As a reviewer for Fantasy Book Review, I have the great privilege of having a great “in” to some of my favorite authors. I have email relationships with James Barclay, David Webb, Steven Erikson and, most recently (thanks to Goodreads), Janny Wurts.
In the near future there will be an interview appearing on FBR between us, and I can’t wait to see what comes of that. Janny is a truly wonderful person, a real gem, and I am really glad she has taken the time to write me. I’ll be peppering her with questions about writing every now and again, and she has gladly agreed to reply when she can.
However first off, I asked her a question that was specifically tailored to her. Why does she write the way she does. I have commented on it in a previous post, and she took the time to reply. The answer is amazing, one truly worth reading, and it is below (with permission).
So check out why one of the greatest living fantasy authors writes the way she does.
Why do I write the way I do?
The short, flippant answer: I grew up reading the library, and didn’t bother with television much, if at all. This was because the trite themes, short format, and predictable plots became too unbearably boring. I’ve read so many books that words and vocabulary became absorbed, as it were, through the skin.
The deeper answer: I am not a minimalist. Contrary to belief by conformists, any one word is not the same as another. Each has a precise and different shade of meaning, and to me, that makes a difference. I prefer choosing the exact one for the occasion.
