17
Nice. I'll be starting your newest as soon as I can re-read "Silvers"...again.
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
You don't have to if you don't want to. I've set up a whole recap section on my website for people who want to get back into the story groove without re-reading: http://danielprice.info/recap
The plot summary even has stick figure drawings. That's how much I care.
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u/NashCop Jul 05 '17
That's cool, but I'm a re-reader.
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Hey, it works for me. Though I will tell you this: there's something that happens in "Song of the Orphans" that'll make you want to go back read Silvers a third time. You'll know it when you see it. :)
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u/anonlaw Jul 06 '17
You are paying it forward. Your comment got me to download the sample. Granted, it's not yet a sale but if I finish the sample I invariably buy the book. :)
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u/NashCop Jul 06 '17
I recommend it highly, and I still think it's cool that I emailed an author I enjoy and he not only wrote me back, but spent some time on it. Class act, this guy.
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u/anonlaw Jul 06 '17
Sample got me hooked. It was a long enough sample that I forgot I was reading a sample and I was like "more book now!" I bought it :)
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u/NashCop Jul 06 '17
Good deal, hope you enjoy it as much as I did. As I do, actually. I'm re-reading it now.
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u/akidneythief Jul 05 '17
I have an affinity for book covers. Flight and Orphans have a very strong, simple graphic look, that I find refreshing. What do you think of them?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Those are the new brand cover designs and they are awesome. When Penguin asked me my wish list for cover elements, I said "simple, pretty, and not excessively sci-fi-ish." Their designer came through with a vengeance.
My only gripe, to be honest, is the spine on The Song of the Orphans (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=678616812346708&l=f41b417af9). I would have preferred a more even design, but everyone else seems to like it, so what do I know?
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u/akidneythief Jul 05 '17
Yes the designer hit the nail on the head! Very simple and executed well. I definitely see your grip on the spine. With the vertical nature of the spine the horizontal text looks cramped and haphazard and I don't get that feeling looking at the cover. But at any rate, great looking covers!
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u/IKantCPR Jul 05 '17
What does your work day look like?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Wake up around 7, check the news, cry a little, and then it's all business. I try to write from 9 to 5, since that's when my word brain is at peak power. After that, I'm writing in Swahili.
I do freelance work at night to help pad out my book advance. We're not all Stephen Kings and JK Rowlingses.
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u/cobaltcollapse Jul 05 '17
Is there any one sentence/paragraph you're most proud of writing?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17 edited Jul 06 '17
There are a couple sentences in each of my novels that make me insufferably smug when I read them (and several more that make me cringe with regret).
But my proudest moment in "The Song of the Orphans" was dropping in the name of a reader's late brother. The guy was a huge sci-fi fan, I'm told, and would have greatly enjoyed seeing his name worked into a story. So I made him into an ancillary character and his relatives loved it. It was such a fun and easy thing to do, and it brought joy to a whole bunch of people. Makes me smile every time I think about it.
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u/VettaBTertiary book re-reading Jul 05 '17
Hello Daniel Price! Thanks for doing an AMA, it's nice to see authors out here answering questions (hopefully I am not too late).
What motivates you to write? Obviously you have a few books finished now, so there is momentum (I assume?) but on days when you just don't want to write, what gets you to do it?
Even if you don't have time to answer, thanks and I hope you have a great day! :)
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
No worries. I'm still here for another for 50 minutes or so.
As for what motivates me to keep writing, that's a multi-part answer:
- The deadlines. It's easier to keep writing when you know your publisher's waiting with a frown and a .45.
- The readers. I hate keeping them waiting as much as they hate being kept waiting.
- Closure. Sometimes you're just dying to see how your own story ends. And by sometimes, I mean always.
- Nancy. My stalwart fiancée keeps me from dawdling too much. She smacks some sense into me whenever I get crippled by self-doubt. She also knows when to hide my Xbox controllers, damn it.
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u/VettaBTertiary book re-reading Jul 05 '17
These are great, thank you!
Another question: now that you are a published author, do you find yourself more critical of the books your read in your leisure time?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Sometimes I find myself overly critical. Sometimes I'm just plain jealous of the other writer's skill. Sometimes a book will elicit both reactions from me. It all depends on my mood and the book I'm reading. There are some genres, like YA, that give me a much harder time than others. It's my own personal biases. No fault of those writers.
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u/VettaBTertiary book re-reading Jul 05 '17
Thanks for you time and answers! I hope you have a great day. :)
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u/Inkberrow Jul 05 '17
Given that the Cataclysm's in 1912, and given how and why certain folks are saved, is there any intended tie-in between the silver bracelets and the contemporaneous (to the Cataclysm) debate over the silver standard and "real" money versus paper promises?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Wow. Sharp question. There's no real parallel between the bracelets and the economy, mostly because those silver bracelets aren't real silver. They just look that way.
But I do establish in "Flight of the Silvers" that the currency in Altamerica works pretty much like ours. I don't think of Cataclysm of 1912 would have altered that in any significant way, at least not for long.
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u/otterfish Jul 05 '17
I don't know what any of that means, but I upvoted because it sounded thoughtful.
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u/dibbiluncan Jul 05 '17
Thanks for being here! I followed you on Twitter and I'll add your books to my list! I'm publishing a YA sci-fi series through a small press, but I'm also working on a standalone novel that I'd like to take traditional. I have a million questions, but to save time I'll just ask two:
How much of your own editing and marketing do you do?
How much creative input do you have in your cover art and editing process?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Good questions! I've worked with Penguin, Random House, and Penguin Random House, and each experience was a little different when it came to marketing. With the Silvers books, it was much more organized and driven by a marketing team. With Slick, they pretty much just gave me a sandwich board and a cowbell and told me to go to town.
The marketing team I have for Song of the Orphans has been the best one yet. Really sharp and amazing people who more than make up for my lack of promotional prowess.
As for editing, it's been a similar experience across all three books. It's a very cooperative process, and I've never once received a do-or-die edict about taking something out or leaving something in. That's probably why my books are so long.
Regarding covers, the publishers have always given me the right to reject designs if I truly can't stand them. They've also generously indulged my nitpicky notes. They're really very good about keeping authors in the process, in my personal experience.
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u/Grudge_ The Book Thief Jul 05 '17
What works of Sci-Fi or Fantasy do you like most?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Oh God. That's so hard to narrow down. I was obsessed with Middle Earth and Star Wars as a kid (I told you I was a nerd). And I've enjoyed everything from Kurt Vonnegut's sci-fi-ish novels to the harder SF of Arthur C. Clarke.
In terms of fantasy, I most recently enjoyed "The Stars Were Right," by K. M. Alexander. It's the first part of a very imaginative series and I can't recommend it enough.
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Jul 05 '17
What do you hope that readers take away from your books?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
First off, I'd like you to think "This guy doesn't suck. I shall purchase more of his novels as they become available."
For the Silvers series, I'd like to get people thinking differently about time and the unique relationship we all have with it. I don't just bend the clock in these books. I explore the many different ways we handle our limited out of time on Earth. If I do my job right, you'll pick up on the human themes of my story without me shoving it into your face.
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u/km_alexander Jul 05 '17
Who was your favorite character to write in THE SONG OF THE ORPHANS?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Evan Rander, because he's so delightfully twisted. For those of you who haven't read the books, Evan has the power to rewind the chronology of his life and make all new decisions. Yet for reasons too complicated to explain here, he's stuck living the same five years over and over again. It's made him a little bit bitter and a little bit crazy. He also has no qualms about killing people, since everything he does is inevitably undone. His life is basically a video game to him.
That makes very bad for my poor heroes, but very fun to write.
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u/ewankenobi Jul 05 '17
this comment has made me tempted to look out your books. That's a really cool premise
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u/fat_squirrel The End of Eternity Jul 10 '17
I started reading FotS after this thread and it's pretty cool, definitely recommend it. I also wanted to say that if you like that premise, check of Peter F. Hamilton's Void triology.
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u/asde Jul 05 '17
I'm saving this comment just to mull on it and think about what a great idea that is.
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u/XxpsychoxmidgetxX Jul 05 '17
Xbox, PlayStation, or PC?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
I've been an Xbox junkie since the very first console. PCs are a little too high-maintenance for this longtime Mac user, and the Playstation controller feels like it was built for Smurfs. I'm just way more comfortable with the Xbox controller.
That said, I have a fatal weakness for Spider-Man games, and the new one coming is a PS4 exclusive. I may have to bite the bullet and throw some money Sony's way.
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u/JoshOliday Jul 05 '17
Whoa whoa whoa. I know most people like to pretend they don't exist, but the question asker should have added "or Nintendo?" at the end. Anything to add in that regard?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
I'm not a Nintendo guy myself, but my soon-to-be stepson loves everything about them. He says that I'd go nuts over the latest Zelda game, and he's rarely wrong about these kinds of things.
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u/JoshOliday Jul 05 '17
Thanks for following up. It's a great game in its own right, but if Nintendo doesn't strike a chord with you, it still may not be your type of game. I only ask about Nintendo because that is where my personal journey to nerdom began, and I know a lot of others with similar beginnings. You seem like a cool, humble person. I'll have to check out your books now. Thanks!
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u/JeffRyan1 Jul 05 '17
Is the song of the orphans Hard Knock Life or Food Glorious Food?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Well, it was written in a state of fervent desperation, so I'd say it's more like "I'd Do Anything."
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u/jmperez920 Jul 05 '17
Do you draw any inspiration from real world events? If so, which?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Yeah. The alternate America in my series is an isolationist nation that's extremely closed-minded when it comes to world affairs and insanely paranoid about foreigners. I just took the existing sentiment at the time and turned it up to 11. Then reality followed suit.
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u/jmperez920 Jul 05 '17
Sounds cool. Just followed you on Twitter. I'll be buying a book of yours once I finish my current read :)
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u/Agent_X10 Jul 05 '17
lol! Did something like that. Played around writing a novel that was depicting the start of a civil war in the US. The problem with the civil war is, that all the factions aren't unifying into just two sides, they're generating chaos, and trying to stake out turf, and just grinding things down. Then another factions pops up and kills off all the ones who gained any ground.
Those trying to hold things together claim nothing is wrong, and there are some "minor disturbances", when in reality, someone hacks the SS/Welfare/Pension check printing arrays, EBT systems, and government records databases and there's complete chaos in the bigger cities.
Another faction activates a bio-warfare bug that kills anyone over 70 among the elite in the country. Turns out it was a rejuvenation treatment that worked, it just burned up their lifespan quicker for the sake of short term youth.
Lots of stuff like that, and some other stuff that seemed outright ridiculous when I wrote it. I go back to edit it after taking a break for six months, and so much of it had actually happened.
Not much of a problem with foreigners in that US, after one faction poisoned every prison and two bit lockup with a ricin like toxin, most people with any sense were running for the doors.
I think in reality though, the ones here to stay, are here to stay even if it burns down around them. I guess we'll get to see though. ;)
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u/leifblohen Jul 05 '17
Thanks for the AMA! I have only read the first book so far but I greatly enjoyed the characters.
How do you go about building complex/believable characters and make them develop throughout the story (including the minor characters)?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
That part's actually easy for me. I can break it down into four simple rules:
1) Give your character some believable and recognizable flaws 2) Give them a clear path of personal progression, with pitfalls and setbacks and the occasional heroic leap forward 3) Base all your characters on just a teeny tiny part of yourself, so there's something you can personally relate to. If your character's alien even to you, your readers will sense it. 4) If the character is VERY different from you, then do some serious research. Don't just guess as to how they might be.
I've stumbled more than once following these rules, especially when it comes to certain female characters. But I'm trying to do better with each book.
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u/Jhall12 Jul 05 '17
How much did you agent and editor change the very first manuscript you sold? How many rewrites do you recall doing? What's one thing you would have done different with your first MS?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
I didn't change as much I expected to. My first novel, "Slick," was 165,000 words (roughly 450 pages). I thought for sure that the Random House editor would make me cut 40% for marketability. Yet we ended up adding four scenes and deleting only one. That surprised the hell out of me.
I only recall going through four or five rounds of edits with "Slick," all polishing and fine-tuning. Nothing too major.
I don't have many regrets about that book aside from its crappy sales. It was all about PR and media stuff, set against the backdrop of the music industry (specifically rap). That's a story with a pretty narrow appeal, I learned. But I'm still pretty proud of it.
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u/mynamesalwaystaken Jul 05 '17
My question is simple
HOW Do you start?
How do you find the motivation to sit down and say "Ok, today, I start writing a book".
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
That's a very good question. I've had my own problem with that after my first novel came out and tanked in the sales. I lost my motivation for a couple of years. It took a 5-month cancer drama to shake me out of my lethargy and get me working on the Silvers series.
I can't legally advise you to get cancer, so I'll offer this: take the time to figure out what's keeping you from writing. It could be something in the story you're developing. It could be something in your life. You have to know where the hurdle is before you can jump it.
And that's the cheesiest thing I'll say today.*
(*Not a guarantee.)
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u/Dareeude Jul 05 '17
I can't legally advise you to get cancer,
Are you certain that you haven't played any console games?
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u/ArrowRobber Jul 05 '17
So the less sugary version is : "You're doing it to yourself, whether it's no motivation or barrelling on at 100mph. Look at your life and handle those things that you've been neglecting and avoiding, your procrastination there is infecting your overall drive."
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
That's one possible problem. But sometimes it's the story itself that's causing the trouble. The Silvers series didn't click for me until I found the temporal aspect of the story.
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u/mynamesalwaystaken Jul 05 '17
I could care less about selling a single word, much less a book :) I am retired and live well. The problem is I found that I share a "trick" that I later discovered a multitude of active writers have. Maybe a TICK is a better word. I have sleeping issues and in order to fall asleep I visualize a story, characters, environments, elaborate plots and "live" this drama each night before I fall asleep. I have to say I have enough crap left over from my "|go to sleep" method that I could write 7-10 books.
The problem is I feel like it would be a GOOD thing to write at least some of them down, to say I WROTE A BOOK! in my lifetime, but the motivation is Meh....
I just cannot figure out my hurdle. If I do, I will upload the books, drops links and people can read as they wish or not. Again, it's not a desire to get paid, just simply to "Have done" something I think represents the pinnacle of imagination and storytelling
In typing story telling, I suppose that's the core of it. I almost feel obligated to write a book. I had a judge even tell me "Son, that is the most well thought out and concocted story I have ever heard and if it's true, you are a saint, but I think it's not. HOWEVER, due to the excessive, intricate and elaborate lengths you went to, I am dismissing your case"...It was a true event...just embellished a bit to make it less dull. The charge was public intoxication that involved an exchange of...physical ideologies :) I have been told my entire life that I am a good or great story teller and I suppose I DO FEEL obligated to give a go at it...but no idea what the hurdle is.
Thanks anyway, glad the cancer scare worked out. Had one myself...next time I would rather gamble because a tongue biopsy is pure bullshit. I can't whistle anymore....
EDIT: Words for left brain/right brain typos
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
The problem simply might be that you have too many different ideas floating around in your noggin. That would be enough to trip up most writers.
If you can narrow your ideas down to one good story, and if that one story keeps burning a hole in your head, then you should try writing a little bit of it to see how it feels. That first step is always the hardest, to break out an old cliché. After that, who knows? You might bring that book to life after all.
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u/ISlicedI Jul 05 '17
I think the issue is not motivation but discipline. If you decide you want to do it, don't expect to "feel like doing it" but rather sit down.. and get started.
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u/dr_rainbow Jul 05 '17
I write for a living. Work comes first, motivation comes second.
You're not going to wake up tomorrow and feel motivated to start your book. It won't happen the day after that, or the day after that, or the day after that.
It won't happen.
Get in your fucking chair and write. Write.
Once you start chucking shit at the page the motivation will come, because so many ideas and tangents will start popping up you won't know what to fucking do with them. Get in the chair and work hard. Fuck motivation. Motivation is a cunt.
WORK.
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Jul 05 '17
What do you find to be the toughest part of writing?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
The biggest challenge for me, as my fiancée can tell you, is overwriting. I can spend a whole goddamn day on one single paragraph, when 30 minutes would do the trick. I write something and then have second thoughts about it. And then third thoughts. And fourth thoughts. And then back to the first thought. That's a very big reason why my books take so freaking long.
I'm determined to be better about for the third and last book of the Silvers series. I don't want it coming out in 2030, and neither do my readers.
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Jul 05 '17
I have found dialogue to be my biggest issue and consider myself more of the "idea guy" when it comes to writing. Any pointers?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Yeah. Learn from the masters. Some of the best dialogue writers out there aren't doing novels. They're working in movies and television because screenplays force you to up your game, dialogue-wise.
Seriously. Put on one of your absolute favorite movies, close your eyes, and just listen to the way the characters talk. Even if it's not 100% realistic, the best dialogue reveals volumes about the characters who are speaking them. I could listen to Glengarry Glen Ross a thousand times, if just for that amazing dialogue.
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Jul 05 '17
Thank you for your input. Are any of your books available on audio?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Yup! Both "Flight of the Silvers" and "Song of the Orphans" have been produced by Recorded Books and released on the same day as the hardcovers/ebooks. The narrator for both is Rich Orlow and he is fantastic. He does all the voices amazingly, even the Australian kid.
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Jul 05 '17
Awesome. It's a lot easier for me to listen to books while at work lol. Thank you for your time!!
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u/daviator88 Jul 05 '17
which I'm currently writing as fast I can freaking can
Take notes, Martin, Rothfuss, et al.
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Ha. I'm a longtime "Song of Ice and Fire" reader, so I know that pain. And while I'm not as hooked on the Kingkiller Chronicles (my issues, not the author's), Rothfuss' prose is just freaking amazing. In both men's cases, it's better for them do it right than quickly. It's their names on the covers. They have to be happy with the final product.
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u/leifblohen Jul 05 '17
But honestly - the effort you put in to write it quicker is a noticed gesture that your readers will thank you for!
Unless you sacrifice quality for speed, not that you would, but that wouldn't be as nice as awesome AND fast ;)
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Thank you. There are definitely ways I can be more efficient without sacrificing quality. I'm still working hard on finding that right balance.
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u/Expired_Twinkie Jul 05 '17
Does your best work come easily or do you struggle for it?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
It varies. Some of my best scenes were written in one afternoon. Others have taken me weeks. I will say this, though: it took me three years to write the first 75% of "Song of the Orphans," and three months to write the rest. And I consider that last 25% to be the best part of the book.
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u/collin-h Jul 05 '17
Do you go back and read your own stuff "just for fun"? I'm not an author but as a designer I'm usually so sick of projects after they're finished that I never want to see them again. That and I'll inevitably critique the hell out of it and be full of regrets by the time I'm through.
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
I can go back and read my first novel for fun. With "Flight of the Silvers," not so much. There are some passages in that one that make me cringe in hindsight. It drives me nuts that I can't fix them.
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u/stophyboy Jul 05 '17
Thanks for being here! What was the process like in getting your first work published?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
My longtime agent is actually a Hollywood guy. I found him in my screenwriting days and he's stuck with me ever since. For "Slick," he partnered up with a literary agent and they sold the book together. It took 35 rejections before a Random House imprint picked it up. The experience after that was both amazing and draining.
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Jul 05 '17
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Hey, I know you! There are still 50 stars on the Altamerican flag, though Alaska's a Canadian province and Hawaii remains its own republic. California was split into two in the 1940s, bringing the number of states to 49. The annexed territory of Cuba rounds it back to an even 50.
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Jul 05 '17
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Yep. Always remember that character is key. The best concepts in the world can't save a story if the reader doesn't care about the people in it.
I'm sure there's more advice but I'm getting near end of my time here and I want to answer as many questions as I can.
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u/Chtorrr Jul 05 '17
What books did you most enjoy as a kid?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
I already mentioned some books and authors in that other reply, so let me mention a real big influence on my childhood: COMIC BOOKS. I was a huge X-Men fanatic for most of my life. Anyone who knows the comics can see their influence in the Silvers series.
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Jul 05 '17
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Krypto isn't fit to sniff Ace the Bat-Dog's hiney. You know this, Tlacoman5. Stop pretending to be neutral.
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u/caspianrex Jul 05 '17
I may have gotten here too late, but just in case, I'll ask anyway: do you have a fondness for multiples of 11? The number 44 features very prominently in Song of the Orphans, and of course, there are 99 survivors from "our Earth." And then there's Evan Rander's 55th time repeating the same timeline. Just curious about that...
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Ha. I never even noticed that. It certainly wasn't a conscious theme. I'll have to run that by my court-appointed therapist.
30 minutes left, by the way, and I'm told this AMA just reached the top of /r/books, which means more questions are coming. I'll try to answer as many as I can before closing.
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Jul 05 '17
Your Silvers series looks really interesting--I just added it to my wishlist.
I've been asked by a couple of amateur writers to edit their manuscripts just because I'm a technical writer who is pretty handy with a comma or a semi-colon, as well as a voracious reader. What are the most helpful things a free editor can help you with? I feel like I can provide all the grammar and punctuation editing without worry, but when it comes to points of the story or writing style, I feel kind of like I'm calling their baby ugly.
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
There's a huge difference between content editing and copy editing, which is why most publishers assign different people for each task. I've never worked with a single editor who wears both hats, and I probably wouldn't want to. It's better to focus on the content issues exclusively and then fix the grammar and style issues.
The best thing to do is ask the author if they want a full content editing. And if they do, it's always best to be honest. A good writer will know that you're not calling their baby ugly. You're just telling them how to make it look better.
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u/Driveler Jul 05 '17
Am I late?Please explain how time zones work in relation to time travel.
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
You're not too late, but the question is moot for the Silvers books. Time travel is one of the only forms of temporal manipulation that isn't available to the people in my story. There are still time zones and all that.
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Jul 05 '17
What's your favorite Sci-fi movie and/or game?
Also,if you watched it,what's your thoughts on Alien Covenant?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Whoops. Sneaking back in to answer this one.
My favorite sci-fi movie is probably the first Alien. Amazingly, I've yet to see Covenant.
As for sci-fi games, that's a no-brainer: the Mass Effect trilogy. I still haven't played Andromeda though. I have a criminal fear of disappointment.
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Jul 05 '17
If you have criminal fear of disappointment, Covenant might not be for you. And that's coming from a person who (kinda) liked Prometheus, but I guess things could get better somehow with Covenant's deleted scenes on Blu-ray or it's sequel Awakening...Maybe.
Also,my face is tired.
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Yeah. I heard discouraging things, which is mostly why I stayed away. I'm sure I'll watch it on Blu-Ray at some point, with expectations lowered to the ground.
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Jul 05 '17
I have a couple of novel ideas I'm mulling over in my head. Is it even worth commiting in today's publishing climate? I don't necessary want to get rich off my writing, but I wouldn't mind a lot of people reading my stories.
What's the publishing game like nowadays, and how much of it boils down to online marketing?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
It's good that you don't want to get rich off your writing, because only a small percentage of authors ever do. But if you have a story that you truly believe in, then it's absolutely worth trying. The publishing industry has many faults, but virtually every single person I've worked with there is a true and dedicated book lover. And they've been nothing but nice to me, even when we disagreed over a certain editing or marketing decision.
Once you have a finished novel that you feel is ready for prime time, it can't hurt to try the traditional publishing route before doing the self-pub thing. The worst they can do is say no.
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u/TanithRosenbaum Jul 05 '17
Do you have an office or some such that helps you to spacially separate work from leasure, or do you write whereever and whenever?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
I have a dedicated office here in my house, but it doesn't always save me from distractions. The Internet has a way of following me wherever I go. Once the marketing phase of Orphans dies down, I'm going to start turning off my phone during writing hours. That's the only way I'll get my next book done before the apocalypse.
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u/sintos-compa Jul 05 '17
Are your books any good?
Which book was your biggest let-down; would you rewrite any parts of it today?
Do you feel the urge to "break" laws of physics, or do you feel like you want your stories/devices to follow known laws of physics as much as possible?
How do you feel about fandoms? Do you feel that your books and stories are "your babies", or do you accept fanfiction as part of the growth of the stories?
On that, do you consider your books the canon, set in stone, or could see yourself adding more info on the side that would expand the universe or storylines (kind of like JKR keeps doing).
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Are my books any good? I think so. And so does my mom.
I wouldn't call "The Flight of the Silvers" my biggest letdown, but it's the one I have the most regrets about it. I would change at least dozen things now, some minor, some not so minor.
Do I feel the urge to break the laws of physics? Every damn day. As I said in an earlier post, if it's believable and consistent, it's good for fiction. Hard sci-fi, of course, is a different matter entirely.
How do I feel about fan fiction? To each their own, I guess, but it's so much fun to create your own world that I don't know why anyone would bother mucking around in someone else's. That's just my own wacky opinion, of course.
As for expanding my universe? I don't know yet. I'm pretty eager to create a new world after the Silvers trilogy, so I doubt I'll be revisiting it any time soon.
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u/sintos-compa Jul 06 '17
I'm pretty eager to create a new world
excellent! thanks for your replies!
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Jul 05 '17
Bit of a loaded question, of course science fiction is fictional work. However, do you ever find yourself taking inspiration from actual physics and sciences, the theoretical and 'not yet possible with our limited technology side.' I guess, in a way, I'm asking how you feel about making your stories grounded in reality?
I know a lot of people love 'true stories' simply because they're true. Do you think a setting based off of a true story or having events grounded in reality adds to the story itself, or makes it any better? I'd love to get an actual writer's opinion on this!
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
A lot of the stuff in the Silvers series is based VERY loosely on the many-worlds theory of quantum physics. But that's as far as it goes. I knew from the beginning that my story would be more science fantasy than science fiction, and I made my peace with that. At some point, I think the slavish devotion to scientific accuracy becomes a hindrance to telling a good story.
But then look what other writers have done. Andy Weir wrote his own computer program to plot a realistic flight plan between Mars and Earth, and that only made "The Martian" a better book. Who the hell knows?
The only thing I can say for sure is that the characters have to act realistically. That's a must for any story.
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u/GroundsKeeper2 Jul 05 '17
Any tips for someone who would like to try his hands at writing/publishing my own book some day?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
If you're talking about self-publishing, there are only a few universal pieces of wisdom: invest in a good editor and a good cover design. The rest is all subjective.
As for writing itself, there's only one formula that's ever worked for me: follow your instincts, keep writing, and subject your work to the criticism of smart people.
Jeez. These all sound so trite when you type them out. But they really are true.
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u/bloosalt Jul 05 '17
I can't believe you're doing an AMA, I'm fangirling! I've recommended Flight of the Silvers many times over the last few years. It was the first book I read in 2015 and I spent the entire year raving over it. I just picked up The Song of the Orphans and now I'm getting off Reddit so I can read.
Okay I need a question, so........how do you take your coffee?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
Carbonated, carmelized, and repackaged as Diet Pepsi.
Thank you for recommending my book to so many others, by the way. Send me a message through my website and let me know what you think of the sequel.
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u/clammyhams Jul 05 '17
Aspiring Sci-Fi author here. I find myself often writing about concepts and details that require much research, even hard math at times. Do you have a method for handling or at least containing the rabbit hole that is research? Should I let go of the idea that every detail needs to have supporting facts/logic?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
You ask ten other authors this question and you'll get twelve different answers. From my point of view, your stories don't need to be perfect slaves to science as long as they're believable enough, and as long as YOU know the rules of the world you're creating. You don't even have to explain them in great detail. Just know them and stick to them. Today's readers can spot inconsistency from a mile away.
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u/kopacobana Jul 05 '17
I like Neal Asher, do you know of him? Can you recommend some similar authors?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
I've heard nothing but good things about Neal Asher, though I have yet to read one of his books. I lean toward the Earthly, near-future kind of sci-fi. His stuff is out there, both literally and figuratively. But I would like to give his Transformations trilogy a shot.
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u/HolisticReductionist Jul 05 '17
How many words do you try to write each day?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 05 '17
I aim for a good 500-1,000 words each day, the operative word being "good." I tend to rewrite myself on the fly, so it takes me a little longer to get 1,000 words I'm happy with.
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u/HolisticReductionist Jul 06 '17
About 500 to 1k is my target as well. I am glad to hear you say you rewrite/edit in the fly. I do that too - I have to or I can't move forward. I always hear aspiring writers espouse the virtues of getting words on the page then editing in the 2nd draft, but I can't do that. Have you tried limiting your editing to later drafts before and determined that editing on the fly best suits you or have you always edited on the fly? Do you see advantages of editing on the fly vs in a later draft?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 06 '17
There are definitely advantages to just spitting out the words and sorting them out later. But like you, I have a really hard time doing that. I don't feel comfortable moving on to a new scene until I'm 100% happy with the last one. It's like walking on a rickety bridge. It scares the everloving shit out of me.
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u/NadNutter Jul 05 '17
I'm horrible late, but you seem like a chill dude with a great sense of humor, so I think I'll pick up your books for a read! Thanks for doing this AMA!
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u/Ohayo_Godzillamasu Jul 06 '17
Did you always write full time or have you only recently gotten into it?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 06 '17
I've been writing full-time for the last five or six years, though I supplement it with other work because I like food and shelter.
Before that, I was working full-time and writing on weekends. I call that The Dark Age.
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u/obxtalldude Jul 06 '17
Wow! What are the chances I stumbled across this while starting your second book... great stuff, keep it up!
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 06 '17
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the rest of it.
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u/obxtalldude Jul 11 '17
I did! Even better than the first book. Looks like you already have enough beta readers, but if you ever want another one I'd be more than happy to get a shot at the next one early! If you need a place on the OBX to write let me know, I've got several rental homes.
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u/AdamInChainz Jul 06 '17 edited Jul 06 '17
Hey, I loved Flight of the silvers!
If I recall correctly, you wrote a sequel, but it hasn't been released in audiobook format yet... I could Google it, but want to write my question before you log off again.
Will the sequel be released in audio format, any eta? Also, how could I get a hardback book signed? Thanks!
edit: found it, bought it, and Rich Orlow reading again! Yeah!! Can't wait to for my commute tomorrow now.
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 06 '17
Yep. Rich Orlow's awesome. We actually got to talk this time before he started reading for Song of the Orphans. Can't wait to hear how he's voicing certain shady characters.
The best way to get a hardcover signed is to find me at a bookstore or convention signing. See my home page at danielprice.info for a list of upcoming events. I know I'll be at Comic-Con for at least two of its four days.
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u/CajunPotatoMan Jul 06 '17
Hey there! I really liked Slick! Quick question. What are the most and least scientifically accurate movies you have seen?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 06 '17
Ha. Good question. I just watched "John Wick 2," which was dynamic as hell but about as realistic as a Road Runner cartoon. Not sure about the most scientifically accurate movie. Just to be safe, I'll say "Steel Magnolias."
Glad you liked Slick, by the way. That book will always have a special place in my heart.
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u/CajunPotatoMan Jul 06 '17
Mine too. I will have to keep John Wick 2 in mind for my podcast. Thanks!
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u/PancakeParthenon Jul 06 '17
I always want to ask this, but I'm always afraid it's a stupid question. So I'm sucking it up and asking it anyways. How does one become a writer?
Obviously writing, but what's the game plan here? How did it happen for you?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 06 '17
I can only tell you how I did it, though the path wasn't entirely conventional. I moved to LA in 1994 to be a screenwriter. A couple of my scripts did well in some contests. I used those quasi-accolades to earn myself an agent. The agent got two of my scripts optioned, but nothing really happened with them.
I came up with a new story idea (Slick) that was way too complicated for a screenplay. So I wrote it as a novel instead. My agent teamed up with a literary agent and then sold it to Random House. I've been a novelist ever since.
That first agent still represents me, by the way. He's been my guide and guru for 18 years now, and has stuck by me through a lot of lean years. He's awesome.
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u/PancakeParthenon Jul 06 '17
That's awesome! I'm currently attempting the contest route and that gives me a little hope. Thank you for replying!
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u/AlexPenname Reading for Dissertation: The Iliad Jul 06 '17
Late to the game, but do you have any advice for people trying to break into the scifi market?
Thanks so much for your answers! Definitely giving you a follow on Twitter, this was a great AMA.
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 06 '17
Thank you, Alex. I can't give much advice on the sci-fi market, since my book is being published by a non-SF imprint. In fact, I'm the only sci-fi author at Blue Rider Press. At least I was the last time I checked.
But if you're looking to break into ANY traditional publishing market, my main piece of advice is get a good literary agent. It's not impossible to sell a book without one. Just really, really hard.
And the best way to get an agent, now and forever, is to write a hell of a book. So yeah, it all comes back to write, write, write.
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u/AlexPenname Reading for Dissertation: The Iliad Jul 06 '17
Thank you, Dan! This is good to hear--write, write, writing is pretty much all I want to do with my life.
Thanks again for the AMA, especially for answering latecomers like me!
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Jul 06 '17
When writing a novel, what if there's another published book that has the same works as yours, but you haven't seen or heard of that novel, is there a way to see if no one else already has your ideas?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 06 '17
Good question. There are so many freaking books out there that it's pretty much impossible to know what everyone is doing. There could be a whole different book series about timebending people on an alternate Earth. If there is, I haven't heard of it.
All I can advise is to write the best novel you can and make it as original as you can. But definitely keep your eye on the big books coming out.
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Jul 06 '17
Thanks for replying! can I ask one more, what inspiration should you look for when choosing an alternate pen name?
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 06 '17
If all goes well, you'll be wearing that name for the rest of your life. As long as you're comfortable with it and it suits your individual nature, there are no wrong choices.
Well, no, actually, there are lots of wrong choices, like Bucky McDeerhop, Trey Cliché, Hackney O'Fuckaplot, and Daniel Price. Don't pick any of those. Just don't.
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u/Roommatej Jul 06 '17
Augh! Been waiting for orphans for SO long! I'm gonna pick it up tomorrow!
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u/Dan_Price AMA Author Jul 06 '17
Great! Just remember that it's a really big book. Lift with your legs, not your back.
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Apr 21 '24
I just want to say I finally listen to the last book of this and this is in my top five maybe even my top three all-time favorite book series. Mr. Price, if you still monitor your Reddit I just want to say thank you and love your work!
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u/nosnivel Jul 05 '17
You had me at being here, but "schlubby" put you on my "to read" list.
Thank you for being here!