I Want to Write a HALO Novel
You wouldn’t believe how many emails I get every week from people asking how to get their own HALO novel (or one they plan to write) published.Usually I carefully explain the facts and let them down easy, but this time a young man has sent me emails—with increasing tones of desperation—with a return email address that my bounces my replies. So I’ll explain it here, and hopefully he will see this (or at least, I can point future queries to this post (despite the fact it’s already in my FAQ)).
D.S. writes (paraphrased):
“I would like to propose a
And then in a follow up email (more paraphrasing...):
“I would like to get into contact with Bungie to get it approved so that i wont get sued. I couldnt think of any other person who would be able to help me with this except for you. I really admire your work and expertise. Please help me.”
Most of these requests come from freshmen in high school (some even younger) who are trying to do the right thing and figure how to write and get published. If you comment here, I ask that you be very polite.
Okay. So let’s take this item by item.
First, I don’t have time to help anyone write a novel. I have a family, a full-time job, and several writing projects of my own already under contract. This leaves me zero free time to work with anyone else.
I try to dispense what little writing advice I have time and energy for on my blog. There’s a search field at the top of the blog page. Also every entry is “tagged” so if you see a blog with the label “writing advice” or “writing business” you can click on that tag and get a list of every blog entry on those subjects.
Second, for every HALO novel published so far, either Bungie or Microsoft’s Licensing team has approached established professional writers of their choosing for the project. It is unlikely that an unproven writer would be considered.
Microsoft also has to pick the right story that supports (or at least does not interfere with) any potential future HALO project they might be working on (and note, I’m not confirming or denying that they are!).
If you still want to try to get your novel published, I suggest contacting Microsoft’s current HALO publisher, TOR books. Please look over their FAQ for their submission guidelines.
Again the odds are long because it’s usually Microsoft who contacts TOR to find an author—not the other way around...but you never know.
Third, the young man in question is correct to seek clarification on this process and the copyright issues. You cannot publish a HALO novel without permission from the copyright holder (Microsoft in this case). Doing so is a violation of copyright law and Microsoft will vigorously protect its intellectual property. (I’m talking about published works—not fan fiction. Fan fic is a hotly debated legal quagmire that I’m NOT getting into here).
Last point: It’s gratifying that so many people like the HALO novels and want to try to write their own. It’s natural for beginning writers to imitate either the style or setting of works they like. It’s a good way to learn. I started out imitating Roger Zelazny (although not as good).
Don’t be discouraged, D.S. Just write. Learn. Make your own stories!
Good Luck.
Labels: email, Halo, Writing advice, Writing business
posted by Eric Nylund at 5:06 AM
32 Comments:
Halo is an awesome series, and i understand why people would like to write it. But fan fiction doesn't work for me. I tried to write a Buffy the vampire slayer fan fiction on the web, and some guy told me it was copy right and I shouldn't be doing that. And its never ever ever ever ever going to get published, and I said it was fan fiction. No one else on that website was being told that for writing fan fiction. it's not like they have to pay to read my story.
That was alot I said. I'm going to shut up now...
see you later.
I constantly admire how you handle all that your fans throw at you. Posts like this make me proud to be your fan and glad that I'm not wasting what limited fan capabilities I possess on a raving jerk.
Schools hard enough, but a full time job, writing, a family, your blog, emails. That seems impossible.
Is there more hours in a day over in Washington? There must be.
I agree with Nikoda's comment, as a fellow relatively insane fan. I mean I sometimes read people's insane ideas or expectations of licenses and things online and roll my eyes and I'm sure I don't see one eighth of what you see as far as e-mails and things like that. And you're always the epitome of kindness and grace. For that I thank you, and I'm sure the rest of your faithful followers thank you too.
Hey Eric,
You know I'm not someone who fixates on your Halo-side. However, I'd like to think we're pretty good amigos at this point and I'm dying to know...
How pumped are you that they're making a video game based on YOUR story? How long did you have to keep that tasty morsel of a secret from your four most loyal fans? (aka Nikoda, Dangerous, myself and newcomer Daokta)
I'm a loyal fan.
Woo Hoo!!!!!!
Thanks, Nikoda, Dave, and Dakota. I appreciate all the kind words.
Dakota—there aren’t extra hours over here in the Pacific Northwest (although one might argue there seems to be during the summer when it stay light until 10 PM). No, alas, I have to trim the extra hours out of my sleep to get everything done.
Nikoda, Dave—actually the overwhelming majority of letters, emails and comments by my readers are positive. I consider myself extraordinarily fortunate.
DZ—I got over a hundred emails the day they announced HALO: REACH at e3—and I had to quote them all the same thing: according to Microsoft policy, I can’t comment on any aspect of any game while it is in development.
It’s a bummer, but I’d like to keep my job :)
Sorry I haven’t been posting more lately. Head down editing. Done soon.
-E
Hey Eric im just wondering. Will, or are u going to work on a next Halo book. Because you left it open perfectly to make a sequel fo Ghosts of Onyx, just like you did in First Strike to make Ghost of Onyx. Now I know you probably get this a lot but im just wondering
Thanks for listening to me
David Peterson
David,
RE: me writing more HALO books--especially a follow up to GHOSTS. I’d love to, but it’s up to Microsoft Licensing. They pick the authors, approve the content, and decide when the books get released. At this point, I know as much as you do. I guess we'll both have to wait and see.
I hope you get to write more Halo books. That would be awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a question on a related note that you might be able to answer. Do you know how the Microsoft publishing process works with screenplays as opposed to novels? Or has that ever come up with them?
Thanks!
Very nice response, Eric
Jordon – for screenplays probably a similar process as novels...only more so, since more money and effort would be involved with any potential move deal. Again, it is highly likely that MS would choose an pro screenwriter with a track record (as would any Hollywood movie partner investing serious money) for any project they would chose to pursue.
It’s the Catch-22 of writers trying to break into any field: publishers want to work with people with experience...but how do you get that experience if no one will work with you?!
I should write a blog post about that one day...
Stu—thanks, man. Looking forward to seeing you guys end of July!
I’m on the second and final read thru/edit pass of ALL THAT LIVES MUST DIE. Will post about that soon.
Haha, I wasn't looking for any comment on your level of involvement, I was just curious of your.... emotional state in regards to the project? :)
I just finished re-reading the ARC of Mortal Coils you sent me and something caught my attention. Page 311, Dreaming Families? Seco County, New Mexico? Scalagaris of Sicily? Are you trying to tell me your other books are in the same universe? Talk about your Easter Eggs. :)
Thanks for not writing that in a way that didn't discourage people first off. Most people would usually write something in a way which implys anger or disgust.
I love the halo series just as any fan boy, yeah I'd like to make some fan fiction too.
I hope you keep up the great work.
An as a request could you possibly add more detail to gore in the books?
DZ—glad you noticed those. Yeah, it does all take place in the same world (well—maybe not the SIGNAL books). Dreaming families make cameos in the next book. More on the Scalagari, too.
LK—Thanks. Unfortunately I see a lot of not-so-successful writers make themselves feel better by making others feel _worse_ about their writing. It’s human nature, but it’s a terrible thing, because a) it’s bad karma, and b) doesn’t really address improving one’s own writing.
Request about more gore is noted. I’ll think about it...but I have to balance that against a readership that I know contains a lot of younger adults.
Yeah, making fun of someones writing is very bad Karma. If I made fun of someones writing, they would probably throw their computer at me. (LAUGHS)
And if some made fun of my writing, they would just keep rubbing it in my face.
And I think the Halo books have the perfect ammount of gore and blood in them. But thats just me.
:^)
About that adding more gore Lil Kenny, why would you want more? What would more gore add to the book?
More detail, more words to the book, Stephen King style, I don't know.
Because detail in gore intrigues me, and that i have not seen such limits of gore passed. Most of the time i can only find books with mild gore. For my own writings, i haven't found a real solid good story yet. But i do have gruesome battle sequences that will intrigue many. But it is only a request.
I would have to disagree. Eric has come a long way. Books have set length requirements and Eric has always balanced his character development with action seqeunces flawlessly.
Gore isn't needed in halo, it's never been an intimate part of the series. It's always been about relationships between characters. I.e. cortana chief, sarge-guilty, keys-hood. Arbiter-that white elite.
Besides didn't a spartan lose his arm. That's pretty graphic. I think the books parody great sci-fi's like enders game, martian chronicles, amber seriies... all focus on setting and development.
If you want gore, read gears of war, starship troopers. Otherwise, don't fix what isn't broken.
Whoops, not parody. Meant parallel. Silly cell phone and its auto-complete.
Keep rocking Eric.
That understandable. Its just a suggestion. The only reason i read the books, is for the plot itself. An the 2nd and 3rd Halo games. The first Ender's Game was great the direct sequel was some what disappointing. The Halo plot itself is intriguing. Either way the books are perfect. The Cole Protocol disappointed me.
I like the plot for the FALL OF REACH, starting out taking John into training and training him to be a freaking good Spartan.
Blowing a Spartans off isn't all that graphic, you never know if that spartan was a store maniquin (or however you spell it.)But if he was real, then it suuuuurrreee was graphic.
This might not be gory to you guys. But CIRQUE DU FREAK is pretty gory in my point of view. Almost done with the last book.:^)
Yeah, I was just wondering. Thanks for the response. Or however you spell it.
Mickey: Were u talking to me? If u were, then you're welcome.
:^)
This story sounds vaguely familiar, 3 years later and with an exceptionally larger amount of desperation.
I remember back then, I spoke to everyone else, and came to Eric last. I spoke with TOR, who said they liked my manuscript. I spoke with my agent, who turned out to be a douchebag who was avoiding me when he heard the answer, just like TOR did later on. I tried every single person I could, every different angle I could take, and more.
Then I emailed Eric. You may remember, since I was undoubtedly the first (this was, for those who don't know, before Halo 3's release, and before Ghosts of Onyx was released, and a project, at the time, a year and a half and a significant amount of money put into it. Eric was the third party with connections, who had no reason to avoid me other than being an annoying pest, something I hope I was not. And within 48 hours, he gave me the answer to my question, something everyone else withheld from me for whatever reason.
So I can understand that someone wants to put in their own work to the Halo universe, perhaps better than anyone else. I may in fact be the closest person to ever accomplish that goal, since in fact Microsoft and TOR both responded to me, either directly or indirectly. And yes, it sucks. But it was also the best thing that ever happened to me. Knowing that I was a good enough writer to, in fact, write, got me my first journalism gig, and every subsequent job after. Whether I succeeded or failed in publishing the book didn't really matter, because I learned how to write, how to edit, and what goes into making a full-fledged story and a book. My "fan fiction" was the only thing that got me into writing.
So, D.S., forget publishing. It won't happen, even if Eric printed your novel on gold paper, using platinum ink. Instead, take that ambition, and the knowledge that you can actually write an entire novel on your own, and do whatever you want. It's hard, because then you've got to come up with your own story, your own universe, and your own characters, but the world is yours to create. That freedom is well worth the price, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Hi, this is my first comment, so don't bite my head off if I'm a bit slow at getting used to this. I'm not really a big supporter of fan-fic but I do believe that it it's all right for people to be a part of a universe they love.
As you were saying, Bungie or Microsoft come to you for a book idea, not the other way around, although in some cases yes it does. Anyway, you've done all the Halo books, except The Flood, Contact Harvest and Cole Protocole. Keep with me here. They got William Dietz to write the Flood, a book adaption of the first game. Then you came back and done First Strike, set between the first and second games. The next one released was Ghosts of Onyx, which was of a totally different stoyline away from the main trilogy. So, what I'm getting at here is why haven't they made a book adaption of Halo 2 or Halo 3? People would buy it, people who haven't played the games but like a good sci-fi book will get it, plus it adds to the pot of gold that Bungie and Microsoft have gotten with the Halo franchise. Please reply to me if you've got an answer to this question.
Cheers.
DK743—I really don’t have an answer for you on why there is no novelization on the HALO 2 and 3 games. It’s up to the HALO licensing people. If I were to venture a guess, however, it might be because they want to expand the HALO story in different directions. Sure, you can add material into the novelizations, but not the magnitude like you can in an original novel.
Jamez—I glad somethign postive came from your experiences. Good to hear.
Thanks Mr. Nylund, uh Eric, uh what should I call you? Don't want to be rude. Anyway, thanks for answering, just wondering.
So Eric I know that I am a little late with this, but... A sequel to Ghosts shouldn't interfere with any storyline that MS/Bungie has going for the game franchise. My uncle Kirk Haselden has a few buds on the development team and informs me that any future games will focus on pre-dating events leading up to HALO. Furthermore if they were to allow you to write it, it would lay down a better foundation for any games that cover what happens to the rest of Blue/Saber team.
I am not contradicting you (my favorite author alongside Stephen King), but if MS aims to please, they won't leave us beating our gray matter in to find out what happens in Onyx. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, sacrifices, and creative thinking that have brought The HALO Universe to its full potential, without you, nobody would ever know how our favorite Hero came to be. P.S: The Soldiers over here in Bagdad have become very fond of your works, being 95% of the content on our hooch bookshelf!
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