Thanksgiving

(Apologies for the late post. I'm migrating to Blogger Beta and it's taking longer than expected. Also if there are technical difficulties/missing posts, I hope they will be fixed shortly.)

Every year I have more to be grateful for. This year was no exception. I’ve been blessed with a happy and healthy family. I’ve gotten to work on some amazing novels, graphic novels, video games, and scripts. And this year, I decided to come out of my hermitage, start this blog, and make contact with old and new friends, readers, and fellow writers.

It’s been an overwhelmingly positive experience to meet all of you.

As a writer, I know that my books have sold (and theoretically been read), but to actually converse with those that are reading what I have written...it’s been a humbling and uplifting thing.

My warmest thanks to everyone.
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OXM Podcast

Frank O’Connor and myself are featured in the latest podcast from Official Xbox Magazine. Ryan McCaffrey and Dan Emerick discuss with us all of this week's Halo news and then some.

Go listen!
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To Outline or Not

Back to talking about writing....

Outlining is a hotly debated topic among writers (and the mostly likely to incite a fist fight). Here’s my take on it. There are two types of novelists (a gross generalization, but stick with me).

First are people who rarely, if ever, outline before they write. They may or may not even know how their story ends. These free sprits let their muses and spontaneity guide them.

Advantages of working WITHOUT an outline.
Your writing is a journey of (self) discovery.
Ultimate freedom.
Less preparation.

Disadvantages:
Blind PANIC that you don’t know where your novel is going.
A mess of a first draft.
No marketing tool for your finished novel.

Next are those who use a more craftsmen-like approach. They outline, they know much (if not everything) about their story before they write the first word.

Advantages working WITH an outline:
Story is already plotted out (one less worry for you).
Cleaner first draft.
You have a marketing tool to sell your novel.

Disadvantages:
Less spontaneity and art in your daily writing.
Upfront investment of work and time.

I believe that many writers’ brains are wired to preferentially work one way or the other.

I find, however, that the overwhelming majority of beginning writers do NOT outline. It’s hard work and no one likes hard work. Many stop around page 50 wondering what to do next--or worse, finish their novel and read through it and wonder why all the plot threads are a tangled mess.

If you’re a beginning writer, you owe it to yourself to try it and see if outlining works for you (likewise, if you're an outliner you should try working without a net). There are many famous, successful, and hip authors in both camps. I am an outliner, and therefore biased, but even if you don’t/can’t/won’t outline—you will have to write one eventually anyway.

Why? Because your agent/editor/publicist is going to ask for one.

I’ll talk more about this next time.

Happy and Grateful

It has been one heck of a week!

GEARS OF WAR released (amazing reviews--and yes it does live up to the hype--nice job EPIC!), my birthday is this weekend...and the preliminary sales figures are in on GHOSTS.

HALO: GHOSTS OF ONYX will debut at #13 on the NEW YORK TIMES paperback bestsellers list, joining the literati cast of James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Robert Ludlum, and Janet Evanovich (for the week of 11/19 in the NYT Book Review).

It also will be #2 on the Barnes and Noble Bestsellers list next week; I am waiting for confirmation on the Publisher’s Weekly list (it’s either #2 or #6), and #24 on the USA Today list (combined hard/softcover, fiction/non-fiction).

It’s still being researched, but this may be the first time a novel based on a video game has hit the NYT printed bestsellers list. (!?)

A few more details and a mini interview is up on the current Bungie.net weekly update.

I’m grateful to everyone who has read my novels. You have my sincere thanks.

A writer couldn’t ask for (or get) a better birthday gift!

Quick Fix!

Many of you have sent email indicating that there were a few typos in GHOSTS OF ONYX. I’m not sure how this happened as there were two copyeditors on the project, but all I could offer before today was my apologies and add my frustration to yours.

This morning I got an email from Eric Raab (editor at TOR books) indicating that they are doing a rush reprint because the book is selling out!

I’m not asking anyone to spend any time editing, but several people have indicated they have already flagged errors and omissions in the text. If you have a chance before the end of the day, I would appreciate it if you could send me an email or post in the comments sections here.

Thanks to everyone.

Newsletter

I’ve removed the “Upcoming Events” from the side menu.

I haven’t scheduled any events lately because my calendar is jammed packed. If I get a chance to do a quick book signing or convention I’ll announce it directly on the blog.

I have added a “Newsletter” category in its place. Click on the new link for details if you’re interested. Thanks.

Next HALO Novel?

First, thanks for all the positive fan email for GHOSTS. You may notice my replies getting short as I am overwhelmed by the volume of it. My apologies.

Many people have asked if I’m writing the next HALO novel, what it’s about, and when it is coming out.

Yes, it is true that TOR and Bungie have two more HALO novels planned. As you can guess, however, the details about who is writing them, what they are about, and when they’ll be published is entirely up to Bungie to release the public. Thanks for understanding.

GHOSTS Video Interview

I have mixed feelings about this as it was shot from a weird angle that makes me look...well, see for yourself.

(Warning: minor spoilers)

Expanded Books Video Interview
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