Post by Rolo on Mar 24, 2010 16:05:32 GMT -5
How? /doesn't want to read their FAQ
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3. Hi Erin,
I can't believe I'm actually talking to the person who created all those AWESOME books that I buy and read EVERY NIGHT!!!(when I can that is!!)
How long does it normally take to write a book?
―Spottedfang
Aww, thank you, Spottedfang! There are certainly plenty of books to read, aren’t there? If you read them slowly, that is (take note, those of you who are very proud about being able to read a whole book in one day!). It takes about two months to write the story line for a new book, which includes details of what happens in every single scene, plus some suggestions for dialogue and character development. This is Vicky’s part! The final story line usually takes up half the length of the entire book. Then the story line goes to Kate, Cherith or Tui, who have about three months to write the first draft. Then the manuscript comes back to Vicky, who spends a week or so carefully going through it, checking that it all sounds like “Erin” and that the story works as she imagined. Sometimes she asks whoever wrote it to do a bit more work on it, but if all the words seem to be in the right place, she sends it to the editor at HarperCollins: Erica for Warriors or Sarah for Seekers. Erica and Sarah go through the manuscript and ask for changes or additions to be made to make the book as perfect as it can be; sometimes Vicky does these changes on her own and, sometimes she asks Kate, Cherith, or Tui (whoever wrote the first draft) to produce a second draft. Then it goes back to the publisher for the final time, ready to be turned into a book―yay! So the entire process takes about six months in total, although we are always working on two or three books at once so we can produce more than two books a year.[/qupte]
6 months per book is a ridiculously short amount of time. Since the fleshing out writers /have/ to follow an outline and set characterisation path set down by Vicky, the characters have little chance to gain their own voice or the plot points are simply forced-seeming. There's an excellent example of this that I'll point out in a later chapter, when the time to write about it comes. But anyway, these books, it seems, are the book equivilent as an artificially put together boyband - the elements are there, they just don't have the chemistry or the solidity to work as they should. If the Erins actually met (they speak only over email
) and spoke to eachother, developing plotlines together while focusing on characters, I'm pretty darn sure the plots and writing would be much better.
Starclan is fail. No doubt about that one. It's not even a good afterlife... you have fleas... and watch your companions struggle on earth until your soul fades away.
Chapter 7, Rolo's review
So, this chapter... well, shockingly things happen! If you haven't already grasped how bad I thought the first 7 chapters were in terms of plotting and writing, you need only look back a few pages and read my rant on them all. They were so awful, I really honestly think I'll skip them in future... because they make me feel like banging my head against the wall.
This chapter holds the first event in nearly 100 pages that actually perks interest. What is it? A sign from Starclan. No, those don't usually qualify as events to me, but this one did. Why? It's simple, it actually bolded and underlined every little fault Starclan has.
Goosefeather's message, which comes from the way the fur on a vole has been parted, has more than a touch of ridiculousness about it. In fact, I loled when I read it... and that was a good thing, this time. I got the feeling that it was meant to be outlandish and picked out of the air and that the humor was intentional. It just highlighted how silly most of the prophecies from Starclan anyway, something that's always been so badly written, and how badly subjective and easily missed they can be. This and the fact that we're /meant/ to think Goosefeather has picked it out of the air makes it absolutely hilarious, and it shows how much better the books could have been if Starclan had been kept ambigious. This chapter thrives on the questions and doubts cat have in Starclan, Goosefeather and themselves... and it was a pleasure pondering it. And, truly, it is a joy to see a starclan-sign-gone-wrong. The absolute chaos and fear in this chapter did make me squee.
This scene, however, has a complete lack of tension. Seriously. Emotive language plz.
I like Goosefeather. Genius or insane? Whichever he is, he's the most unique character they've had to date... and he shows up just how bad the rest of them are. Lazy, lying, few screws loose... he's just lovely.
Unfortunately, my 'All apprentices must be brats or unsure and loyal' idea is coming true. Lionkit is a brat. Joy of joys. I am just leaping with happiness. Since when did kits speak so much? I'm sure we've seen more from kits in 7 chapters than we did in the whole first 2 series. Please, Erins, keep them in the nursery!
Robinwing - "Should we really attack on nothing more than a lingering scent and some flattened fur?"
I love this cat. I wish he'd been around before Brambleclaw and the rest of those cats went on a life-threatening journey because a magical cat told them so.
It's quite fun seeing them plan to attack another camp... I don't think Thunderclan ever did that in the original series. And I must say, I reacted with glee when I found out Bluepaw and Snowpaw were not to fight... and that they were going to help from offsite. It made sense. However, it was all ruined by everyone cheering when she gracefully accepted that challenge, rather than asking to fight. Really, guys, no need to cheer when she does something positive and doesn't act like a brat.
However, I have to say, Bluepaw is actually somewhat likeable in this chapter. She is apprehensive for the battle, which is the normal response a being should have for fighting, and so I feel much more sympathetic to her than I did to Firepaw.
Unfortunately, the chapter decends into random talking, which isn't very interesting because it's all forced and completely artificial. The Erins don't tend to be good at dialogue so this is to be expected. However, shockingly, we do get one conversation that actually sounds genuine this chapter... and from what I've read so far, it seems to be the only realistic conversation in the entire thing. The conversation is genuinely warm, honest and Pinestar comes across honestly good-natured and Bluepaw sounds her age for once. It's pleasant.
Unfortunately, to balance out this genuinely touching and charming scene, it seems we must endure an awfully written one. And I mean awful. Moonflower's dialogue is appauling and she's like a female version of Obi-wan mixed with Esme the vampire. And, as if to rub in that there is no chemistry between the mother and her daughters, the Erin's resort to using 'my dear' to sound caring (making herself sound like an old woman in the process) and Bluepaw calls her 'Moonflower'. Not 'Mother', not 'Mum' (or mOm as you guys pronounce it) but her actual name. Think about calling your own mother by their first name, and you'll realise how ridiculous you sound. The chat is so ridiculously formal, it's unpleasant.
This entire scene doesn't sound /remotely/ realistic, and it sounds forced and over-sentimental. If I hadn't known she was going to die, this scene would have made it absolutely blatantly obvious. We have her talking of what they're gonna do tomorrow, and then she just decides, out of the blue, that she's going to curl beside them and sleep in the apprentice den. I mean SERIOUSLY ERINS. You're acting as if she KNOWS she's going to die... what warrior curls up to sleep beside their daughters anyway? Ever? As if to add insult to injury, her parting words to go off to the battle are:
"Sleep well, little one" The queen's breath stirred Bluepaw's ear fur. "I will always be with you"
Yes, Erin. Use the cliche'd 'I am on my deathbed' line to make sure there is absolutely no surprise in her death. I think you have failed to remember that she doesn't actually know she's going to die.
Oh, and also, do purposely forget that Moonflower has been sleeping between her 2 daughters and have her talk only to the main character. Ah well, at least we know which daughter was her favourite.
I can't believe I'm actually talking to the person who created all those AWESOME books that I buy and read EVERY NIGHT!!!(when I can that is!!)
How long does it normally take to write a book?
―Spottedfang
Aww, thank you, Spottedfang! There are certainly plenty of books to read, aren’t there? If you read them slowly, that is (take note, those of you who are very proud about being able to read a whole book in one day!). It takes about two months to write the story line for a new book, which includes details of what happens in every single scene, plus some suggestions for dialogue and character development. This is Vicky’s part! The final story line usually takes up half the length of the entire book. Then the story line goes to Kate, Cherith or Tui, who have about three months to write the first draft. Then the manuscript comes back to Vicky, who spends a week or so carefully going through it, checking that it all sounds like “Erin” and that the story works as she imagined. Sometimes she asks whoever wrote it to do a bit more work on it, but if all the words seem to be in the right place, she sends it to the editor at HarperCollins: Erica for Warriors or Sarah for Seekers. Erica and Sarah go through the manuscript and ask for changes or additions to be made to make the book as perfect as it can be; sometimes Vicky does these changes on her own and, sometimes she asks Kate, Cherith, or Tui (whoever wrote the first draft) to produce a second draft. Then it goes back to the publisher for the final time, ready to be turned into a book―yay! So the entire process takes about six months in total, although we are always working on two or three books at once so we can produce more than two books a year.[/qupte]
6 months per book is a ridiculously short amount of time. Since the fleshing out writers /have/ to follow an outline and set characterisation path set down by Vicky, the characters have little chance to gain their own voice or the plot points are simply forced-seeming. There's an excellent example of this that I'll point out in a later chapter, when the time to write about it comes. But anyway, these books, it seems, are the book equivilent as an artificially put together boyband - the elements are there, they just don't have the chemistry or the solidity to work as they should. If the Erins actually met (they speak only over email
) and spoke to eachother, developing plotlines together while focusing on characters, I'm pretty darn sure the plots and writing would be much better.Starclan is fail. No doubt about that one. It's not even a good afterlife... you have fleas... and watch your companions struggle on earth until your soul fades away
.Chapter 7, Rolo's review
So, this chapter... well, shockingly things happen! If you haven't already grasped how bad I thought the first 7 chapters were in terms of plotting and writing, you need only look back a few pages and read my rant on them all. They were so awful, I really honestly think I'll skip them in future... because they make me feel like banging my head against the wall.
This chapter holds the first event in nearly 100 pages that actually perks interest. What is it? A sign from Starclan. No, those don't usually qualify as events to me, but this one did. Why? It's simple, it actually bolded and underlined every little fault Starclan has.
Goosefeather's message, which comes from the way the fur on a vole has been parted, has more than a touch of ridiculousness about it. In fact, I loled when I read it... and that was a good thing, this time. I got the feeling that it was meant to be outlandish and picked out of the air and that the humor was intentional. It just highlighted how silly most of the prophecies from Starclan anyway, something that's always been so badly written, and how badly subjective and easily missed they can be. This and the fact that we're /meant/ to think Goosefeather has picked it out of the air makes it absolutely hilarious, and it shows how much better the books could have been if Starclan had been kept ambigious. This chapter thrives on the questions and doubts cat have in Starclan, Goosefeather and themselves... and it was a pleasure pondering it. And, truly, it is a joy to see a starclan-sign-gone-wrong. The absolute chaos and fear in this chapter did make me squee.
This scene, however, has a complete lack of tension. Seriously. Emotive language plz.
I like Goosefeather. Genius or insane? Whichever he is, he's the most unique character they've had to date... and he shows up just how bad the rest of them are. Lazy, lying, few screws loose... he's just lovely.
Unfortunately, my 'All apprentices must be brats or unsure and loyal' idea is coming true. Lionkit is a brat. Joy of joys. I am just leaping with happiness. Since when did kits speak so much? I'm sure we've seen more from kits in 7 chapters than we did in the whole first 2 series. Please, Erins, keep them in the nursery!
Robinwing - "Should we really attack on nothing more than a lingering scent and some flattened fur?"
I love this cat. I wish he'd been around before Brambleclaw and the rest of those cats went on a life-threatening journey because a magical cat told them so.
It's quite fun seeing them plan to attack another camp... I don't think Thunderclan ever did that in the original series. And I must say, I reacted with glee when I found out Bluepaw and Snowpaw were not to fight... and that they were going to help from offsite. It made sense. However, it was all ruined by everyone cheering when she gracefully accepted that challenge, rather than asking to fight. Really, guys, no need to cheer when she does something positive and doesn't act like a brat.
However, I have to say, Bluepaw is actually somewhat likeable in this chapter. She is apprehensive for the battle, which is the normal response a being should have for fighting, and so I feel much more sympathetic to her than I did to Firepaw.
Unfortunately, the chapter decends into random talking, which isn't very interesting because it's all forced and completely artificial. The Erins don't tend to be good at dialogue so this is to be expected. However, shockingly, we do get one conversation that actually sounds genuine this chapter... and from what I've read so far, it seems to be the only realistic conversation in the entire thing. The conversation is genuinely warm, honest and Pinestar comes across honestly good-natured and Bluepaw sounds her age for once. It's pleasant.
Unfortunately, to balance out this genuinely touching and charming scene, it seems we must endure an awfully written one. And I mean awful. Moonflower's dialogue is appauling and she's like a female version of Obi-wan mixed with Esme the vampire. And, as if to rub in that there is no chemistry between the mother and her daughters, the Erin's resort to using 'my dear' to sound caring (making herself sound like an old woman in the process) and Bluepaw calls her 'Moonflower'. Not 'Mother', not 'Mum' (or mOm as you guys pronounce it) but her actual name. Think about calling your own mother by their first name, and you'll realise how ridiculous you sound. The chat is so ridiculously formal, it's unpleasant.
This entire scene doesn't sound /remotely/ realistic, and it sounds forced and over-sentimental. If I hadn't known she was going to die, this scene would have made it absolutely blatantly obvious. We have her talking of what they're gonna do tomorrow, and then she just decides, out of the blue, that she's going to curl beside them and sleep in the apprentice den. I mean SERIOUSLY ERINS. You're acting as if she KNOWS she's going to die... what warrior curls up to sleep beside their daughters anyway? Ever? As if to add insult to injury, her parting words to go off to the battle are:
"Sleep well, little one" The queen's breath stirred Bluepaw's ear fur. "I will always be with you"
Yes, Erin. Use the cliche'd 'I am on my deathbed' line to make sure there is absolutely no surprise in her death. I think you have failed to remember that she doesn't actually know she's going to die.
Oh, and also, do purposely forget that Moonflower has been sleeping between her 2 daughters and have her talk only to the main character. Ah well, at least we know which daughter was her favourite.
