Ask the Author: Andrew Ball
Answered Questions (15)
Andrew Ball
No news since then!
School, school, school, SCHool, schOOOOL, 5ch001, school,
ARGH
Ahem.
Don't worry, when I have something substantial to say I will post it. I don't like updating without anything real to update! When I feel comfortable giving a date, do not worry, you'll have it!
School, school, school, SCHool, schOOOOL, 5ch001, school,
ARGH
Ahem.
Don't worry, when I have something substantial to say I will post it. I don't like updating without anything real to update! When I feel comfortable giving a date, do not worry, you'll have it!
Andrew Ball
The closest thing I have to a website is my facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Andrew-S-Bal...
I unfortunately don't have the money to invest in my own website, but it's something I've seriously considered. I think once I have a good handful of books published then I'll have a little more justification for it, both in terms of work and finances.
Note that I don't update very frequently! I don't like spam, so I only try to chime in when I think it's actually substantial. Of course, my musings on writing are relevant, considering it's my own page, hah. When I'm out of school, perhaps I'll try to be more proactive on that front.
https://www.facebook.com/Andrew-S-Bal...
I unfortunately don't have the money to invest in my own website, but it's something I've seriously considered. I think once I have a good handful of books published then I'll have a little more justification for it, both in terms of work and finances.
Note that I don't update very frequently! I don't like spam, so I only try to chime in when I think it's actually substantial. Of course, my musings on writing are relevant, considering it's my own page, hah. When I'm out of school, perhaps I'll try to be more proactive on that front.
Andrew Ball
Unfortunately, no. A fan put a listing up for my next book, to be filled out by me at some point! I think it was a form of energetic encouragement.
Andrew Ball
Well, I was very inspired by Gargoyle Quest, originally, especially in regards to the upgrade system. I also liked the idea of playing a shadowy, darker character that had to cautiously maneuver around major powers and paranoid zealots while gaining strength. That character had to be formless (or an amnesiac) to give the players that much more creative freedom (as in many other quests), and thus, Shadow was born.
The remainder of the story unraveled from there. I came up with a reason Shadow was where he was when things started, forming the basis of the elemental system and a great past war as a backdrop. The countries came next from a map I drew of the world; I connect each one to each other and to a history going back to the war. I then drew up plans for the political structure and the leaders of each country, which all became large characters in their own right.
Finally, I set as the immediate conflict the rising tension between the various nation states, and the long-term conflict as the instability of the world.
The big secrets and fundamental nature of the world was something I didn't come up with for a long time. But eventually I had to figure out a reason why things were the way they were - why that world existed in the manner that it did, and why it was unstable. This led us to the true origin of Shadow.
So, that's how it happened!
The remainder of the story unraveled from there. I came up with a reason Shadow was where he was when things started, forming the basis of the elemental system and a great past war as a backdrop. The countries came next from a map I drew of the world; I connect each one to each other and to a history going back to the war. I then drew up plans for the political structure and the leaders of each country, which all became large characters in their own right.
Finally, I set as the immediate conflict the rising tension between the various nation states, and the long-term conflict as the instability of the world.
The big secrets and fundamental nature of the world was something I didn't come up with for a long time. But eventually I had to figure out a reason why things were the way they were - why that world existed in the manner that it did, and why it was unstable. This led us to the true origin of Shadow.
So, that's how it happened!
Andrew Ball
I'm sorry to keep you waiting! I'm doing my best to keep working on the sequel while in school, but it keeps getting harder rather than easier! I don't have a date for you. When I have news on my progress that I feel is important enough to alert people about, I'll post on Facebook and here on goodreads.
Andrew Ball
There will be a book 2; I'm writing it now! Whether or not it is on audio is a more complex question.
Podium Publishing took a risk on me, more or less - they liked my book enough to acquire the audio rights! They also have the right of first refusal for the audio rights to the second book. Assuming contractor's audio version sells well enough and that the sequel also becomes popular, they may take up on that and make another audio book! I hope they do, it seems to be very well received.
Podium Publishing took a risk on me, more or less - they liked my book enough to acquire the audio rights! They also have the right of first refusal for the audio rights to the second book. Assuming contractor's audio version sells well enough and that the sequel also becomes popular, they may take up on that and make another audio book! I hope they do, it seems to be very well received.
Andrew Ball
It's in progress, but so is my pharmacy degree! No date yet.
Andrew Ball
The main inspiration was simple. In all the stories of magic and fantasy I've read, there seems to be a limit or a cap on how powerful one person could get. Or, basically, if the evil bad guy was trying to become all-powerful, the story would be the good guys stopping that from happening.
I wanted to know the consequences of magic that made its user stronger - that is the contractor magic, and Vorid magic. Usually, magic extracts some sort of price, relying on a principle of exchange. But what happens when magic pays its user with more magic? Does one person become increasingly powerful until they dwarf all other potential competition? What does that world look like? How would you overcome that kind of power? The story is meant to explore those ideas.
Also, I wanted to write a character that was a little bit of a jerky smartass and didn't want to be involved. That was Daniel. I put these two concepts together, and, there you go!
I wanted to know the consequences of magic that made its user stronger - that is the contractor magic, and Vorid magic. Usually, magic extracts some sort of price, relying on a principle of exchange. But what happens when magic pays its user with more magic? Does one person become increasingly powerful until they dwarf all other potential competition? What does that world look like? How would you overcome that kind of power? The story is meant to explore those ideas.
Also, I wanted to write a character that was a little bit of a jerky smartass and didn't want to be involved. That was Daniel. I put these two concepts together, and, there you go!
Andrew Ball
For editing, I had several people read it: my mother, my older sister, and a good close friend! Of course, I combed through the entire story myself probably six or seven times all together. I realize that's not possible for yourself, though.
In the course of writing several novels (Contractor is just the only one I've published) I've encountered other writers as I've sought advice on both style and mechanics from across the internet. Exchanges with them have been extremely helpful. What you see in Contractor is not just experience I picked up from writing it, but lessons I've learned from earlier (crappier) things that I've written.
There's a lot of writing communities out on the internet, a lot of forums. Many of these have self-help groups and offer friendly exchange editing; you edit theirs, they help edit yours. You could try looking for those resources. Many forums have plenty of volunteer editors happy to read new content! Here is one such critique-exchange community which is one of the best:
http://www.critique.org/
If that doesn't work, you could try a paid editing service! However, depending on the quality of editing, this can be expensive, especially if your work is long (editors typically charge by the word, so more words = more money!)
I hope that is helpful!
In the course of writing several novels (Contractor is just the only one I've published) I've encountered other writers as I've sought advice on both style and mechanics from across the internet. Exchanges with them have been extremely helpful. What you see in Contractor is not just experience I picked up from writing it, but lessons I've learned from earlier (crappier) things that I've written.
There's a lot of writing communities out on the internet, a lot of forums. Many of these have self-help groups and offer friendly exchange editing; you edit theirs, they help edit yours. You could try looking for those resources. Many forums have plenty of volunteer editors happy to read new content! Here is one such critique-exchange community which is one of the best:
http://www.critique.org/
If that doesn't work, you could try a paid editing service! However, depending on the quality of editing, this can be expensive, especially if your work is long (editors typically charge by the word, so more words = more money!)
I hope that is helpful!
Andrew Ball
I do something else until it goes away; I rarely try to force myself to write. Or, I'll go back a few chapters and edit. That helps me "warm up" and keep going once I reach the last page I've written.
Andrew Ball
The act of creation. I love creating a world. I love when I can hear the voices of my characters as if they were sitting next to me. I love the act of exercising my imagination. There is an addicting joy in making a thing so immediate and real that I could - if I tried hard enough - reach out and touch it.
Andrew Ball
Writing is a skill, not a talent. Like any skill, it can be honed. The people that are the best at what they do - in any category - are the ones that spend the most time doing it. While some people are more naturally talented, it is practice that makes perfect.
Your first story will, unless you are yourself quite talented, not be good. Almost universally, the first draft of anything is crap. Don't cling to it, revising and revising to make it perfect. Write a second story. Write a third. Write a fourth! Don't stop writing. With each iteration of your imagination, your skill will improve, and your stories will become even better.
Contractor was my fifth novel. I think I've since become an even better writer. You never stop sharpening your pen.
Your first story will, unless you are yourself quite talented, not be good. Almost universally, the first draft of anything is crap. Don't cling to it, revising and revising to make it perfect. Write a second story. Write a third. Write a fourth! Don't stop writing. With each iteration of your imagination, your skill will improve, and your stories will become even better.
Contractor was my fifth novel. I think I've since become an even better writer. You never stop sharpening your pen.
Andrew Ball
My current main project is the sequel to Contractor: Prisoner.
Andrew Ball
Most of the time, I find that inspiration for a new story comes while writing a story! My mind tends to wander here and there; I wonder, if things in my story were different, if something was fundamentally changed, or I replaced a character, what would happen? Those changes create a butterfly effect mutation that generates a totally different story.
This happens a lot with movies and books I read, as well. I think about how the story would have changed if something was different about it. Or, I think about something I love within a story, and wonder how I could pull it and twist it within my own context.
This happens a lot with movies and books I read, as well. I think about how the story would have changed if something was different about it. Or, I think about something I love within a story, and wonder how I could pull it and twist it within my own context.
Andrew Ball
I don't really remember the exact thing that gave me an idea.
In many stories, there's a "call to adventure" moment. The hero is picked up by the mentor, or charged with his duty - what have you - and then we're off to the races. I wanted to write a story about the kind of hero that wanted nothing to do with duty or fate; he just wanted to take care of his, and everyone else could go take a hike. I think I realized that pretty well with Daniel.
In many stories, there's a "call to adventure" moment. The hero is picked up by the mentor, or charged with his duty - what have you - and then we're off to the races. I wanted to write a story about the kind of hero that wanted nothing to do with duty or fate; he just wanted to take care of his, and everyone else could go take a hike. I think I realized that pretty well with Daniel.
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