| I was looking through my email for reader questions to answer on my own blog later today and I started thinking, which as Mark can tell you is always a dangerous proposition with me. Why are some questions so prevalent in the writing community? Specifically, why is where do you get your ideas so popular? I HATE this question. Hate it. When it comes up I want to scream STOP IT STOP IT STOP it and hold my hands over my ears and throw a fit. Because it's un-answerable, and as a borderline obsessive Type A personality I NEED to have all the answers. NEED, people. You're seriously messing with me by asking me this. Ideas can come from anywhere. Literally anywhere. I've written books that started with ideas from: -Bad TV shows -Good TV shows -Dreams -Folklore -Comic books -The song "Voodoo Child" by Jimi Hendrix -Everywhere else So there's your answer. They come from eeeeeeeeeverywhere. [spooky hand movements.] I'd much rather answer questions about how I write than why. (Because it's easier than getting a real job, FYI.) I'm happy to discuss my process with you at great length, the path that lead to a finished novel, writer's block, alcohol consumption, research or lack thereof, sex scenes, my childhood traumas or who will play Captain America in the new movie. Unlike Laurell K. Hamilton, you really can ask me anything and I will respond with good cheer, or alternately rude hand gestures and cursing. Because some people can be real idiots when they get up at author events. Just not The Question. Please. I'm begging you. (And the first smartass to comment "So...dur hurr...where do you get your ideas?" is getting thrown out of the clubhouse.) |
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Dude, it beats the people who come right out and ask you how much money you made on your sale. Or the pervasive, "Are you the next JK Rowling?"
Just answer honestly: I make them up. In my head.
:)
It's ok Caitlin!( you are making me ascared!) I will just knock the next person who ask you that down with my cricket bat! Will that be sufficent, and will I get an ARC for that?
hee
Synde
Cricket bat? Crickets play baseball? Is this like flea circuses where there really aren't any fleas? There aren't, are there?
No, I'm not from England, why do you ask?
She can't be the next J. K. Rowling. I am. We just did a massive shipment of Happy Hour to middle school libraries everywhere.
God bless 'em. They're our future.
God I was trying to come up with a really good smart ass answer to see how far she'd throw me but I is too tired today. I believe there's a lot of people out there that were denied an imagination. Y'know, the ones that watch Spongebob and scratch their heads. You guys get Spongebob, right? Or am I horribly alone?
Oh God, I'm so cold. *shiver*
Or, in the words of South Park's Mr Mackey: "There are no questions; just stupid people." (Not you - the people who ask you ;-) )
Have a lovely day! :-)
For Pike:
"Stupidity isn't a virus... but it sure is spreadin' like one!"
--Sandy Cheeks
People always ask what color panties I'm wearing.. which is odd, because I don't wear panties!
So here's a question for you authorly types: what's the best way to deal with the dumb questions?
Thank you, Jaye! And for quoting one of my favorite episodes.
Tm- I used to point and laugh, but that seemed to be no use.
Now I usually try to wrap the question back around to something meaningful, something more useful to help with their writing.
Sometimes, though, the clue stick is a harsh mistress, but she needs to be wielded... politely, of course.
TM, I asked Caitlin what she thought of the approach I've been practicing in front of the mirror every night. But she told me you can't tell readers to "Suck it." Party pooper.
I tell readers to "suck it" all the time... only at the high schools does it get me in trouble...
TM,
Nobody asks me any stupid questions. Well, okay, they do, but usually the dumb questions they ask can be answered with a Yes or No and then ignored.
My favorite:
Q: Did you really write this book?
A: Um... yes.
I think its hard sometimes coming up with a question or even speaking with an author. I tend to get "starstruck" and seem shy.
You should answer them that you got the idea out of a cracker jack box ;)
I think I've gotten the worst one-two punch of question-comment from my mother:
"Where do you GET these ideas?" followed directly by "You are so STRANGE."
I got 'em from you, Mom! You!
Now, see, I'm one of those people who was not born to be the imaginative type. I got the grammar, spelling, and punctuation gene instead.
And I do wonder where you all get your ideas- but a better question would be: Where did you get the idea for [insert specific title of specific book here]? Or would that one be equally annoying?
I've yet to have a reading where people asked questions (just a book release party at my local library, which mostly involved family and friends coming to buy y book). But I'm tempted to think I'd answer "where do you get your ideas?" with "primordial soup," and then start talking about either the collective unconscious or the cauldron of fairy stories (ala Tolkien). I think it would depend on the company I was in--my myth geek friends would all laugh, therefore making my answer a success. ;)
Also--really? Easier than a "real" job? Because my "real" job was way less stressful than freelancing. Like, worlds away. If you guys ever decide to do entries on previous employment (or current day jobs) in contrast to your writing life, I'd dig that.