Hey all, I took some initiative and did this interview (http://www.writingforums.org/showthread.php?t=950) with one of my favorite writers, Steven Brust. Check it out and comment if you want.

Firstly, Spherical Time, thanks for taking the initiative! It's appreciated by me, and I'm sure by the members as well.

Anyway, as for the interview, I enjoyed his outlined final comments, particularly the bit about not telling very many people about your book until you get published.

His writing style came out in the interview. There were a few things that were quintessential Brust, I think.

My other favorite writers though, haven't really responded, and I'm afraid that I offended or upset one of them.

You're right, the suggestions about not telling anyone your a writer are good/funny.

Too bad though, that Devera doesn't appear.

Good job with the interview. Those were some interesting questions that managed to avoid the old "Where do you get your ideas" stuff. Despite the answers being typical Steve, it looks like he took a genuine interest in the topics. There was a lot of stuff there I hadn't seen from him before when answering typical interview-style questions.

Interesting interview.

I loved the seventeen part answer. I don't get to see many people with my broken neck and all, so I think I've mentioned that to every single person I've seen in the last three or four days.

17. Ignore people who try to give advice to aspiring writers. They don't know ****.

He's just contradicted every piece of advice he gave in that interview :rolleyes: :D :D

He's just contradicted every piece of advice he gave in that interview :rolleyes: :D :DThat's one of the things that makes this interview sound so much like him.

But he's right, in some ways, too.

Good questions, interesting answers. Good job!

Terry

Great interview Spherical Time.

My biggest challenge was a tendency to write a chapter or two, go back and fix it, and keep doing that until I lost momentum and stopped. I had to force myself to get to the end, no matter how bad it was, and worry about fixing it after I had a first draft. Part of it was convincing myself that I was just writing it for my own pleasure and I had no intention of submitting it. That got me to the end, and through the revisions, after which, of course, I promptly submitted it.
I heard another writer (NY Times best seller) say that this is the biggest no no. He said that people hardly ever finish something that they are constantly trying to edit - and then if they do finish and try to publish they'll have to go back and re-edit everything anyway. I think this is some great advice.
I believe that you belong to a writers group or club called the Scribbles. Do you have any suggestions for finding or starting a writing group?
I've thought the same thing a bunch of times. Even thought about PMing people here to start one. I really like his advice on this one though. It's important that you are producing stuff and reviewing it before joining a group.
I'm your huckleberry
HAHA I say that all the time and NO ONE knows it. Good to see someone else out there has a passion for Westerns :D
Figure out what lies you need to tell yourself in order to produce your best work, then put lots of effort into believing them
I think this is also some really great advice. Believing in your abilities is KEY to successfully producing
Forget "self-publishing." It's a scam. Writers only sign checks on the back.
I come from an acting background and the same is true there. Don't let people sell you into publishing.
Study history
great suggestion. I've gotten tons of ideas from history classes and books.

Thanks again for an informative and helpful interview Spherical Time. Let's just hope we all create the opportunities to use the advice :)

zb

Being critiqued for the first time makes me the happiest :) writer I know. The advise SB gives will be taken to heart as I move forward in my endeavor. Thanks.

That was great! It made me want to go write and write and write. This interview is very appreciated Speherical time!