Post by Twyrch on Jan 18, 2010 18:51:55 GMT -5
The following is a brand new Q & A with Ranger's Apprentice author John Flanagan.
1) What inspired you to write the Ranger's Apprentice series?
Originally, I started writing a series of short adventure stories for my son Mike. The main character, Will, was based on him. I wanted to show Mike that reading could be exciting, entertaining, amusing and more fun than he realised. Over the years, I kept going back to those stories and refining them. Then I decided to expand them into first one book - then two, then three - now who knows how many there will be in the long run?
2) Do you know the exact plot for each book before you start writing?
Yes. Definitely. I think you must plan your story thoroughly before you start writing. That way, you always know where you're going and you never find yourself trapped, thinking 'what do I do next?'. I've found over years of working as a professional writer (on television scripts, advertising, corporate presentations and speeches) that planning first is absolutely essential for a good result.
3) How do you come up with names for the characters and locations?
I wish there was an easy way! I think that is one of the hardest parts of writing. All too often I find that I've given everyone names starting with the same letter. Then I have to go back and change some of them.
The series was originally called The Arathon Rangers but my Australian publishers asked me to change Arathon because it was too close to Aragorn (from Lord of the Rings). I said 'no problem' and struggled for ten days trying to find another name for the country. Then one day my brother rang me and mentioned that he'd been researching our family and they'd originally lived in an area called Araluen.
Sometimes you get lucky.
4) Which character is the most fun to write?
Oh, it has to be Halt. He's always surprising me with his little quirks and unexpected character traits. Tug's fun, too. And I love the way Horace, just when you think he's a bit of a plodder, comes up with a direct, simple solution to the problem, while everybody else is being devious and super clever.
5) How long does it take you to write each Ranger's Apprentice book?
I take three to four months to plan (see question 2). That's a pretty easy going process. I do it while I'm playing golf or going for a walk. Eventually, I'll sit down for a day or two and put an outline down on paper. When I finally start writing, I write a chapter a day, five days a week, for about three months. Each day, I revise and edit the previous day's chapter before going on to the next. From time to time I go back and read the entire thing, editing as I go. Then my editor gets it and finds all the mistakes I missed.
6) You also write scripts for TV - how different is it to write a novel?
I dont write for TV any more. I much prefer writing novels to scripts. Script writing is more mechanical somehow - instead of having to create a picture for the reader's imagination, you're telling a cameraman and a director what pictures the story needs. For example, instead of writing:
'A thin red band of light had appeared out of nowhere, delineating the point where the sky and sea met. Gradually, it spilled north and south along the horizon, reflecting red and gold on the underside of low cloud bank that had formed in the cool hours before dawn. The birds nesting in the cliffs above the dark sea were already awake, sensing the coming of a new day. Now they launched from a hundred crannies and ledges and began to circle higher and higher into the sky, calling tentatively to each other as a giant blazing ball, painful to the eye, suddenly soared loose from the horizon and rose out of the sea, bringing the day with it.'
you simply write: 'Scene 1: Sunrise over the sea. SOUND FX: Bird calls.'
I prefer the emotional quality of prose writing.
7) Have you got plans for other books, or will you continue with the Ranger's Apprentice series?
Yes to both questions. There are several other ideas I want to write, some of them in children's fiction and some in adult fiction. And I know of at least another three Ranger's stories that are milling around in my mind. I'm lucky. I love story telling. It's my hobby and my recreation as well as my occupation.
8) Do you have a routine when you write, and do you always write in the same place (i.e. an office)?
Yes. As I said above. I prefer writing in the morning. I always have. Afternoons are for thinking and planning. I give myself a set quota. Some time ago, I decided that I'd work Monday to Friday so that I have weekends completely free of writing. That way, I'm always keen to get back to it on Monday morning.
I've got a lovely cedar cabin in my back yard which has become my writing studio. It looks out over the district and it's peaceful and quiet. There's just a hint of Halt's log cabin about it. I do my writing there.
9) Which authors and books did you enjoy when you were a child?
C.S. Forester has to be my first pick. (And I still read and love the Horatio Hornblower books). Recently I was reminded that I read most of the Biggles series when I was young. I'd forgotten about them. And I read a lot of stories based on history or mythology - Greek and Norse mythology particularly. In addition, I always enjoyed mediaeval settings for books.
There was an Australian series set on a cattle station in Victoria, called 'Billabong'. It was written by Mary Grant Bruce. I loved them. Oh, and Richmal Crompton's 'William' series. They were fabulous. Unlike most people of my generation, I never read the Famous Five or the Secret Seven by Enid Blyton.
10) What's the best thing about being an author?
The very best thing is that I'm doing what I have always wanted to do. I have always wanted to tell stories for a living. To amuse people. To entertain them. To excite them. To intrigue them. It is hugely satisfying to have that feeling.
A few weeks ago, I was watching TV on Sunday evening and got that familiar 'Oh darn it, tomorrow's Monday' feeling. And then I thought, 'So what? I'm going to be writing another story! And I love doing that!'
1) What inspired you to write the Ranger's Apprentice series?
Originally, I started writing a series of short adventure stories for my son Mike. The main character, Will, was based on him. I wanted to show Mike that reading could be exciting, entertaining, amusing and more fun than he realised. Over the years, I kept going back to those stories and refining them. Then I decided to expand them into first one book - then two, then three - now who knows how many there will be in the long run?
2) Do you know the exact plot for each book before you start writing?
Yes. Definitely. I think you must plan your story thoroughly before you start writing. That way, you always know where you're going and you never find yourself trapped, thinking 'what do I do next?'. I've found over years of working as a professional writer (on television scripts, advertising, corporate presentations and speeches) that planning first is absolutely essential for a good result.
3) How do you come up with names for the characters and locations?
I wish there was an easy way! I think that is one of the hardest parts of writing. All too often I find that I've given everyone names starting with the same letter. Then I have to go back and change some of them.
The series was originally called The Arathon Rangers but my Australian publishers asked me to change Arathon because it was too close to Aragorn (from Lord of the Rings). I said 'no problem' and struggled for ten days trying to find another name for the country. Then one day my brother rang me and mentioned that he'd been researching our family and they'd originally lived in an area called Araluen.
Sometimes you get lucky.
4) Which character is the most fun to write?
Oh, it has to be Halt. He's always surprising me with his little quirks and unexpected character traits. Tug's fun, too. And I love the way Horace, just when you think he's a bit of a plodder, comes up with a direct, simple solution to the problem, while everybody else is being devious and super clever.
5) How long does it take you to write each Ranger's Apprentice book?
I take three to four months to plan (see question 2). That's a pretty easy going process. I do it while I'm playing golf or going for a walk. Eventually, I'll sit down for a day or two and put an outline down on paper. When I finally start writing, I write a chapter a day, five days a week, for about three months. Each day, I revise and edit the previous day's chapter before going on to the next. From time to time I go back and read the entire thing, editing as I go. Then my editor gets it and finds all the mistakes I missed.
6) You also write scripts for TV - how different is it to write a novel?
I dont write for TV any more. I much prefer writing novels to scripts. Script writing is more mechanical somehow - instead of having to create a picture for the reader's imagination, you're telling a cameraman and a director what pictures the story needs. For example, instead of writing:
'A thin red band of light had appeared out of nowhere, delineating the point where the sky and sea met. Gradually, it spilled north and south along the horizon, reflecting red and gold on the underside of low cloud bank that had formed in the cool hours before dawn. The birds nesting in the cliffs above the dark sea were already awake, sensing the coming of a new day. Now they launched from a hundred crannies and ledges and began to circle higher and higher into the sky, calling tentatively to each other as a giant blazing ball, painful to the eye, suddenly soared loose from the horizon and rose out of the sea, bringing the day with it.'
you simply write: 'Scene 1: Sunrise over the sea. SOUND FX: Bird calls.'
I prefer the emotional quality of prose writing.
7) Have you got plans for other books, or will you continue with the Ranger's Apprentice series?
Yes to both questions. There are several other ideas I want to write, some of them in children's fiction and some in adult fiction. And I know of at least another three Ranger's stories that are milling around in my mind. I'm lucky. I love story telling. It's my hobby and my recreation as well as my occupation.
8) Do you have a routine when you write, and do you always write in the same place (i.e. an office)?
Yes. As I said above. I prefer writing in the morning. I always have. Afternoons are for thinking and planning. I give myself a set quota. Some time ago, I decided that I'd work Monday to Friday so that I have weekends completely free of writing. That way, I'm always keen to get back to it on Monday morning.
I've got a lovely cedar cabin in my back yard which has become my writing studio. It looks out over the district and it's peaceful and quiet. There's just a hint of Halt's log cabin about it. I do my writing there.
9) Which authors and books did you enjoy when you were a child?
C.S. Forester has to be my first pick. (And I still read and love the Horatio Hornblower books). Recently I was reminded that I read most of the Biggles series when I was young. I'd forgotten about them. And I read a lot of stories based on history or mythology - Greek and Norse mythology particularly. In addition, I always enjoyed mediaeval settings for books.
There was an Australian series set on a cattle station in Victoria, called 'Billabong'. It was written by Mary Grant Bruce. I loved them. Oh, and Richmal Crompton's 'William' series. They were fabulous. Unlike most people of my generation, I never read the Famous Five or the Secret Seven by Enid Blyton.
10) What's the best thing about being an author?
The very best thing is that I'm doing what I have always wanted to do. I have always wanted to tell stories for a living. To amuse people. To entertain them. To excite them. To intrigue them. It is hugely satisfying to have that feeling.
A few weeks ago, I was watching TV on Sunday evening and got that familiar 'Oh darn it, tomorrow's Monday' feeling. And then I thought, 'So what? I'm going to be writing another story! And I love doing that!'