Ask the Author: Paul B. Spence
Answered Questions (11)
Paul B. Spence
Pern.
I would go to Pern.
I'm too old to be a dragonrider, but I could have a firelizard.
I would go to Pern.
I'm too old to be a dragonrider, but I could have a firelizard.
Paul B. Spence
I needed groceries.
I went to Walmart.
I went to Walmart.
Paul B. Spence
Well... I currently working my through C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series, which should take a while. I also intend to reread A Swiftly Tilting Planet, by L'Engle, and anything else that looks interesting.
Paul B. Spence
Hmm. I'm not sure how to answer this. Some of the things in my life I can't talk about. Others... well, I write science fiction. I suppose the easiest would be a thriller involving archaeology, since I have a lot of experience there.
Paul B. Spence
I didn't before, but I do now. Thanks for asking!
I'll be updating it regularly with snippets, talking about the creative process, and interesting science news. I admit that I may be biased toward news about archaeology.
You can find my blog here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
I'll be updating it regularly with snippets, talking about the creative process, and interesting science news. I admit that I may be biased toward news about archaeology.
You can find my blog here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Paul B. Spence
I write a lot the rest of the time.
Also, I find it helps to have several projects to work on. I currently have nine books (not all in the same series) I'm writing, and some short stories. If I get stumped on one story, I switch to another. That way I still make progress, and hopefully can have more books coming out closer together.
If I really just can't write, because I'm worn out or my brain hurts or something, I do something other than write. I read. I'm also rather fond of Civilization V, Fallout 3, and Skyrim.
Also, I find it helps to have several projects to work on. I currently have nine books (not all in the same series) I'm writing, and some short stories. If I get stumped on one story, I switch to another. That way I still make progress, and hopefully can have more books coming out closer together.
If I really just can't write, because I'm worn out or my brain hurts or something, I do something other than write. I read. I'm also rather fond of Civilization V, Fallout 3, and Skyrim.
Paul B. Spence
Getting to share stories that I love with other people.
I've read authors talk about how they hate their books or their characters. I really can't understand that. Not to sound egotistical, but I love my books. I write books I want to read, and I love science fiction. I love my characters. I feel bad when something horrible happens to them in my stories, and believe me, horrible things do happen to them. But the things that happen, happen so that they can overcome them and grow as people. Without adversity, you don't develop.
I've read authors talk about how they hate their books or their characters. I really can't understand that. Not to sound egotistical, but I love my books. I write books I want to read, and I love science fiction. I love my characters. I feel bad when something horrible happens to them in my stories, and believe me, horrible things do happen to them. But the things that happen, happen so that they can overcome them and grow as people. Without adversity, you don't develop.
Paul B. Spence
Writing can be painful. You pour your heart and soul out onto the page and then hope no one comes along and grinds it under their boot. Don't give up. Keep writing. Writing is a skill, it takes practice to do it well.
Rewrite and polish. Polish it till it squeaks. Seriously. Read it out loud to a friend. Have them read it to you. You'll find more errors when you have to actually speak what is on the page, because when you read what you've written, your brain fills in the blanks. It can't when you have to speak it.
Find an editor/proofreader. Make your work professional, before you try to sell it. You'll be happier, and so will your readers.
Rewrite and polish. Polish it till it squeaks. Seriously. Read it out loud to a friend. Have them read it to you. You'll find more errors when you have to actually speak what is on the page, because when you read what you've written, your brain fills in the blanks. It can't when you have to speak it.
Find an editor/proofreader. Make your work professional, before you try to sell it. You'll be happier, and so will your readers.
Paul B. Spence
I'm currently working with my editor to polish up the next book in the series after The Remnant. The Fallen continues the story of Tebrey and the other survivors from the first book. It will be out soon.
Each book stands alone, a complete story, but each builds on the next. Yes, that means there is another one coming after The Fallen. I can't talk about that one yet.
Each book stands alone, a complete story, but each builds on the next. Yes, that means there is another one coming after The Fallen. I can't talk about that one yet.
Paul B. Spence
I read. A lot. I read everything I can point my eyes at. If I could have a datajack and plug my brain in, I would. If you want to write in a genre, you need to read everything you can from that genre. You also need to read things outside that genre (I'm fond of thrillers), and (for science fiction) you need to read every scrap of information you can find about anything that is science. Any science. I read physics, biology, chemistry, astrophysics, astronomy, anthropology, archeology, linguistics, sociology, forensics, genetics, psychology, and anything else I can find. Also Kipling. You have to read Kipling.
Then I listen to really good music and let it all flow out into the computer. I really need that datajack...
Then I listen to really good music and let it all flow out into the computer. I really need that datajack...
Paul B. Spence
This is a really tough question.
Portions of The Remnant have been in my head most of my life. I used to tell myself stories when I was a child to help myself sleep -- still do sometimes -- those stories were probably inspired by things I had seen on TV, old classic sci-fi and stuff.
I had real problems with dyslexia as a child. I couldn't read until I was almost nine years old. Hint: I used a mirror until I got it all sorted out.
Andre Norton was obviously an influence, also Joe Haldeman. I am an archaeologist with science degrees in geology and cultural anthropology. A story with a team of scientists seemed like a good example of write what you know. Don't ask about the antagonist. Really...
Portions of The Remnant have been in my head most of my life. I used to tell myself stories when I was a child to help myself sleep -- still do sometimes -- those stories were probably inspired by things I had seen on TV, old classic sci-fi and stuff.
I had real problems with dyslexia as a child. I couldn't read until I was almost nine years old. Hint: I used a mirror until I got it all sorted out.
Andre Norton was obviously an influence, also Joe Haldeman. I am an archaeologist with science degrees in geology and cultural anthropology. A story with a team of scientists seemed like a good example of write what you know. Don't ask about the antagonist. Really...
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