Ask the Author: Bobbi J.G. Weiss
Answered Questions (10)
Bobbi J.G. Weiss
This took me awhile to answer. It's a hard question! There are so many answers!
I read a lot of horror, which isn't always big on good couples. Then I read fantasy, but only certain kinds of fantasy. Hmm and hmm again.
Here are some of the couples I've enjoyed reading:
• Ron and Hermione in HARRY POTTER
• Scarlett and Rhett in GONE WITH THE WIND
• Alan Pangborn and Polly Chalmers in Stephen King's NEEDFUL THINGS
• Logan (Wolverine) and Jean Grey (Phoenix) in the classic X-MEN comics (I haven't kept up with the comic since about 2004) NOTE: I can't stand the relationship in the X-MEN movies because IMHO Famke Janssen was a horrible cast for Jean--waaay too old, dull, no charisma at all like comics Jean)
Now, if TV can be included, since you did say "fictional," then the answer is easy: The Doctor and Rose from DOCTOR WHO. Either with Doctor 9 or 10, The Doctor and Rose is a wonderful friendship that was also a great unconsummated love affair. Perfect classic romance.
I'm sure there are a ton of others that I'm just not thinking of at the moment. But I hope this answers your question. Kinda. Sorta.
Thank you for asking!
I read a lot of horror, which isn't always big on good couples. Then I read fantasy, but only certain kinds of fantasy. Hmm and hmm again.
Here are some of the couples I've enjoyed reading:
• Ron and Hermione in HARRY POTTER
• Scarlett and Rhett in GONE WITH THE WIND
• Alan Pangborn and Polly Chalmers in Stephen King's NEEDFUL THINGS
• Logan (Wolverine) and Jean Grey (Phoenix) in the classic X-MEN comics (I haven't kept up with the comic since about 2004) NOTE: I can't stand the relationship in the X-MEN movies because IMHO Famke Janssen was a horrible cast for Jean--waaay too old, dull, no charisma at all like comics Jean)
Now, if TV can be included, since you did say "fictional," then the answer is easy: The Doctor and Rose from DOCTOR WHO. Either with Doctor 9 or 10, The Doctor and Rose is a wonderful friendship that was also a great unconsummated love affair. Perfect classic romance.
I'm sure there are a ton of others that I'm just not thinking of at the moment. But I hope this answers your question. Kinda. Sorta.
Thank you for asking!
Bobbi J.G. Weiss
Thank you for the kind words!
It's sort of funny how I ended up in comics. I wasn't really into them, but I did love classic "Doctor Who." Back in the early '80s, DW novels were mainly sold in comic books stores, and because they were imported, they were expensive. I couldn't afford them. So I got a small job laying out ads for a local comic book store, and I arranged to be paid in DW books. One day this guy waltzed into the store, saw me working there and whispered from behind me, "Whatever they're paying you, it's not enough." It was the guy who'd had the job before me—and I ended up marrying him! His name is David Cody Weiss, and in the '80s he was a comics hand-letterer.
Well, you can probably guess the rest of the story. David encouraged me to write comics, since he had connections. It was the perfect way for me to break into publishing. I showed a flair for comedy and children's stories, so when Len Wein and Marv Wolfman (both powerhouse Marvel/DC writers and friends) were hired by Disney to revive Disney's comics line, David and I got swept along, too, David as a staff editor and me as a freelance writer. From there I went on to write TV and movie tie-in novels, and now I'm writing my own novels—finally!
Still, I miss those days. Writing Disney characters is a joy (especially goofy villains like Don Karnage, always my fave). I keep meaning to scan some of my comics and post them, but I haven't done it yet. Time time time. But I'm glad you remember them. Thank you!
Bobbi JG Weiss
It's sort of funny how I ended up in comics. I wasn't really into them, but I did love classic "Doctor Who." Back in the early '80s, DW novels were mainly sold in comic books stores, and because they were imported, they were expensive. I couldn't afford them. So I got a small job laying out ads for a local comic book store, and I arranged to be paid in DW books. One day this guy waltzed into the store, saw me working there and whispered from behind me, "Whatever they're paying you, it's not enough." It was the guy who'd had the job before me—and I ended up marrying him! His name is David Cody Weiss, and in the '80s he was a comics hand-letterer.
Well, you can probably guess the rest of the story. David encouraged me to write comics, since he had connections. It was the perfect way for me to break into publishing. I showed a flair for comedy and children's stories, so when Len Wein and Marv Wolfman (both powerhouse Marvel/DC writers and friends) were hired by Disney to revive Disney's comics line, David and I got swept along, too, David as a staff editor and me as a freelance writer. From there I went on to write TV and movie tie-in novels, and now I'm writing my own novels—finally!
Still, I miss those days. Writing Disney characters is a joy (especially goofy villains like Don Karnage, always my fave). I keep meaning to scan some of my comics and post them, but I haven't done it yet. Time time time. But I'm glad you remember them. Thank you!
Bobbi JG Weiss
Bobbi J.G. Weiss
Hi, Arthur!
I've been in that position lots of times.
1) Do research real fast, whatever form the research takes. I manage that by drinking a lot of coffee! (No, I am not joking. I've had to pull some pretty insane hours, but if I want a client to call again, I make sure I know the subject matter.)
2) Ignore the phone and friends. Sounds mean, but deadlines usually = $$, so you have to concentrate.
3) High standards. Hm. My standards are very high, I like to think. But to a degree, my standards depend on the paycheck, too. Some clients are cheap, so I write well, but I don't go out of my way for them. As my writing mentor told me once, "Don't write a limo if they're paying you for a Volkswagon." You sort of have to balance your effort on how well a client is treating you.
As for the pressure of a deadline, I had to learn how to handle that. At first I was lousy at it. I'd freak out about how little time I had for a job and end up having to really rush when I finally got myself under control. But I learned to just do my best. Clients are people, too (well, most of them are...), and they can be very understanding if they know you're really working hard for them.
Hope this helps!
Bobbi
I've been in that position lots of times.
1) Do research real fast, whatever form the research takes. I manage that by drinking a lot of coffee! (No, I am not joking. I've had to pull some pretty insane hours, but if I want a client to call again, I make sure I know the subject matter.)
2) Ignore the phone and friends. Sounds mean, but deadlines usually = $$, so you have to concentrate.
3) High standards. Hm. My standards are very high, I like to think. But to a degree, my standards depend on the paycheck, too. Some clients are cheap, so I write well, but I don't go out of my way for them. As my writing mentor told me once, "Don't write a limo if they're paying you for a Volkswagon." You sort of have to balance your effort on how well a client is treating you.
As for the pressure of a deadline, I had to learn how to handle that. At first I was lousy at it. I'd freak out about how little time I had for a job and end up having to really rush when I finally got myself under control. But I learned to just do my best. Clients are people, too (well, most of them are...), and they can be very understanding if they know you're really working hard for them.
Hope this helps!
Bobbi
Bobbi J.G. Weiss
Okay, I'm cheating on this one, cuz I'm asking myself the question! But I don't know where else to put the info.
I write what are called WRITERobservs on my Twitter account @BobbiJGWeiss (I've also begun to repost them on my WRITERobservs Pinterest board). They're short bits of my writing knowledge/tips/advice, original writing-related jokes and... well, they're writerly observations. They always come with a related image, and I've currently posted 439 of them. I put up new ones just about every day, and I encourage you to check them out because they're fun. And free. Fun AND free is good, no?
I write what are called WRITERobservs on my Twitter account @BobbiJGWeiss (I've also begun to repost them on my WRITERobservs Pinterest board). They're short bits of my writing knowledge/tips/advice, original writing-related jokes and... well, they're writerly observations. They always come with a related image, and I've currently posted 439 of them. I put up new ones just about every day, and I encourage you to check them out because they're fun. And free. Fun AND free is good, no?
Bobbi J.G. Weiss
WRITE. Don't blog about it or text about it or talk about it or email about it or phone about it or YouTube about it or Skype about it. DO. IT.
Bobbi J.G. Weiss
My most recent book is "Hooked." I wrote this answer for thewriterslife.blogspot.com, one of the many kind hosts on the Pump Up Your Books "Hooked" virtual book tour:
I got the idea for "Hooked" waaaay back in 1990, when Disney's "Peter Pan" was first released as a VHS and I'd bought a copy. I remember the moment exactly — I was standing in my bedroom looking at the cover, and I thought out of nowhere, "Captain Hook isn't a villain. He actually seems rather unhappy. But why?" I decided to read the original novel by J.M. Barrie, and I discovered that Hook is miserable, often falling into "melancholy." And I thought, "Why did Barrie make him that way?" True, Pan took Hook's hand, but that makes Hook angry, not melancholy. The melancholy seems to come from somewhere else. I toyed with the idea for years, being too busy at that time earning a living as a writer to do more than jot down plot ideas. (The last thing you want to do after a long day of writing is write.) It took me practically 20 years to finish!
I got the idea for "Hooked" waaaay back in 1990, when Disney's "Peter Pan" was first released as a VHS and I'd bought a copy. I remember the moment exactly — I was standing in my bedroom looking at the cover, and I thought out of nowhere, "Captain Hook isn't a villain. He actually seems rather unhappy. But why?" I decided to read the original novel by J.M. Barrie, and I discovered that Hook is miserable, often falling into "melancholy." And I thought, "Why did Barrie make him that way?" True, Pan took Hook's hand, but that makes Hook angry, not melancholy. The melancholy seems to come from somewhere else. I toyed with the idea for years, being too busy at that time earning a living as a writer to do more than jot down plot ideas. (The last thing you want to do after a long day of writing is write.) It took me practically 20 years to finish!
Bobbi J.G. Weiss
About half the time I don't need to get inspired — I already am. But that other half... it can be hard. I suffer from clinical depression, and sometimes writing is very hard. I'm currently working on a kid's comedy book. It's a challenge to be funny when you're sitting there crying and you don't even know WHY you're crying, it's just what your brain is doing to you. I can usually get past it by reading a story or watching a bit of a movie that has the same tone as the story I want to write (read/watch comedy if I want to write comedy, etc.). If that doesn't work, I run errands. Going outside helps — I sit indoors at my desk too much anyway. If that doesn't work, I break out the chocolate and bubbly water. If THAT doesn't work, well... I give up for that moment and wait for the next day.
Bobbi J.G. Weiss
The best thing about being a writer is WRITING. I have no idea why I love to write, but I do. I really do. When I create a character, I'm creating a friend (well, unless it's a nasty villain, but even then I get to know and appreciate them). When I create a world, I make the rules, and I can go there anytime I want and play. Writing is just a big sandbox that I can play in and still convince people that I'm an adult!
Bobbi J.G. Weiss
Well, I'm trying to get HOOKED out into the world. That's a horrific job, but that's self-publishing for ya! Otherwise I've got 2 projects: the first book of a New Adult science fiction trilogy and the first book of a silly chapter book series. I'm pretty busy!
Bobbi J.G. Weiss
If I have a deadline, writer's block isn't an issue. If I want that paycheck, I have to write! If for some reason I still feel stuck, though, I'll watch part of a movie that's similar in some way to what I'm trying to write—that often works. If my block involves not having any ideas to write about, it's usually a sign that I'm "empty." That's my term for "I have no ideas because I have nothing to say." Maybe I've written a lot and I just need a break. Or maybe I just need to let my creative backbrain stew for awhile. If the creativity's not there today, it will be there tomorrow. It's not gone. It just needs a rest. While it rests, I read a lot and watch movies with good solid plots. Creativity is a beast, so when it's depleted, I feed it!
The bottom line, however, is that writer's block is, in my experience, not a block at all but FEAR. Fear of failure, fear of expression, fear of something. The activities I mentioned above can help me deal with the fear by DOING something about it. That's the key, at least for me.
The bottom line, however, is that writer's block is, in my experience, not a block at all but FEAR. Fear of failure, fear of expression, fear of something. The activities I mentioned above can help me deal with the fear by DOING something about it. That's the key, at least for me.
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