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More thoughts about tie-in fiction

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More thoughts about tie-in fiction
Offline Albertosaurus Rex
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888 Posts:
 
#9
May-17-2011, 09:25 AM (UTC) (This post was last modified: May-17-2011, 09:32 AM (UTC) by Albertosaurus Rex.)
Why thank you very much. You are always so full of kind words. I should do that myself more often, in my personal life. In get exposed to English a lot in my daily life - 99% of the articles I have to read for university are in English. Some of my lectures are in English, because we have international students. Most fiction I read is in English. Most television I watch is in English. It rubs off on a person. And yet, I still managed to accidentally type "were" as "where", the type of error that makes me cringe whenever I see somebody else do it.

Unfortunately, in writing this letter (which I have already emailed) it was very difficult to remain kind. I hope it is a fair and balanced letter - I didn't want to come across as an angry fanboy with entitlement issues. I did make sure to praise those books and authors that I did enjoy. But for the life of me, I don't understand what must be going on in their heads.

In the normal creative process, an author comes up with a story, writes it and sends it off to a publisher, often collecting a slew of rejection letters before finally being published. In the case of MtG, the designers make a card sets, craft a setting and accompanying storyline, and then seek out an author to write the novel. Fine, that can work. Witness the excellence that is The Brothers' War. But if you go that route, you need to get an author who has been published before, someone who's proven their worth. After all, given the very strict deadline, you can't really reject the novel when it's finished. So why, why, why have some newbie write the books? How did that conversation go?

[+]Click here to see my grotesque little speculation...
Wizards of the Coast offices, 2008

WotC editor #1: We need someone to write the Zendikar novel. Any suggestions?
WotC editor #2: What about an established genre author?
WotC editor #1: I'm afraid they will turn up their nose at tie-in fiction.
WotC editor #2: Why not one of our D&D authors then? Despite the reputation those books have, there's a fair deal of decent writers out there.
Robert B. Wintermute: Can I write the book?
WotC editor #1: And what are your prior accomplishments? Have you published anything before?
Robert B. Wintermute: No.
WotC editor #1: Why not? Have you never written fiction before? Or did you not send it to a publisher? Or was it rejected?
Robert B. Wintermute: Just let me have a go at it. What could go wrong?
WotC editor #2: You're on!

Wizards of the Coast offices, 2009

WotC editor #1: We need someone to write the Scars of Mirrodin book. Any suggestions?
Robert B. Wintermute: Can I do it again?
WotC editor #1: Everyone hated Zendikar: In the Teeth of Akoum. Why would we hire you again?
Robert B. Wintermute: I'll be good this time!
WotC editor #1: We're bringing back Karn and the Phyrexians. Many fans who fond memories of them. Think you can do them justice?
WotC editor #2: Come on, let him do the book.
WotC editor #1: Why? Give me a reason. Any reason.
WotC editor #2: Because our reputation has become so tarnished that no reputable author wants the job. Wintermute, you're on!

Wizards of the Coast offices, 2010

WotC editor #1: We need somebody to write the Innistrad novel.
Robert B. Wintermute: Can I write it? Please?
WotC editor #1: Why? Everybody hated Scars of Mirrodin: The Quest for Karn. Did you ever read up on old continuity?
Robert B. Wintermute: Third time's the charm, right?
WotC editor #2: You're on!
WotC editor #1: I'm out of here.

Note: I don't know who will actually be writing the Innistrad novel.

Sometimes I read a book that I don't like, and I'll think "Well, maybe somebody else likes it. Who knows?" Not with this book. I can't imagine anyone, anywhere in the process, maybe not even the author, considering this to be a good work of fiction.



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Messages In This Thread
More thoughts about tie-in fiction - by Albertosaurus Rex - Apr-24-2011, 02:32 PM (UTC)
RE: More thoughts about tie-in fiction - by joost - Apr-24-2011, 10:10 PM (UTC)
RE: More thoughts about tie-in fiction - by joost - May-14-2011, 11:08 PM (UTC)
RE: More thoughts about tie-in fiction - by Albertosaurus Rex - Apr-27-2011, 12:11 PM (UTC)
RE: More thoughts about tie-in fiction - by Albertosaurus Rex - May-13-2011, 02:59 PM (UTC)
RE: More thoughts about tie-in fiction - by Albertosaurus Rex - May-15-2011, 11:47 AM (UTC)
RE: More thoughts about tie-in fiction - by Albertosaurus Rex - May-16-2011, 06:13 PM (UTC)
RE: More thoughts about tie-in fiction - by Farseer - May-17-2011, 01:12 AM (UTC)
RE: More thoughts about tie-in fiction - by Albertosaurus Rex - May-17-2011, 09:25 AM (UTC)



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