Return of the Interview Meme

[michaeldthomas]

were_duck interviewed me. Here are her questions:

1) Favorite thing about being a parent.

2) What does your writing process look like? Do you have any tricks for getting yourself to write consistently or diligently?

3) What is your opinion of Captain John Hart's role in Torchwood s2? (this was something I had meant to go over on our panel, but flaked on, so I'm curious what your take on the character is!)

4) Which is your favorite Doctor and why?

5) Tell me about an SF/F book or movie that you think is completely overrated and why.

If you're dying to play, just ask.


1) Favorite thing about being a parent.

My favorite thing is watching Caitlin succeed. She's a cool kid with a neat sense of humor. When she was a baby, Cait was a drugged zombie. I wasn't sure if she would ever interact with our world. Caitlin beat the odds. She works so damn hard to be involved. I still can't believe she can read. I also love her laugh.

2) What does your writing process look like? Do you have any tricks for getting yourself to write consistently or diligently?

A mess. :) Each story follows a slightly different process, but here's the general pattern:

1- A character, idea, or image comes to me. I start extrapolating from that starting point. I write up a series of illegible notes in a spiral notebook.

2- I start writing. I'm usually at a coffeehouse while Caitlin is at school. I shoot for 1000 words per session. If I get stuck, I might create a rough outline before I write a story or chapter. Very little of that outline will be used. I'm pretty much a seat-of-the-pants writer. I really don't know where a scene is going until after I write it.

3- I finish and table the piece. After at least a week, I go back and do an edit. Once I've finished the rewrite, it goes to my wife to copy edit. After she finishes, I send it to my wonderful critique partners.

4- I get back their critiques, have a good think, and do another rewrite.

5- After Lynne makes another pass, I send the story away.

3) What is your opinion of Captain John Hart's role in Torchwood s2? (this was something I had meant to go over on our panel, but flaked on, so I'm curious what your take on the character is!)

My opinion is that the creators had no idea what his role was. He started as an intriguing, enigmatic villain who acted as a nice foil for Jack. That was all forgotten by the finale when they decided to make Jack's wet brother the "surprise" villain. *Yawn* It's always a shame when the interesting villain is dropped because the makers want a "twist." They wasted James Marsters.

4) Which is your favorite Doctor and why?
Sylvester McCoy. It's a tough choice between him and Tom Baker, but my heart belongs to Seasons 25 & 26. That was my Golden Age of Doctor Who. McCoy brought a darkness and ambiguity to the role that I still adore. Also, Tom Baker is kind of a jackass. Sylv is a wonderful person in real life.

5) Tell me about an SF/F book or movie that you think is completely overrated and why.

I hate The Matrix. The dialog is terrible, Reeves can't act, all of the potential is thrown away to create senseless action scenes, and the ideas are only "deep" to stoned college freshmen who have had a semester of philosophy. It's slick, glossy crap. I'm very happy that its star fell after the sequels.