Q&A with James Patterson discussion

hey whats your book about?

mine is a memoir. it is in rough draft stages and for now i titled it an unbelievable story. in general it is a reflection on my life but i thought it might reach too some people just because of the situations involved and a general idea from most can relate. if u want u can email me at [email protected] and i can give u a sample to read if u wish.

ok that was not good y did it get taken down? All i did was answer the yong ladies question about what i was writing and it get taken down but anyhow, my book is a memoir and it is about life and understanding the stuff i went through and i figured it could help people through what their going through just by knowing someone had maybe similar experiences.

are you going to write a second fang and witch's & wizard's you left them on to make a second. maximium ride was the first seiris I read when coming to midddle school I was really the best book i read and the daniel x books are good two. I'm goingt o read the big bad wolf my freinds were reading it so I will read it to.
p.s. hope you make more books for young adults cause i will read them

Glad to hear it Jacob. I've got a new series for kids coming next summer--MIDDLE SCHOOL--and even if you're well out of those trenches it's fun for everyone.

My one big question that I would like to know and will be asking is how to co-authoring work? what parts do you write and what parts do the co authors write or is it you ive them an outline and then they write the content and then you tweek it?

I am also curious how collaborating on a book works. How do you decide to collaborate, how do you pick the other author, and how do you "share" writing duties? Is the process done face-to-face or electronically? Is it easier or harder to write with someone else?

I am very confused on the publishing aspect of writing a book. I know that it is not as simple as it comes across on movies and in books - you don't just put your manuscript and ship it off.

Do you have to have an agent? Is it hard to get your first book published?
This always confuses me, because all authors have to start somewhere. The greatest author isn't going to come into the world being able to be represented by all publishing companies, so why is it so hard for new writers to get their books published?
Also, can you just give me some tips on how to get published, please?

James wrote: "Glad to hear it Jacob. I've got a new series for kids coming next summer--MIDDLE SCHOOL--and even if you're well out of those trenches it's fun for everyone."


what would the new teen series ur writing be about?

Hi I could use some advice on writing.

Hi Mr Patterson. I love your books and find them nearly impossible to put down. I was curious about one thing. As I was in the process of reading 'When the Wind Blows', I happened to watch an X-Files episode named 'Eve'. I was quite startled by the superficial similarities; both dealt with eugenics and contained characters named 'Adam' and 'Eve'. Even the names of your characters 'David' and 'Gillian' could be a reference to the actors who play Mulder and Scully. I was curious if these connections are coincidental, or if perhaps your novel was somewhat of a tribute to the X-Files. Thank you in advance for your response, and for your outstanding books!

I know you've collaborated in the past and also have supported other authors (plug for Marshall Karp, pug for Marshall Karp). One of my favorite genres (mostly Sci Fi) is the "Shared World/Universe" whether they're integrated novels (Wild Cards or Thieves World) or stand alones in a series (Star Wars etc). Have you ever thought of doing a Shared World/Universe (or opening one of your "worlds" up). If so who would you like to work with?

Hi Mr.Patterson, I'm an aspiring young writer and I'm really good at helping my friends with stories but when I try to come up with my own my brain is either completely empty or bursting with way too many ideas at once. How would you deal with this? And how do you usually come by your inspiration?

-Paisley

How do you come up with what problem the enemy is causing?

my question is how do you keep your stories separated from one story that your writing from the next,and have you ever got the stories crossed by mistake,and hadto re write.why I ask is because you bring us stories very rapidly,and you are amazing writer that you can give wonderful stories,and amazing speed.

James wrote: "Glad to hear it Jacob. I've got a new series for kids coming next summer--MIDDLE SCHOOL--and even if you're well out of those trenches it's fun for everyone."

That is so exciting. I have an 11 year old and he loves to read. I will surely introduce him to your writing.

Michelle wrote: "James wrote: "Glad to hear it Jacob. I've got a new series for kids coming next summer--MIDDLE SCHOOL--and even if you're well out of those trenches it's fun for everyone."

That is so exciting. I..."

that will be great, my boyfriend has a son in middle school who needs to find some books that interest him so he can achieve his AR goals. Hopefully your new series will spark his interest. I will definitely keep an eye out for the first one.

My first question deals with the enthusiasm you wrote both the Maximum Ride and When The Wind Blows books with. You seem to get very excited about all the scientific discoveries and genetic research of coarse, is a major field, what other scientific break throughs excite you and are there any other subjects that you plan on pulling ideas from? Have any Science/Discovery Channel shows spark new paths for you? How about those glowing mice or monkeys that use mind control to manipulate a robotic arm?
My second question has to do with all the co-author work you have been doing. Goodreads has many great new authors on board here, do you think you may find your next talent within this site, and would you be willing to participate in any of the writing contests within these groups in hopes of finding your next writing partner?

One word: outline. Seriously.

I have been known to be a fan of ol' Mulder and Scully...

Hi Mr.Patterson!
I LOVE your books. A librarian steered me toward Maximum Ride, and I enjoyed them throughly.
You are a great writer. Was it hard at first to get published?



I am very confused on the publishing aspect of writing a book.
Do you have to have an agent? Is it hard to get your first book published?
This always confuses me, because all authors have to start somewhere. The greatest author isn't going to come into the world being able to be represented by all publishing companies, so why is it so hard for new writers to get their books published?
Also, can you just give me some tips on how to get published, please?

James:

I am 55 and started a novel in 2000 and worked on it sporadically until 2002. However, workload and other factors kept me from finishing it at the time.

Now that I am about to retire (next month), I will have the time to kick start the process again. Will a publisher even consider publishing a novel by someone who is my age? I have been a professional writer my entire career.

Thanks,

Mike

Mr. Patterson, I've always read articles about how you're one of the most published authors in, well, the world. How do you manage to write so many books in so little time?

Also, I'm an aspiring writer myself, and I've always wondered where you got all your ideas from. You've written almost 100 books, and yet each still enthralls readers across the world. Perhaps it's just because you're a writing genius (which is probably true), but I'm still curious.

And dedication. How do you stick to writing? Every time I try writing, in the middle of the process, I throw my hands up in the air and give up. How do you manage to stay dedicated to writing your books?

Finally, I'd like to know where you get your books published, just so that I'd keep that in mind.

Thanks a lot!
Linda

Do you have any tips for Teens writing their first book? :)

When I start writing I get too many thoughts going at once and can't get them all down on paper without losing some along the way. This happens even at the outline stage. Does this happen to you, and what do you do about it? If it doesn't happen to you, what would you suggest for a way to keep all the thoughts?
Do you have a formula for writing?

I don't know how this works, as far as some of us getting a reply, but I have a question that I can't figure out in every book I read. Why do you end a chapter & start the next one where the last chapter left off? Why not continue that one chapter with those events that are going on? Do you have to have so many chapters per book? Because some are only a few pages long anyway. I can't figure out a reason to end one chapter & continue it in the very next one. Would you please solve this riddle for me??

Most men write from the male perspective. How do you write such convincing female characters, like the Murder Mystery book and Max Ride? Did you grow up with sisters?

Make sure that you can actually feel something in everything that you've written. If there's no emotion at the start and end of each chapter, delete it altogether.

I'd say that's a good problem to have! I keep a running binder of all the ideas I get for books. Sometimes they get used, sometimes they stay in the binder. Sounds like you have no problem on the creative end--keep em coming!

While I can't divulge my secrets fully--there was once a great quote Janet Maslin wrote in the New York Times. That I know women better than Freud. I'll take it.

Of course, go for it. Why the fear of agists?

One, outline. It really helps. Anything that you're writing. Second, have fun with it. Write lots. You can take out what you don't like later, just get it all down.

This is all GREAT advice. Thanks so much.

Mr. Patterson I must say you seem to have fun with your writing and bring some wonderful humor to the Alex Cross series. Thank you

It's the one thing that makes me sing.

Mr. Patterson, I was just wondering, when did you start writing? Also, I was wondering if Total was based off of a pet or was just an idea.

I'm not sure, but I think she's supposed to be brunette with blond streaks, but I'm not positive. Am I right, Mr. Patterson?

James wrote: "It's the one thing that makes me sing."

Mr. Patterson, I am a huge fan, I have read all of your books even the ones for the younger ones, I always know your book will not fail to thrill, make me sad, happy and learn to look at life in a different way than before. I loved The Murder Club, the characters are so believable and of course Alex Cross, I always picture Morgan Freeman in my head when I read one of those. loved the movies also but books are so much more thrilling I think. Sometimes you don't have to see to imagine what is happening makes it better. Keep doing what you do best
Love
Jean From KY

Hey Mr. Patterson,
How can you make me want to marry all your characters? They're all so lovable, even killers sometimes.

When reading your books it is actually like watching the scenes in a movie. I once read what I felt was an important note by Stephen King in a book on writing fiction. He said the most important thing was to show people your story not just tell a story. How do you know when you've put enough visuals into your work without over doing it? I feel some authors and myself might go overboard in how long/many pages they take to describe things.
I also notice you are a master at hooking your readers in on the first page or even first paragraph...you get major props for that skill.

All I can say is... be careful Dani!

Hello again Mr. Patterson! Thanks for answering my earlier questions on the Young Adult thread!

I mess around a bit with writing myself, and have a few pieces that I hope to publish at some point. Having managed to publish over sixty books, do you have any tips regarding the publishing process for new authors?

If you could tell us your readers one true rule/thing about writing what would it be? and why ?
P.S I love your work

thought you may want to see this if you missed it in the other threads

message 4: by James (new) 23 hours, 58 min ago
When I do write with co-authors, I try to get the big idea across to them and they come back with some of the details. We go back and forth like this, in outline form, filling in the rest. They each add a new perspective to my characters--Gabrielle Charbonnet has quite a wit, and Michael Ledwidge knows how to spin an action scene.

Hi, James. I'm a really big fan of your books, and I was happy to see my work have "I, Alex Cross" in our book section :)

The question I have is why are your chapters so short in your Alex Cross novels? It seems like every two pages the chapter ends.

Outline before you start writing--it works wonders.

Hi Noelle--I just wrote a bit about this in the Alex Cross thread, if you want to browse on over.

Julie wrote: "I don't know how this works, as far as some of us getting a reply, but I have a question that I can't figure out in every book I read. Why do you end a chapter & start the next one where the last c..."

That's what I love about the books. I read them so much quicker than a book that has 30 page chapters.

James wrote: "Glad to hear it Jacob. I've got a new series for kids coming next summer--MIDDLE SCHOOL--and even if you're well out of those trenches it's fun for everyone."

I'll tell my niece about this. It might be available in the bookstores here in time for next Christmas if you'll be launching it next summer. Come to think of it, have you held a book tour in Asia? Please don't forget the Philippines. You have loads of fans here :)

James
My mom and sister are mental patients and I have spent a LOT of time in the institiutions which through the years have changed. In some ways for the good and some for the worse in the name of patient rights. They seem to take anyone who cares about and for them on the insantiy ride with them. I have always had it in my mind to tell at least a part of thier stories and mine. Thanks for the tips on writing and the inspiration to get started.James wrote: "I put myself through college by working nights at a mental institution. After seeing the many different people pass through there, and I mean different, I knew I had to start scribbling, telling st..."

James wrote: "The trick to avoid staring at that first blank page for too long is to outline. I always plot out how I want my story to go, and then make the outline thicker and thicker. It’s worked for all sixty..."