The Fantasy Authors Handbook Interviews Ix Brendan Deneen

THE FANTASY AUTHOR’S HANDBOOK INTERVIEWS IX: BRENDAN DENEEN As part of the method of writing The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction, I interviewed a few key gamers in the SF/fantasy neighborhood. Their wisdom and generosity is liberally sprinkled throughout the book, but I couldn’t use each wordâ€"and wanted to do some comply with-ups. What follows is an expanded interview with former film studio govt, former agent, and present editor Brendan Deneen. Brendan Deneen I first encountered Brendan Deneen when he inquired in regards to the film rights to a novel I’d revealed for the now defunct Wizards of the Coast Discoveries imprint. At the time he was working with the Weinstein Company. Not long after that, he moved on, ultimately becoming a member of FinePrint Literary Management, and finally settling as an editor for Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of venerable New York writer St. Martin’s/Macmillan. Brendan’s distinctive tackle the enterprise of fiction spanning from film and television to all three of the agent, editor, and au thor sides of the publishing business was a welcome addition to the e-book, and he’s received extra to say here . . . Philip Athans: Define “science fiction” in 25 words or much less. Brendan Deneen: A work of fiction that takes existing expertise and extrapolates the concept, whether or not prior to now, current or future. Athans: Define “fantasy” in 25 phrases or less. Deneen: A work of fiction that takes a generally-known fable and/or creates new myths and overlaps an journey story over these ideas. Athans: What is the commonest mistake that inexperienced authors make of their professional lives? Deneen: Arrogance. Self-confidence is a good trait however certain “new” authors act as if they’re already best-promoting authors with the angle to match. A dose of humility and plenty of good humor goes a long, long way on this business. Athans: Where do you see this vanity manifest? Online and in social networking circles? Conventions? Communication with editors, advert ising workers, brokers, and other professional relationships? All of the above? Deneen: I think the arrogance goes back to the creator him/herself. It’s normally someone who’s conceited about all aspects of their life. It’s the quickest method to get ignored in publishing and Hollywood. And sure, all the above. It’s shocking to witness sometimes. Scatterbrain Athans: In your opinion, what's the principal distinction in strategy between novels written for a mainstream or “grownup” audience and the expanding “teen” market? Deneen: It’s a extremely fantastic line these days. YA novels are sometimes as subtle as mainstream/”adult” novels. I guess the difference is that a great YA novel needs to appeal to adults while an excellent grownup novel doesn’t essentially have to attraction to the YA crowd. Athans: What is the one e-book on the artwork and craft of writing that you'd most recommend? Deneen: Every single guide ever written. Or, to be precise, every writerâ €™s job must be to learn as much as possible. If you have free time and you’re not reading, you’re doing one thing mistaken. Athans: When you’re reading a manuscript from a new creator, is it a constructive or negative if the novel is forged as first in a trilogy or ongoing sequence? Deneen: It’s a negative nowadays. Editors want a full one-and-carried out story, and so they wish to be those to resolve if it ought to be a series. Athans: Has your reply to this query changed at all now that you simply’ve gone from agent to editor? Deneen: Yes! I’m finding that we wish series and multi-e-book offers more often than I suspected, particularly for younger adult material. It’s pretty exciting! Flash Gordon Athans: Do you read critiques of novels you’ve represented? Have you found any evaluate to be significantly helpful or destructive? Do you encourage the authors you're employed with to learn evaluations? Deneen: I read all evaluations, if possible. The optimistic evaluat ions are very useful once I turn round and attempt to promote the e-book for film or TV. And sure, authors should completely read the evaluations. It’s a good exercise in humility and also makes them perceive totally different factors of view on their materials. Athans: Is it extra important to have an agent within the Hollywood sphere than in publishing? Do authors need two agentsâ€"one in Hollywood and one in New York? Deneen: Well, I’m biased about this because I was one of the only agents who represented for each publishing and film. Generally, you want two agents to do the 2 issues, but there are a small number of us that do both. However, it’s most essential (today) to have a great publishing agent. If you write a fantastic novel and get it printed, the movie community will find you. Athans: Does having a broadcast novel under your belt help a writer promote a script in the closed world of film and tv? How a lot cross-over is there between media? Deneen: It helps slightl y bit, however not a lot. Hollywood doesn’t actually care about novelists, in terms of screenwriting. If you happen to also be a talented screenwriter, that’s a unique story, but the worlds are fairly separate. If you have a good agent and a lot of curiosity in your guide, you may have the ability to negotiate the first draft (or so) of the adaptation. Outlander Athans: What is the biggest distinction between having your novel published and promoting a screenplay? Deneen: If you sell your novel, there is a very, excellent chance it's going to really be revealed. If your screenplay is optioned, there’s still a reasonably small chance it's going to truly get made. Athans: Give me some common phrases of warning for the aspiring fantasy creator. Deneen: Read every fantasy novel ever revealed. And then do something completely different, even if it uses some acquainted tropes. Athans: In just the quick time I’ve known you, you’ve gone from film exec to agent to editor, writing y our own stuff alongside the best way. Assuming all of those occupations have their own distinctive challenges, from a career standpoint, which was the toughest, and which essentially the most rewarding? Deneen: I assume being an agent was the toughest. It’s a profession where you’re residing from deal to deal, and that’s plenty of stress. Don’t get me incorrect, I completely liked it and I closed lots of offers. As for the most rewarding, I know that is going to sound lame, however each incarnation has been hugely rewarding. Seeing a film or e-book with your name in it's amazing. Maybe seeing my name on a Flash Gordon comedian guide has been probably the most rewarding, but I truthfully have liked every incarnation of my career. Athans: What are you engaged on now, and what’s just come out or is popping out within the near future that you simply’re notably proud of? Deneen: I inherited a bunch of actually cool titles here at Thomas Dunne Books, and I’ve acquired a few half dozen books that I’m actually stoked about. One of my books has a really cool history. When I was an exec at Dimension Films, I personally optioned (together with my assistant, Vince Mitchell) a horror quick story referred to as “Vacation” by Matt Costello. We adapted it and received near setting it up but it by no means fairly happened. Then, after I grew to become an editor, I approached Matt about him writing a novel primarily based on our screenplay, which was in flip based on his brief story. And we’re publishing it next Halloween! How cool is that?! That’s pretty cool! Thanks, Brendan. â€"Philip Athans About Philip Athans Fill in your particulars beneath or click an icon to log in: You are commenting utilizing your WordPress.com account. (Log Out/ Change) You are commenting using your Google account. (Log Out/ Change) You are commenting using your Twitter account. (Log Out/ Change) You are commenting using your Facebook account. (Log Out/ Change) Connecting to %s Notify me of latest feedback through email. Notify me of recent posts via e mail. Enter your e mail handle to subscribe to Fantasy Author's Handbook and obtain notifications of recent posts by e mail. Join four,779 other followers Sign me up! RSS - Posts RSS - Comments