Day 302: Success, One Step At A Time

3 Responses to Day 302: Success, One Step At A Time

1. Tony says:

   February 5, 2012 at 9:20 pm

   Thanks for elaborating on that!

   Your response was, in a lot of ways, what I expected based on assumption and what I’ve heard you say before during your walk and other places. I find it very interested how animated you become when you talk about doing your short works. You really seem to like them, despite how often I’ve heard you say that you’re not a short story writer.

   I’d probably have to call Ravenwood your most successful book in terms of what I think most people expect out of a novel. Full Share is so angst-ridden that I can’t help but call it the most successful at bringing out reader emotion. Owner’s Share is a runner-up in that category–I find the ending very successful, but I wasn’t 100% on board with the build-up. I am pretty sure I think Captain’s Share is where I have the most fun while reading, and fun should certainly be a measure of success IMO. And Quarter Share I really could never tire of, ever. Something about that story just draws me in every time.

   On a totally different topic, I’ve been reading the comments as they come in on your website and your amazon page that push for a break with Ridan. I can’t imagine how frustrating that might be and have always sided with you that staying the course is your best option. However, I’ve been doing a reread of the Share series over the past week, listening to a book first and then immediately going back and reading the same book. I have to say that I’m not all that impressed with the editing Ridan has provided.

   There aren’t a great deal of changes between the the audio/text versions, but some of them are either incomplete or not thought out well in the first place. In Full Share, for instance, the wording that Mr. von Ickles gives to Ishmael regarding the 3rd mate’s exam was altered, but then later Ish gives the original wording to Pip, is overheard, and has to explain that von Ickles said the same thing to him. Another would be during a mealtime conversation between Ishamael, CC, and others. In the audio version Ish says something his departing line in some antiquated fashion, causing CC to ask if he always talks like that. In the text version Ishmael’s line has been changed a little to sound less strange, killing the need for CC to ask about it after, but he still does.

   There are probably 3-4 instances like that in Full Share alone where a change from the audio version wasn’t handled properly and creates a continuity issue. I suppose someone reading for the first time wouldn’t catch most of the things I’m talking about, but I am left scratching my head sometimes.

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2. Chong Go says:

   February 6, 2012 at 3:09 am

   Well, I was in awe of your voice work during “The Amulet”. You had me completely hearing very different people (and the story was good, too!) And the Hidalgo was just hilarious and touching at the same time.

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3. Val Ford says:

   February 6, 2012 at 5:25 pm

   Hey Nathan, great walk topic. It really made me think, and I have to agree with most of what you said. I really think that your most successful story, for me, was Owner’s Share, and it was because of the ending. You really made it a powerful, wrenching experience, which is what I think all writers strive for. We cared about the characters enough that when you did everything you did, we cried with Ish (okay, I cried with Ish, and I assume most everyone else did too).

   Also, on the topic of returning April 1 (from the walk the day before) – of course it’s auspicious – it’s my birthday! 😀

   Looking forward to seeing you at Balticon!

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