Question 933: Selecting a Pen Name
Nichole asks: Any thoughts on choosing your pen name if you write somewhat whimsical sci-fi/fantasy? Resources Mentioned: Torchwood Number of the Beast, Robert A Heinlein
Feedback: On Re-Using Dialog
Herbert has feedback on the May 19 episode on dialog, Alan Sorkin, and the value (or not) of recycled dialog.
Q932: Maintaining Character Tension in an Open-Ended Series
Herbert asks: What are some techniques for maintaining tension in a series-long character arc for a longer, open-ended series? Resources Mentioned: Clarke Lantham Mysteries Moonlighting Moonlighting: An Oral History Dexter Bablylon 5 True Blood Winds of War and War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bjould …
Question 931: Short Story Self-Pub Strategies and Figuring Cost/Benefit
Ed asks: What are your thoughts on the best way to self-publish short stories? Resources Mentioned: Playing the Short Game by Doug Smith
Question 930: Paying For Beta Readers
Herbert asks: I have a lot of willing “beta readers,” but they don’t ever get back to me with feedback. I’ve seen I can hire beta readers on Fiverr. What is a reasonable price to pay for beta readers?
Feedback: More On Getting Good Audiobooks
Roland has feedback on good places to get audiobooks. Librivox Libraries (Libby App by Overdrive) Amazon Kindle Kobo Chirp Libro.fm Audiobooks.com EPIC! Spotify Youtube.com Lindsay Buroker’s Audiobook Playlist – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKJZyogOFzg&list=PLF295gYtb6lVRx8Cb_D_2hD8AanNFRAeS Lindsay Buroker’s videos for authors on why audiobooks on YouTube works: https://youtu.be/tfLNW0gnlCM https://youtu.be/IirTbyR9wrU
Question 929: Cultural Appropriation
Charlie asks: I am a white, straight, male fantasy writer with little interest in ancient Norwegian culture and mythology. How far removed from real-world influences does my fantasy world need to be in order to be safe from the no cultural appropriation PC culture?
Question 928: A Message for Kitty
Nichole has feedback and a message for Kitty.
Question 927: Best Intro to Dan’s Work
Nichole asks: What are some good starting points into your books? Resources Mentioned: https://jdsawyer.net/books/reading-order/ Down From Ten by J. Daniel Sawyer And Then She Was Gone The Clarke Lantham Mysteries Suave Rob’s Awesome Adventures Ideas, Inc. Hadrian’s Flight Tales of a Lombard Alchemist, Vol 1.
Question 926: Historicals and Research
Herbert asks: What is a good heuristic to determine how much historical research to do up front for a historical novel? Or scientific research for sci-fi? Should I rely on expert beta readers? Resources Mentioned: The Resurrection Junket Soulless I, Claudius, by Robert Graves Claudius the God, by Robert Graves …