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Post by scraggles on Apr 8, 2008 9:09:57 GMT -5
Hi Vicki,
I was just reading something that Jim Butcher has said about his specific plans for his series. For example, his Codex Alera series will have six books, no more. He's got a specific story to tell over the arc of the series, and doesn't want to make it a franchise.
Do you have a similar sort of plan or structure for the Zodiac series?
Just wondering.
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Post by Raven on Apr 8, 2008 9:16:18 GMT -5
Oooooo good question.
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Apr 8, 2008 18:52:00 GMT -5
Hi Vicki, I was just reading something that Jim Butcher has said about his specific plans for his series. For example, his Codex Alera series will have six books, no more. He's got a specific story to tell over the arc of the series, and doesn't want to make it a franchise. Do you have a similar sort of plan or structure for the Zodiac series? Just wondering. Here's a story for you that both will and won't answer your question: I did a panel at last year's RT with Jim Butcher, among others. We were all asked this very question, and the answers varied widely; some people said they knew exactly when and where the series would end, others hadn't a clue. And then came Jim (I'm paraphrasing): "It's planned as a twenty book series with a three book apocolyptic ending." Dead silence. I mean, how do you follow that? Except I had to. So I said, "Interestingly enough, I too have planned a twenty book series with a three book apocolypic ending. It's a great idea. I just thought of it." Later on I saw Jim getting coffee. "Sorry I stole your series idea," I said. "It's okay," he replied, on his way out the door. "I wasn't using it anyway." The true answer is this: There will definitely be six books. I'm going to push Joanna as hard and fast as I can in those six books, and see exactly how much she can take. If there's more story left, I'll write that, but I'm not going to dilute the series or drag it out. She's done when she either 1) can't take any more, 2) dies, or 3) wins.
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Post by vampyre on Apr 8, 2008 19:39:29 GMT -5
Well before you kill her off, I want to see what really happens when she gets trapped on a plane that's about to leave LV airspace.
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Post by debim on Apr 8, 2008 20:13:49 GMT -5
I'm impressed she has a plan.
Do you have the series plotted out (like Kim Harrison) or do you write by the seat of your pants (like Charlaine Harris).
A plotter or a pantser, which is it, Vic?
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Apr 8, 2008 20:53:24 GMT -5
Vampy, Well before you kill her off, I want to see what really happens when she gets trapped on a plane that's about to leave LV airspace. Keep readin'!
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Apr 8, 2008 20:56:08 GMT -5
Debi, I'm impressed she has a plan. Do you have the series plotted out (like Kim Harrison) or do you write by the seat of your pants (like Charlaine Harris). A plotter or a pantser, which is it, Vic? I've learned the hard way (another story ) that I'm a pantser. Which I knew. But I forgot. But I'm a plotter in my wildest dreams.
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Post by deathlynx on Apr 8, 2008 21:32:04 GMT -5
lol...What about after Joanna? Any thoughts as to whether you would write for other cities, permit others to write stories from them, or perhaps an anthology that you edit?
It's such a great and diverse mythos...
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Post by scraggles on Apr 8, 2008 21:50:10 GMT -5
... So I said, Interestingly enough, I too have planned a twenty book series with a three book apocolypic ending. It's a great idea. I just thought of it. I hope you got a good laugh, LOL!!!
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Post by debim on Apr 8, 2008 22:07:02 GMT -5
I was there. ..She did. ;D
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Post by vampyre on Apr 8, 2008 23:53:33 GMT -5
Vampy, Well before you kill her off, I want to see what really happens when she gets trapped on a plane that's about to leave LV airspace. Keep readin'! !!! You didn't !!! That's gonna leave a mark.
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Apr 9, 2008 18:37:24 GMT -5
lol...What about after Joanna? Any thoughts as to whether you would write for other cities, permit others to write stories from them, or perhaps an anthology that you edit? It's such a great and diverse mythos... I hadn't thought of it yet, tbh. Mostly because my mind is so fully occupied with Jo. I toyed for awhile with writing a YA spin-off with Jo's daughter, Ashlyn, because you know there's story left there, but all my energy is well and truly engaged with Jo for now. Even if it happened, it would be a long while off.
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Post by deathlynx on Apr 10, 2008 0:43:49 GMT -5
I hadn't thought of it yet, tbh. Mostly because my mind is so fully occupied with Jo. I toyed for awhile with writing a YA spin-off with Jo's daughter, Ashlyn, because you know there's story left there, but all my energy is well and truly engaged with Jo for now. Even if it happened, it would be a long while off. Completely understandable there...Some characters and plots demand full attention until they're done before they let you get on to working with ancillary stories and whatnot...I was mostly curious if you had a deffinative idea... J.K.Rowling, as an example, has stated she doesn't expect any more novels or stories to come out of her universe...while there are other authors who have edited anthologies for their worlds, written by up-an-coming authors from their publisher...It can be a great way for the world to expand and the fans to get more of a beloved setting, for newer authors to get exposure and the original author not to have to press a deadline
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rose
Mere Mortal
Posts: 6
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Post by rose on Apr 10, 2008 10:31:47 GMT -5
>>I toyed for awhile with writing a YA spin-off with Jo's daughter, Ashlyn, because you know there's story left there, but all my energy is well and truly engaged with Jo for now. Even if it happened, it would be a long while off.<<
Oh, Vic -- I like that idea! --Rose <waving>
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aleta
Mere Mortal
Posts: 32
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Post by aleta on Apr 10, 2008 20:16:27 GMT -5
I hadn't thought of it yet, tbh. Mostly because my mind is so fully occupied with Jo. I toyed for awhile with writing a YA spin-off with Jo's daughter, Ashlyn, because you know there's story left there, but all my energy is well and truly engaged with Jo for now. Even if it happened, it would be a long while off. That's a great idea, Vicki! Obviously, you need to do whatever works best, but if Jo ever gives you a break, and Ashlyn pops up and says, "Hi, I'm here!" you'd certainly have folks happy to dive into her story.
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