Voicemail: Dan Dan asks for recommendations on books that have been instrumental in helping aspiring writers improve their craft;
And yes, Stackpole compared writing to sex — you can’t get better at it unless you do it yourself.
Interview: This week, Mike and Mike talk with GRRM about the anthology Warriors, about how much fun he has with fiction anthologies, and his hopes for more core genre anthologies.
George also talks about the latest updates on his “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, including the progress on A Dance with Dragons, how his working pace contrasts with the impatience of his more ravenous fans, the development of the series on HBO and his gratitude about the show being done by HBO, and more.
Feedback Wanted: What do you think about submitting writing related questions to “Cover to Cover”? What do you think about having authors read chapters as part of the show? Call in or email in with your thoughts!
Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know!
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Promo: Romy Nelson’s “Ingredients for Life”
Love your shows and GRRM! Downloading now, can’t wait to listen, Thank you! 🙂
“The chicken was stupid.” – Arya Stark
Btw, if you want an alternative view on The Elements of Style, read here:
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2235
Linguist Geoffry Pullum absolutely hates Strunk and White, and has the credentials to explain why 🙂
Really enjoyed the podcast; posted a link to my own blog. Keep up the good work!
Can’t wait to listen to this. Probably tomorrow.
Is there a text transcript of the interview available anywhere? I can’t stand listening to audio.
Thanks for this Cover To Cover interview of George R.R. Martin. I love his work and found your page through his link to the interview. I didn’t notice any problems with the interview feed. It loaded immediately and it was very clear. Also kudos to you for making this free.
My husband had been trying to get me to read fantasy for years but I always refused. This last time we made a bet and I lost and he said I had to read Gearge R R Martins series. Wow I am so glad I lost that bet. He is an amazing writer and pulls things together so beautifully. This interview made me feel guilty when he talks about the racks in the store he used to buy his books and how segregated our book stores are now and I knew he was talking to me. I am so glad I read these books. I am very excited for A DANCE WITH DRAGONS. Thanks for converting me Mr. Martin you are an amazing man and I am going to be a life long fan.
I made my husband an agreement. He would read a book from the Diana Gabaldon series that I LOVE, and I would read a book from the George R.R. Martin series… Like Amber, my husband has been trying to get me to read fantasy as well, but I had a hard time believing that I could get engrossed in a fantasy book as much as I like to get engrossed in the books I read. I WAS SO WRONG!
Please hurry… I need to know what word Brienne screamed! And did it change her situation!? Many other questions I have, but I don’t want to spoil anything…
Amber… we should exchange reading lists… haha
Great interview guys! Thanks!
Side note, I love the Elements of Style as a technical writer: write clearly, simply, and briefly.
Thanks guys for your great answer to my question. I just picked up “I Am Not A Serial Killer by Tor author Dan Wells, and I’m going to go through it as suggested, writing down notes for a minute or two after I finish each chapter, then go back and find out why I liked those things. I think this is such a great technique because I was planning on reading it once for fun, then once to study it, but this way I can read it for fun, briefly makes notes, then go back and study what I liked; saving me the time of two reads. Thanks Mike!