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July, 1997 Q&A Carver's Bio Carver's Home Page Get Carver's Books |
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BIO | |
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If there's one guiding principle to my writing, it is that I try to tell stories that I would want to read myself--stories that excite, compel, and entertain. As a fiction writer, my favorite themes have been star travel, alien contact, artificial intelligence, and transcendent realities--and the moral, ethical, and spiritual implications of these possibilities. Though I'm known primarily as a hard science fiction writer, the characters are always the most important part of my stories. Born in Cleveland in 1949, I lived for most of my growing years in Huron, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie, where I was a pretty decent high school wrestler and an annoyingly dedicated student. Upon graduating from Brown University (Providence, R.I.) in 1971 with a degree in English, I stayed in New England, where I live today. In 1974 I earned a Master of Marine Affairs degree (translation: ocean resources management) from the University of Rhode Island--a degree I have never really put to use. At various times I have been a scuba diving instructor, a quahog diver, a UPS sorter, a word-processing consultant, a private pilot, and a stay-at-home dad. I now live with my family in the Boston area, where I am a full-time writer and a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and The Authors Guild. I was also, in 1995, the host of an educational television series, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing, aimed at teaching junior high school students the basics of science-fiction writing. My interests include science, religion, nature, underwater exploration, and flying. I wish I had more time to spend on them! |
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I've read all your stuff (I think) and I'm waiting for the next. What are you working on now, and when will your next book come out? Also, what do you like best about your work? And what do you hate? | |
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Funny you should ask! My novel THE INFINITE SEA has just hit the water in paperback, and is flooding its way into stores across the country. It's the third volume of my continuing series THE CHAOS CHRONICLES, and it is set (as you might guess) in the ocean depths of an alien world. But the title has a more cosmic significance, which you will understand when you read the book. (For those new to this series, I suggest starting with NEPTUNE CROSSING, then continuing with STRANGE ATTRACTORS and THE INFINITE SEA.) Right now I'm finishing a novel set in my Star Rigger Universe, with a working title of THE FLYING DUTCHMAN (though it will probably be published under another name). It's a grand-scale adventure involving interstellar pirates, galactic conspiracies, quantum theory, alien science, and deep-cyber romance. And, oh yes--a ship trapped and apparently doomed to immortality in the interstellar Flux. With luck, it should appear about this time next year. What do I like about my work? Besides not having to commute or wear a tie? I love having the chance to travel among the stars, hundreds of years before any humans are likely to do it in the flesh. It's that sense of cosmic wonder that drew me to SF in the first place, and keeps me writing it. And I love my characters and the worlds they keep falling into. What do I hate? Well...having to sit down and work at it every day. Contrary to popular belief, writing is a tough way to make a living. (Really. Just ask my wife.) So one has to cast aside all of the distractions of daily living and keep the nose to the grindstone to get that next book finished. Speaking of which.... Jeffrey A. Carver = Wednesday, August 06, 1997 at 14:55:35 (CDT) | |
In relation to the above question "the common mistakes of a young SF writer" How do you know when your not making a mistake ??? | |
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All writers rely to some degree on feedback from those whose opinions they trust: fellow authors, editors, family, teachers, etc. Many writers, including seasoned pros, show their work to writing groups or workshops for critical feedback before submitting it for publication. (I'm part of a small group that just celebrated its 20th anniversary!) If you're just getting started, you might find it hard to know whose opinion to trust. Friends and family can sometimes be too kind in an effort to be encouraging. You might look for a workshop in your community; public libraries and schools often become focal points for writing groups. If you can't find one, consider starting one. The internet is another place that's blossoming with interactive writing groups. I can't vouch for any particular one, but you can find a few of them listed on the advice page on my web site. As a general guideline: listen to criticism, but also judge it critically in turn. Be open to suggestions, but be aware that not every suggestion will be on the mark. Trust your own instincts, even if you're still just developing them. As far as discussing your ideas is concerned, here are two thoughts. One, worrying about people stealing your ideas should be the last thing on your mind. An idea is only the beginning of a story. What counts is how you develop it and your characters, how you tell your story. Two, your time and energy are better spent writing and turning your ideas into stories than talking about them, anyway. I don't mean you shouldn't discuss great ideas; but don't spend too much time talking about your stories in progress. Some writers find that if they talk about their stories, they no longer have the drive to finish them. It takes discipline to keep your mouth shut and your mind on the job of writing! But that discipline will pay off in the end. Jeffrey A. Carver = Monday, August 04, 1997 at 22:33:22 (CDT) | |
Mr, Carver, | |
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That depends on the particular story I'm telling. In general, much of my research consists of a lifetime of reading books and articles about science, technology, space, astronomy, etc. I'm not a scientist, but I do try to keep up with current knowledge by reading SCIENCE NEWS, DISCOVER, ASTRONOMY, and the newspaper. For space-related subjects, AD ASTRA, THE PLANETARY REPORT, and AIR & SPACE are good sources. For many stories, specific research isn't really necessary. For example, my star rigger stories are set in a far future with technology so different from ours that there's no need to show a direct extrapolation. In fact, to do so would only get in the way of the story. The important thing is to make the technology feel familiar and convincing, as just one aspect of the future world. Sometimes I do need to research an area--for example, tachyons when I was writing THE INFINITY LINK, supernovas and nanotechnology when I was writing FROM A CHANGELING STAR, and chaos theory and the Voyager findings about Triton when I began THE CHAOS CHRONICLES (NEPTUNE CROSSING, STRANGE ATTRACTORS, THE INFINITE SEA). In these cases, I head to the bookshelf and/or library. This usually leads me to incomplete information, but helps me to consolidate my general knowledge and pinpoint the areas where I really need expert advice. Then I pick up the phone or write a letter. You'd be amazed how readily scientists will share their knowledge with science fiction writers, especially if the writers have done their homework first. (And I always make sure to credit them in the acknowledgments when the book goes to press!) In the case of each of books I mentioned above, I searched out people in the field and asked them questions, sometimes pretty outrageous ones. (Example: "If I had the technology, how would I go about making Betelgeuse go supernova?") Sometimes the answers I get cause me to go back and rethink what I've already done. I hate when that happens! Jeffrey A. Carver = Saturday, August 02, 1997 at 12:16:17 (CDT) | |
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Mr. Carver, What would you say is the most common mistake a young SF writer makes? Pip Denver,CoUSA = Wednesday, July 16, 1997 at 13:46:45 (CDT) | |
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For very young writers, the most common error is believing that aliens or monsters are interesting just because they're green or covered with slime. If you want to make an alien engage your readers, you have to figure out what it's really like: What sort of environment does it live in? What does it need to live? How does it think? What makes it *not human* in the ways it behaves or sees its world? More generally, the biggest hurdle to beginning writers is probably in developing original story ideas. I say *developing* rather than *thinking* of ideas, because that's where the work really comes in. Everyone has good ideas from time to time. But taking the kernel of an idea and turning it into a *story* is a process that involves hard work and thought, trial and error, native talent, and writing skills that are acquired only through practice and experience. I take it all back. The most common mistake is thinking that you're born with the skills you need. You're not. You have to go out and learn them the hard way, the same as a mechanic or a doctor or a parent. Jeffrey A. Carver = Wednesday, July 16, 1997 at 16:59:03 (CDT) |
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