On Apr 12, 2012, at 4:42 PM, Parks White wrote: > Hi Ray (REF) > > As we are in the 30 year anniversary since publication of Magician and with > Magicians End ominously on the horizon, and as the world of Midkemia predates > Magician and as you have acknowledged in your books ideas and collaborations > have come from many sources, collaborations with other authors, friends and > family, fans etc...and contributed to the rich fabric of the World you have > woven... To what extent have your fans over the years contributed ideas, > feedback and suggestions that has assisted in the process of plot development > and storytelling and Midkemia Universe creation? Any examples? > > Parks3 > > Sent from my iPad >
Almost zero. You can't listen to feedback from too many people; it'll make you all crazy-like. For every "Magician is the best thing you've ever written;everything else is crap," you get "The new book is the best thing you've ever written; everything else is crap." So, who do I listen to? Feedback to a writer in the editorial process is very rigorous and requires a balance of perspective between what the editor thinks about the writer hitting his/her storytelling goals, and understanding the writer's storytelling process. The rest of you are like film-critics; you just think you know what you're talking about. Which is not meant as an insult, but rather a perspective on how the writer sees his/her readers. Best, R.E.F. ---- www.crydee.com Never attribute to malice what can satisfactorily be explained away by stupidity.
