Kasper
asked
Nicholas Eames:
Hello Mr. Eames! I'm a huge fan of your work and have found your stories to be hugely inspirational to me as an aspiring writer! My question is something I've really struggled with over the past few years! Have you ever had to scrap a project even after putting a lot of time into it, and if so how do you work past the sort of... feeling of failure that comes with that? Thanks! :D
Nicholas Eames
Hey, thanks for the kind words, and I'm sorry to hear you've been struggling.
I think the best way to frame it is that the time you've put in writing is always worthwhile because it's helped you hone and refine your craft.
And boy, do I ever know it! I started trying to write (seriously, with the intent of getting published) at 25, and was, I think, 38 when I finally got a book deal. For about 11 of those years I wrote (and re-wrote, and re-wrote again) a huge 350k word novel that will never see the light of day, but it's hard to regret that time as I learned a ton from the process.
It was extremely hard to give that book up and start something new (which turned out to be KotW) but once I was writing the next thing I knew I had "leveled up" considerably and was on the right track. That said, if you'd have told me 6, 7, or 8 years into that first book that it would never be published I'd have likely been crushed. Alas, I was extremely fortunate that it all worked out in the end.
Hope that helps somewhat! Good luck!
I think the best way to frame it is that the time you've put in writing is always worthwhile because it's helped you hone and refine your craft.
And boy, do I ever know it! I started trying to write (seriously, with the intent of getting published) at 25, and was, I think, 38 when I finally got a book deal. For about 11 of those years I wrote (and re-wrote, and re-wrote again) a huge 350k word novel that will never see the light of day, but it's hard to regret that time as I learned a ton from the process.
It was extremely hard to give that book up and start something new (which turned out to be KotW) but once I was writing the next thing I knew I had "leveled up" considerably and was on the right track. That said, if you'd have told me 6, 7, or 8 years into that first book that it would never be published I'd have likely been crushed. Alas, I was extremely fortunate that it all worked out in the end.
Hope that helps somewhat! Good luck!
More Answered Questions
Raul Duran
asked
Nicholas Eames:
Oh, imagined them older, that is why I chose those actors. Like a lot your casting choices!. Ok, ok, final proposal I swear on it!... given how Nikolaj might be too recent in the minds of many as Jamie in a similar setting, I have this: Jude Law as Golden Gabe and Karl Urban as Clay Cooper, who else can be a kind/protector than the leader of the Rohirrim?. Thank you for taking the time to reply, I am truly honored.
Steven
asked
Nicholas Eames:
Hi Nicholas, How involved were you with the map design in your novels? With all the landmarks and places in your world, it must be difficult to remember where they all are in relation to each other. Do you plot all the landmarks out and have an idea on how you want it to look or do you let your artist read the book and interpret it their own way... with a little artistic licence?
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