The Gradual Interview

[drew]

I had another one answered a little bit ago:

drew: Mr Donaldson,

Recently, you answered a GI question about your writting/rewritting process. You stated that you tend to write out the story first, and then go back and do the rewrites.
I'd like to know about when you wrote the Mordant's Needs novels, which you'd written in four parts. Did you write part one, and then rewrite part one? Or did you write Novel one, and then rewrite Novel one? Or did you write the entire story and then rewrite the entire story.

I'd like to let you know that I've just finished The Mirror of her Dreams, and am getting ready to begin A Man Rides Through, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the entire series...just as much as the Covenant Series' and the Gap series.

Also one more qick question: Do either you or your webmaster proofread and edit the GI questions for speling erors?

When I write--and when I rewrite--I work in *books*. I mean in physical volumes, not in structural subdivisions. Although "Mordant's Need" is structured in four units (called "books"), I wrote and rewrote the story in two phases, "The Mirror of Her Dreams" and then "A Man Rides Through". The same is true of "The Chronicles". A majority of the volumes are subdivided; but I worked (and work) on them in the same "chunks" used for publication. All of "The Runes of the Earth" until it's done, then all of "Fatal Revenant" until it's done, then you get the idea.

And no, no one proofreads the GI questions for speling erors. I proofread my answers as best I can, but of course I don't catch everthing.

(10/11/2008)

[aliantha]

DREW!!! How ya been, dude?

[dlbpharmd]

Vince Gregory: Vince Gregory
England

Hi Steve

I need to try and explain something to you. I hope you don’t mind.

I am one of the many (apparently) people who have mailed you regarding the female Haruchai. (“Oh no! not another one” I hear you sigh). Sorry for fetching it up again but I find it surprising to read that you seem flabbergasted by our interest and can’t understand why we care.

You don’t seem to realise how powerful your own books are and how REAL the world you have created and the characters that populate it have become to us fans. I have never read any other books where the characterisation is so beautifully complete, so powerful, so utterly believable. For instance how can Pitchwife never have existed except as an idea that you decided to put down on paper? Ludicrous thought! No. He did/does exist for us and our lives are massively enriched through our having had the chance to meet him. (Thank you).

And because your characters are so real, we become INTERESTED in them. What is the home of the Giants like. What are the female Haruchai like? What are their children like? Did Morham ever father children? Did Trell ever find any peace? Does Lord Foul prefer beans or tomatoes with his bacon? Etc., etc., etc., ………………

I have never read one of your books and thought “…..well, what a nice amusing tale that was” as I have with many other books. Your books transport me. I am there. I put your books down emotionally knackered! Your stories take us readers on a magical journey that will be many things to many people, but I am certain that to virtually every fan, the Land and everything in it and around it is incredibly VIVID and REAL. That is testament to your skill.

The Land is not two-dimensional to us so we can’t help being interested. It’s your fault for being so bloody good!

I hope you understand where I'm coming from Stephen, even if you find it difficult to understand why.

Take care.
(which can selfishly be translated as ‘Live a long time and keep writing’)

Vince.

(Personal note: if you had included your email address, I would have sent you a private reply. I don't usually make messages like yours public.)

Comments like this one always humble me. I wish I understood the--there's no better word for it--*magic* of communication. Here I sit, muttering endlessly about being an "efficient" writer who only creates what he needs--and there you sit, apparently getting more out of my books than I knew I was putting in. <sigh> How does that happen? I sure wish I knew. God knows, I *want* my characters to come alive. They feel alive to me. And yet they don't inspire the same kind of curiosity in me that they do in you. I'm deeply engrossed in how they feel *now*, and in what they're going to do *next*. But my curiosity doesn't spread beyond those boundaries. Perhaps that's because I have to actually *write* the books (which, as you know, takes me years): I can't afford the time to be too curious. Or maybe it's just a flaw in my own character.... <rueful smile>

(12/03/2008)

[AjK]

Wow, that was a very nice question/compliment and a very nice answer. May be part of the difference is that we read these great books and keep on thinking while poor SRD has to read what he has written and then keep on writing. Time management...

[matrixman]

May be part of the difference is that we read these great books and keep on thinking while poor SRD has to read what he has written and then keep on writing. Time management...

I think you nailed it.

[dlbpharmd]

Three great Q&As posted yesterday:

Vincent: Greetings again Mr. Donaldson,

I was reading through some recent questions in the GI and I was struck by an epiphany. Well epiphany may be too strong of a word, but it started me thinking anyway.

-To the best of my (admittedly flawed) abilities, I have striven mightily throughout "The Chronicles" to preserve the theoretical possibility that everything in the Land flows outward from the many layers of Covenant's consciousness--and later of Linden's.-

I have noticed how much the Land changes when someone new becomes involved with it.

When Thomas came it was a beautiful place with 'spots' of illness, like a reflection of Thomas's leprocy. The general emotion was one of beauty being corrupted, (his fears that his son might become infected?) and Thomas's feelings of not belonging, the same feelings he expirienced in his own home town.

When Linden came the Land was in ruins. All hope was lost, everything was sick and dying. The strongest emotions were that of depression and futility. (Depression due to her guilt at killing her mother, and futility at not being able to stop her father from killing himself?)

Now she returns after losing her son, and the Land is blinded. Reflecting her feelings of being lost and unable to find Jeremiah? (Or is it a reflection of Jeremiah's not being able to communicate? Meaning that Jeremiah is the centerpoint of the Land in the incarnation?)

-Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary Samurai, and author of "The Book of Five Rings," once wrote, "He who is the master of one thing is the master of all things."-

The Land seems more and more like a test that can only be completed by achieving that 'Mastery of self' by working through internal issues in an external situation. A harsh learning tool, like Purgatory, or even Hell.

Just a thought.

An interesting perspective on the reality/unreality of the Land debate. Naturally I like it <grin> since it lends credence to the admittedly fragile position I take in this debate.

(12/26/2008)

Vincent, where are you? That's a great q&a.

Thad Coons: Dear Mr. Donaldson;
In the first Chronicles, it occurred to me that Joan's divorce of Thomas Covenant and his subsequent emotional devatation had something to do with the Ritual of Desecration. I haven't seen that possibility mentioned or discussed, so I wonder whether you intended such a connection, or whether it's entirely out of my own imagination?
My other question would be whether Joan is somehow tied into the same kind of unconscious processes that Thomas mentions to Linden at the beginning of the Wounded Land, except I think Lord Foul already gave the answer to that one when he offered his teaser "Of my deeper purposes I say nothing."

Hmm. Certainly Joan's "betrayal" of Covenant at the beginning of LFB can be compared to the betrayal (the invitation to an ambush disguised as a parley) which set Kevin up emotionally for his Ritual. The various ways in which Covenant has been "prepared" to become a Landwaster himself are certainly integral to my design.

That "Joan is somehow tied into the same kind of unconscious processes that Thomas mentions to Linden" is difficult to dispute. How else is LF able to have his way with her? But saying that implies nothing about the nature of LF's "deeper purposes".

(12/26/2008)

Hmmmm - interesting. It never ocurred to me that Joan was part of LF's deeper purposes - in fact, I have no idea what those purposes are, yet.

Rob Smith: Hi Steve,

It has occurred to me that one of the repercussions of indulging all your fans with the gradual interview is that as we near the end of the chronicles the speculations of we, the humble readers, on how all this is going to end are going to get closer to the truth.

Clearly this will result in an increase of the RAFO responses but I was wondering how you deal with the readers who are not going to like your decisions. As the end looms and speculation on Kevin's Watch and other forums reaches fever pitch there are clearly going to be some people who you will realise are not going to like the ending (unless of course you come up with one nobody at all has thought of....)

Clearly we the faithful will defend your decisions in the usual ways (offers of counceling, hostile emails, burning the heretics etc.) but I wondered if you might feel the traditional Ivory Tower approach of other authors might have made this bit at least a little easier...

With occasional exceptions, readers don't tell me when they don't like my storytelling decisions. (What would be the point? I write what I do because I am who I am. Expecting something different from me goes nowhere. And then there's the obvious fact that people don't dislike what I do until they read it--which means that it's already in print--which means that I couldn't change it even if I wanted to.) They either quit reading--and tell their friends not to waste time on my books--or trudge on, hoping for some kind of eventual satisfaction (which, btw, I try strenuously to provide). From time to time, of course, the fortifications of my Ivory Tower prove inadequate. (After all, *every* writer has to deal with editors. <rueful smile>) But in my experience, the GI has not significantly weakened my defenses.

(12/26/2008)

[Menolly]

Rob Smith: Hi Steve,

It has occurred to me that one of the repercussions of indulging all your fans with the gradual interview is that as we near the end of the chronicles the speculations of we, the humble readers, on how all this is going to end are going to get closer to the truth.

Clearly this will result in an increase of the RAFO responses but I was wondering how you deal with the readers who are not going to like your decisions. As the end looms and speculation on Kevin's Watch and other forums reaches fever pitch there are clearly going to be some people who you will realise are not going to like the ending (unless of course you come up with one nobody at all has thought of....)

Clearly we the faithful will defend your decisions in the usual ways (offers of counceling, hostile emails, burning the heretics etc.) but I wondered if you might feel the traditional Ivory Tower approach of other authors might have made this bit at least a little easier...

With occasional exceptions, readers don't tell me when they don't like my storytelling decisions. (What would be the point? I write what I do because I am who I am. Expecting something different from me goes nowhere. And then there's the obvious fact that people don't dislike what I do until they read it--which means that it's already in print--which means that I couldn't change it even if I wanted to.) They either quit reading--and tell their friends not to waste time on my books--or trudge on, hoping for some kind of eventual satisfaction (which, btw, I try strenuously to provide). From time to time, of course, the fortifications of my Ivory Tower prove inadequate. (After all, *every* writer has to deal with editors. <rueful smile>) But in my experience, the GI has not significantly weakened my defenses.

(12/26/2008)

THOOLAH!!!

[danlo]

THOOLAH can bite my left nut!

[Farm Ur-Ted]

Do you really want you left nut bitten?

[dlbpharmd]

THOOLAH can bite my left nut!

OK - HLT, if you would, please.

[danlo]

Heh, I won the brass balls award when I was just 17, so I advise HLT to schedule a visit to his dentist, in advance, should he decide to open his mouth.

[rdhopeca]

This may have been answered before, but does anyone have a general idea how long it takes SRD to answer your question after you ask it, assuming it gets answered?

[dlbpharmd]

It can take weeks, if not months. It all depends on how much time he can devote to the GI and how backed up the queue is.

[Farm Ur-Ted]

The only time or two that I asked a question, he actually responded pretty quick, like within a week. I guess I had good timing, or I just annoyed him so much he couldn't wait to answer.

[Seareach]

I'd be guessing replies depend on a number of factors (eg: the questions are not necessarily answered in order of when they're submitted).

[dlbpharmd]

I'd be guessing replies depend on a number of factors (eg: the questions are not necessarily answered in order of when they're submitted).

I can believe that. I submitted a question several weeks ago that hasn't been answered yet; I imagine because it's a little too personal for him. I wish now I could take it back.

[Seareach]

I'd be guessing replies depend on a number of factors (eg: the questions are not necessarily answered in order of when they're submitted).

I can believe that. I submitted a question several weeks ago that hasn't been answered yet; I imagine because it's a little too personal for him. I wish now I could take it back.

Did you remember to include your email address with it? Maybe he'll send you a personal reply and then you can feel all warm and fuzzy!!!

[wayfriend]

I submitted a question several weeks ago that hasn't been answered yet; I imagine because it's a little too personal for him. I wish now I could take it back.

"Boxers or Briefs?"?

[wayfriend]

DLB's question gets answered!!! And it's a good 'un.

dlbpharmd: In "Variations on The Fantasy Tradition," W. A. Senior wrote:

"Donaldson sent the manuscript to more than forty publishers before Lester Del Rey finally accepted it on the second submission, insisting, however, on major revisions that led to protracted battles between writer and editor."

Your battles with Del Rey regarding the Second Chronicles are well known and have been discussed here (i.e., the use of Linden as protagonist in TOT, which prompted Del Rey's now famous exclamation "You can't have a Tarzan book with Jane as the main character!") However, I don't believe you've ever discussed here in the GI the "protracted battles" with Del Rey over the First Chronicles. What can you tell us about the revisions to First Chronicles?

• Actually, I believe I *have* talked about this. Trying to brief.... Our biggest fight was over "The Illearth War". In the first drafts of that book, the whole story of Korik and Hyrim's mission to Seareach was told in one uninterrupted "movement"--from Korik's point of view. Lester objected in the strongest possible terms; and until I understood the substance of his objection, I was devastated. (Being fair to myself: he made himself difficult to understand because he preferred to dictate solutions without explaining what the problems were.) However, once I did understand his objection (he felt that 200+ pages from Korik's POV undermined everything I was trying to do with Covenant's Unbelief), I naturally agreed with him. I didn't accept any of his proposed solutions: to his credit, he did accept mine (no doubt because I demonstrated a grasp on the underlying problem).
  
  (01/13/2009)

I bet this is related to the business of removing the Gildenfire material as well, since he's mentioning Korik's POV.

Other juicy goodness in the GI today -- Amok questions get answered.

Dave Markell: Two quick things:

1) This question has bothered me for decades. In The Illearth War, we learn that Amok was created as the only means by which the Earthblood could be reached--Damelon's Door could not be passed without him. However, Amok is destroyed by proximity to the Earthblood shortly thereafter, meaning no one can ever reach it again. That seems a bit extreme. Making access very difficult is perfectly sensible; making it impossible to be used more than once implies that Amok's creator believed/knew the Land would never be faced by more than one circumstance where the Blood would be the logical solution. And since that "one circumstance" went so very, very wrong, Kevin's foresight in this matter seems rather faulty .

2) Speaking of the Earthblood, this link is to a photo of Machapuchare, one of the the highest unclimbed peaks in the world: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... uchare.jpg . It's not a perfect likeness, but it does somewhat match my mental image of Melenkurion Skyweir. More views of this incredible mountain can be found here: www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150279 ... st][i]Whoa! This one almost got past me. Too many unwarrented assumptions.

First, in my view, Kevin could easily have believed that the Power of Command was something that could/should only be used once. EVER. Keep in mind that he didn't use it *himself*. He thought that his circumstances were bad enough to justify a Ritual of Desecration--and *still* he stayed away from the EarthBlood. He must have foreseen the possibility of something EVEN WORSE: something so bad that it could never happen twice because the world would no longer exist.

(Or maybe, just maybe, he knew what the EarthBlood is actually *for*.)

In any case, if Kevin--or any of the Lords--had possessed the kind of precise prescience necessary to foresee Elena, none of this story would ever have happened at all.

Second, you appear to be forgetting that we don't know what was in Kevin's lost Wards. Maybe if Amok had not arrived (very) prematurely--maybe if the new Lords had been able to relearn Kevin's Lore in its intended sequence--a new Amok-figure could have been created at need to replace the old one. The way events actually played out in "The Illearth War" is so obviously *not* what Kevin intended that we really can't draw conclusions about his intentions on that basis.

(01/13/2009)[/i][/list]

[aliantha]

Hunh. So what *is* EarthBlood actually for?