Anyone here follow Hello Future Me?

[cmdrnemo]

I'm going to put the video behind a cut. It's a 57 minute interview with Paolini. I got through about 12 minutes.

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[ultimate_cheetah]

I got through about 12 minutes.

You poor thing. How did you suffer that long?

[minionnumber2]

Oh hey, there's a part on the harshest criticism he received. He says it was based on his age and lack of experience. He also addresses the idea that his book is an "archetype" of classic fantasy and that he meant to do it. That Eragon was his practice book and that To Sleep is his ~real~ book. Considering how much he's borrowing from sci-fi "archetypes", I have a feeling he's learned the wrong lessons from his highly successful test book.

[ssbob90]

I subscribed and bought his book

[epistler]

You gotta love the comment saying Paolini's "not full of himself". What planet are you living on, mister? Maybe he's gotten a bit better at hiding it, but trust me - the ridiculous ego is very much still there.

[uueiaa]

I enjoy the way the thumbnail for the video arranged the books in a way that make the non-Saphira dragons on the covers look vaguely resentful and offended to be featured.

Someone had Paolini's number on that one.

[silverskyfeather]

oh wow. this is... something. Actually, I think I'll make a transcription, since it's so hard to listen to. Give me... give me a couple days.

Edit: Part 1 (0 - 22 minutes) is up!

[cmdrnemo]

nifty, thanks. Did you mean to post that to your own journal instead of the community page? I did like the way CP describes himself as a "professional author" twice in the first 10 minutes.

[silverskyfeather]

I did intend to put it on my page. I figured it isn't on-topic enough to post it to the community page, but I will if you think it would be better there.

He says supernatural horror is fantasy, and I'm not sure he knows what themes actually are. He describes themes like it's the plot at one point?? he says titles should be the essence of the story, but he says he came up with the title for TSiaSoS before he even starting writing, so who knows? Although, new record, it took 23 minutes for a "No Comment"... it was about if he would reference Doctor Who in his new book. :/

[edward9]

Thanks for posting the video. Paolini says the worst criticism he received was for being a young writer and says it was hard to take because there is nothing he could do about it. This is an infuriating claim. No one criticized him for being a young writer. The criticism is either for writing like a beginning author or tacking complex topics with the understanding and insight of a teenager (little to none). In either case there is a lot he could have done. The most obvious is rewrites. Snarkbot Arya mentioned his final battle in Eragon was done quite a bit better than the rest of his writing most likely because he spent the most time on it. Had he been interested in writing a good story rather than just publishing his first manuscript he could have made the book quite a bit better with no other changes. Once he was professionally published he could have listened to his editor which would have helped in all areas. Avoiding topics he lacks the emotional maturity to tackle would be another good choice.

His harshest criticism as he describes it is for being young. Rather than maturely and humbly pick something he wished he had done better or subsequently learned he chooses to cast himself as the victim being unfairly criticized for something beyond his control. He may be married, bearded and pushing 40 but he is still an immature writer in all senses of the word and contrary to his claim that is his choice as he refuses to do anything about it.