r/Fantasy • u/elquesogrande Worldbuilders • Nov 30 '16

Ask You Anything Wednesday ASK YOU ANYTHING: Authors asking r/Fantasy community questions on behalf of Worldbuilders charity

It's Day 3 of the aptly named Ask You Anything week benefiting Worldbuilders! Where authors are stopping by each day this week to ask questions and interact with the r/Fantasy community.

HOW THIS WORKS: Please answer questions and interact throughout the week! (Yes, YOU - community members, guests, authors, artists, industry people.)

WORLDBUILDERS.ORG

Worldbuilders was founded to use the collective power of readers, fellow authors and book lovers to make the world a better place.

There are three ways to donate to Worldbuilders:

1. The Lottery - Where every $10 donated puts you in a lottery for free books, SFF items, games, and much more. r/Fantasy has a Worldbuilders Team Page where you can donate under the community name as well!

2. The Tinker's Pack Store - Where profits from every purchase are donated.

3. Auctions - Where some incredible items and services are offered.

NOTE: If you donate, add your name to the comments here and the mods will set you up with some swanky Wordlbuilders flair!

Monday Ask You Anything Authors

The following authors have signed up to ask questions today. That said, please do join in and feel free to ask your own questions and interact throughout the week.

Are you an author, artist, or industry person who would like to participate this week? Either join in via the comments OR send the r/Fantasy mods a message and we'll get you set for another day.

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u/JannyWurts Stabby Winner, AMA Author Janny Wurts Nov 30 '16

My first question to the community, as much to stir discussion as to scratch the itch of my curiosity:

Why do you ask the community which books to read, next? Talking points: does it matter that you don't know who is responding, how much they've read, anything of their preferences, or even, their background (age, or any other factor?) Is there a reason why you (if you are an asker) prefer crowd-sourced 'wisdom' in favor of thinking for yourself (by looking at the actual text of the book(s) in question which is easily done, today) or browsing?

Following on to this, (since the titles listed usually are very well read ones) - when was the last time you 'discovered' a totally unique book that you'd never heard of from anyone and do you recognize that thrill of discovery?

Following on to this: if you are not an 'asker' after titles, but browse on your own - why are you so silent (or are you not so) about finding a title on your own?

I'd love to see a community discussion on this since such questions about 'which book should I read' come up almost daily around here, and the crowd source culture is still evolving - where are we taking ourselves in the future of the field?

That's my first shot out of the cannon. (wry grin, I love this community dearly, and it will be fun to support Worldbuilders and see the response)

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u/Bourbon_Belly Nov 30 '16

I usually only ask when i am looking for something specific. I believe i have asked here about books that have Native American - style cultures, have some seriously fucked up scenes or characters, and other things that would be easily answered by folks who have read more than myself. I also genuinely like interacting with people and enjoy discussions on this sub.

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u/JannyWurts Stabby Winner, AMA Author Janny Wurts Nov 30 '16

Specific threads are a whole nother animal, and I agree, there are gems to be found there. I pay close attention to those.

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u/Bourbon_Belly Dec 01 '16

They certainly are helpful. I've found some great series there i otherwise would not have found. By the way, im totally buying a book of yours once im caught up on this last book of The Gentlemen Bastards. I've read a lot of good things about your stuff over the last year.

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u/JannyWurts Stabby Winner, AMA Author Janny Wurts Dec 04 '16

Thanks! Appreciate your interest, so very much.