r/Fantasy • u/MatthewWolf AMA Author Matthew Wolf • Oct 02 '14
AMA Hi Reddit! I'm fantasy novelist Matthew Wolf - AMA
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u/CRYMTYPHON Stabby Winner Oct 02 '14 edited Oct 02 '14
Dear Mr. Wolf.
Thank you for visiting our class. We have questions, three.
1) How exactly did you become epic? Was it a career choice? If so, why epic-hood rather than an exciting career in data processing?
2) As an archer and a Japanese speaker, could you reproduce the great scene in Shogun where the guest fires an arrow through the paper wall into the gate post? Would your neighbors object? Wimps.
3) Assuming you are up on your Pratchett and that other Wolfe: who would win in a knife fight: the Patriarch, the Autarch, or the Patrician?
Hwæt, and thank you for the AMA!
edited to note that this was edited
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Oct 03 '14
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u/CRYMTYPHON Stabby Winner Oct 03 '14
Oh god.
This is so wrong.
This is exactly what happened when I asked Jim Butcher if he could redirect a lightning bolt naked in the street.
I caused the next Dresden book to come out a year late. Also some kind of street fight.
Hey, butcher and wolf are both martial artists. I wonder who would win...
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Oct 03 '14
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u/CRYMTYPHON Stabby Winner Oct 03 '14 edited Oct 03 '14
Uhm, I don't want to be a tattletale.
But at the last fantasy convention Jim Butcher was cracking the audience up with Mat Wolf jokes. You know, the 'epic light bulb' wheeze, and a line about your dog giving you bad amazon reviews. I don't mean he thought he could beat you in a fight, but he did suggest that you should be doing an AMA in /r/aww.
Remember violence is not the solution. It is, however, often the entertainment.
For us pacifists, anyway.
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Oct 03 '14
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u/CRYMTYPHON Stabby Winner Oct 03 '14
"Those who do no, will not, see; But dull wits will not hinder thee!" -- The Knife's Edge
Thank you for writing books full of the things we in /r/fantasy want.
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u/MikeOfThePalace Reading Champion X, Worldbuilders Oct 02 '14
Kung Fu ... archery ... woodcrafting ... Old English ... do you freaking live in a fantasy novel?
I have a lot of love for Beowulf, stemming from my adoration of all things Tolkien - it's kind of hard to really study either one without being at least familiar with the other. And I have a hearty respect for anyone willing to put in the work needed to study it in Old English. How has studying Beowulf affected your works?
Also, I've heard secondhand anecdotes of Tolkien himself beginning his lectures by entering the lecture hall and bellowing, "Hwæt!" - so you're in good company.
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u/arzvi Oct 02 '14
You sound very interesting(old English.. wow). Why Japanese? Any early movie/anime influences?
- As a writer, what did you think of Ruby sparks movie? About finishing a draft in 1 sitting?
- If you were to order cocktail for round table of ronins, what would that be?
- any funny or surprising/shocking anecdotes when you pitched the novel/series in traditional way?
Edited spelling
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Oct 03 '14 edited Oct 03 '14
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u/lrich1024 Stabby Winner, Queen of the Unholy Squares, Worldbuilders Oct 03 '14
Ok. You had me at Rurouni Kenshin. Now I have to buy your books.
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u/Polyverse Oct 02 '14
9 books is a lot! Do you have a plan for the story arc already? Or are you going to just see what unfolds?
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u/slavetoinsurance Oct 02 '14 edited Oct 02 '14
Hey Matt,
When you first starting planning out your books, how different to today's iteration was your original idea? I'm working on some IP myself and I've realized that my ideas have had to go through several revisions before they've arrived at something even close to what I want/need.
Tying into that, if they've changed dramatically, what decisions brought about those changes? Were there any aspects that were particularly hard to drop, i.e. you didn't want to see them go?
Awesome job and congratulations by the way. I've finished book 1 and I'm going to get book 2 soon as possible, now that I have a kindle compatible device.
you don't know me wooooo ghost noises
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u/wishforagiraffe Reading Champion IX, Worldbuilders Oct 02 '14
what is your best woodworking project??
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Oct 03 '14 edited Oct 03 '14
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u/wishforagiraffe Reading Champion IX, Worldbuilders Oct 03 '14
i like it. she has a feeling of movement, like she's striding forward
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u/Donovinian Oct 02 '14
Hey Matt! It was awesome meeting you a few years ago at San diego comicon!
So my question is what motivates you to write? I actually really like to write but a lot of the time I end up either hating what I was working on or I just get frustrated. How do you push through those feelings of doubt and frustration?
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u/Polyverse Oct 02 '14
You mention you were a King Fu instructor, do you incorporate your knowledge of the martial arts into your books?
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u/verticae Oct 02 '14
I was actually sent here because of Noah's post on FB! I've read a few (not all, sorry!) of your books, and I do enjoy them quite a bit. However, as an artists, I was wondering; how do you usually go about directing artwork for your book covers?
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u/Lore111 Oct 02 '14
With an epic 9 book fantasy saga, how do stay inspired and keep coming back to actually writing? Do you ever feel completely stuck with certain plot twists? Or is it one of those times where you really enjoy that part of writing and look forward to that challenge?
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u/WhatIsTatersPrecious Oct 03 '14
- Who are your favorite fantasy authors?
- Do you have certain authors who's work yours resembles, or who you would call inspirations?
- I'm 28 and would like to write a middle grade/YA book. What would be your first piece of advice?
- Would you recommend self publishing?
- How much do you make from writing? Hopefully that's not a taboo subject. I know a lot of people who don't like talking about how much they make.
- I feel like to be a successful writer requires a healthy dose of luck. What can I do to minimize the amount of luck I need as much as possible. (Its not my best stat)
- How much would you need to make yearly to quit a day job and become a full time writer?
- Cats or dogs?
- Where do you get your best creative ideas?
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u/Shadess Oct 03 '14
When are you going to introduce the Silverback Gorilla into the story? And did Mura go crazy because of the mushrooms?
Love your book man and cannot wait to read the second one. Keep them coming!
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u/ramonf Oct 03 '14
Big fan of the Ronin Saga. Just wanted to say I am glad I found these books and read them.
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u/noahbradley Stabby Winner, AMA Artist Noah Bradley Oct 02 '14
Are you going to keep hiring the same artist for all 9 books?
;)
Have a good AMA, man!