Molly
asked
Scott Hawkins:
Your universe is well developed. Did you map it out before writing or did it just fall into place as you wrote? This is an excellent book.
Scott Hawkins
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Hey Molly,
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! I guess it's true to say that I made it up as I went along, but it's also a little misleading.
For instance, the first chapter of the book was at least the 10th version of a "meet the librarians" scene that I'd written. I mean, yeah, what you see is only slightly altered from the first draft, but there was a pile of stuff on the cutting room floor that you didn't see. In case you're wondering, the earlier versions had the librarians uniting against some outside threat. David kept trying to make a noble speech, they hugged a lot, stuff like that. The scene didn't work until the threat was internal and they librarians more or less hated each other.
There were also a couple of scenes that I tried to write but eventually dropped. At one point I had about twenty pages of Father + Nobununga + Mithraganhi squaring off against the Emperor, but it felt really corny. I eventually cut all twenty pages and replaced it with a couple of lines in the first Interlude that talked about Nobununga's back story.
Also I usually had at least a mental picture of what the story was with those off-stage bad guys (Barry O'Shea, Liesel, The Duke) even if I never wrote any of it down.
But most of that cropped up in the course of fleshing out the bones of the story. I didn't start out by mapping out lore and history Silmarillion style. (hide spoiler)]
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! I guess it's true to say that I made it up as I went along, but it's also a little misleading.
For instance, the first chapter of the book was at least the 10th version of a "meet the librarians" scene that I'd written. I mean, yeah, what you see is only slightly altered from the first draft, but there was a pile of stuff on the cutting room floor that you didn't see. In case you're wondering, the earlier versions had the librarians uniting against some outside threat. David kept trying to make a noble speech, they hugged a lot, stuff like that. The scene didn't work until the threat was internal and they librarians more or less hated each other.
There were also a couple of scenes that I tried to write but eventually dropped. At one point I had about twenty pages of Father + Nobununga + Mithraganhi squaring off against the Emperor, but it felt really corny. I eventually cut all twenty pages and replaced it with a couple of lines in the first Interlude that talked about Nobununga's back story.
Also I usually had at least a mental picture of what the story was with those off-stage bad guys (Barry O'Shea, Liesel, The Duke) even if I never wrote any of it down.
But most of that cropped up in the course of fleshing out the bones of the story. I didn't start out by mapping out lore and history Silmarillion style. (hide spoiler)]
More Answered Questions
TheReadingCat
asked
Scott Hawkins:
So let's get the fangirling out of the way first: I have never read something quite like this before, I am amazed at the sheer creativity. It was a joy, I really really loved it!! Now, my question is, if by some twist of fate Father would have taken you under his (probably raven-black) wing and, recognizing your literary genius, offered you the choice to actually pick your catalogue, which one would you want to learn?
Kristina Giovanni
asked
Scott Hawkins:
Why would you write a sequel to your beautiful novel? It is perfect the way it is. There are too many series in the world that end up petering out because the authors writing them do not know how to write an ending, or they're unwilling to walk away from the characters they've created. Write more stories like it, but with new characters?
Michael Hume
asked
Scott Hawkins:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[
Have you ever thought to write about one of the alternate realities where David is the protagonist as Father originally intended? Or perhaps a piece about his revelation to finally give Carolyn a try? Maybe a chapter about what happens in the reality were Carolyn is the antagonist - and WINS?
Antagonist Carolyn. It's not fair that only Father got to see that play out.
(hide spoiler)]
Antagonist Carolyn. It's not fair that only Father got to see that play out. (hide spoiler)]
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