Quick Question, then Back to Wrestling Octopi

12/18/2013

This just occurred to me to ask, so I thought I'd pop a quick blog post up here. Maybe this is more appropriate to Twitter or Facebook, but...hey, we'll see!

Here's my question to you:

After the Traveler's Gate Trilogy, what kind of book would you like to see from me?

You can feel free to interpret this question however you like. I'm not sure what I mean either. Do you want to see the first book in a long series? A couple of stand-alone novels? A YA steampunk romance? What?

I'm just curious. This may or may not have any bearing on what I actually write next. I'm just interested to see what you think.

This is your chance to try and convince me to write a series from the perspective of that blind dwarf psion you played in your last D&D game! Go nuts!

(HINT: It's always going to be fantasy genre. I don't really have any ideas that don't have magic in them. It's possible that I could branch somewhat into sci-fi or horror, but I'll never stray far from my magical roots.)

84 Comments

Retardedretardent

12/18/2013 10:45:13 am

An Epic fantasy would be great, something monstrous in length, a good fat book. While I enjoyed the Traveler's Gate tremendously, I felt they were too short; think Malazan without all of those pesky extras and more character focused. I also think mixing up sci fi and fantasy would be great, put a couple of magicians on a space ship or something.

Will Wight link

12/18/2013 10:57:59 am

In the right context, I'd love to mix up fantasy and sci-fi. Wizards in a spaceship, alchemists forced to confront an alien invasion, a hyper-advanced global dystopia trying to suppress the discovery of magic...it sounds cool to me, but I feel like I would have to be REALLY passionate about the story to make it work.

I suspect a mediocre hybrid story would be even worse than a mediocre fantasy or sci-fi book on its own.

I agree with you about the Malazan thing, too: I absolutely loved the content of the Malazan books, once you boiled them down. But for so much of the story, I didn't have any emotional connection to the characters. Also, at times I felt like I had to have a notepad, an Excel spreadsheet, and a degree in Anthropology to fully appreciate the conflict.

So, in short, "Malazan without all the pesky extras and more character-focused" sounds like exactly the sort of novel I'd like to write. Heck, it might have been the direction I would have taken the Traveler's Gate stories, had I actually expected people to read them.

RepetiveRepeater

1/7/2014 03:57:49 pm

I've always wanted to write/read a story on an a sci-fi/fantasy hybrid with an invasion of earth by advanced extraterrestrials, except they have magic instead of more advanced technology. The fact that magic could never be truly understood by us would make an invasion of that sort all the more terrifying.

little_loop

12/19/2013 04:03:51 am

I like the scifi/fantasy mix you created w/ the travelers gate trilogy. Different dimensions (territories) and magic work really well together.

You could do something along the lines of multiple universes/worlds converging/crashing and mixing together. Either by natural events or caused by someone, thing, group. Maybe those in charge of universes had to do some light housekeeping and decided a few worlds were similar enough and should be combined into one.

You could mix magic, tech, swords, guns, humans, not humans, not magic, or whatever from each universe. Maybe the universes/worlds collided violently and created a post apocalyptic type world or they meshed seamlessly.

Can the hero find out what happened, change it back, should it be changed back? Can the bad people be stopped, should they be stopped? Maybe, don't ask me, I don't know.

Hopefully a small amount of this made sense.

Will Wight link

12/19/2013 06:51:54 am

I mentioned last week that I'd like to do a series where a near-future Earth started to develop magic, and civilization was destroyed as a result. Well, the mechanism I intended to use to create that "magical apocalypse" is very similar to what you're describing: two Territory-like worlds "crashed" into Earth, creating a chaotic blend of three different cultures, technologies, races, and magic systems all mixing and blending together. Everyone's trying to survive and adapt in the new world.

In this case, the heroes wouldn't be trying to reverse it; they'd be trying to develop a new civilization that thrives under the new circumstances.

Anyway, that's the idea I've been playing with for a few years now. I've got a set of characters, races, and powers, I just need to make the plot work. It's one of my favorite ideas, so I hope I can get there relatively soon.

smaller_loop

12/20/2013 04:46:46 am

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!

J. Moore

12/19/2013 08:54:32 am

I want an epic 3-5 books (longer if you want) series where most books are about twice as long as your current. I guess I'd settle for same length but much longer series too. I think one of your biggest strengths is you don't put much fat into your books but it probably makes them shorter.

At some point I'd like a western feel type book with fantasy spin. Abercrombie did OK at his attempt but maybe you can do one without all the damn suffering. :)
Something like the gunslinger series but without the shitty ending. (King never could finish a book IMO)

Wow my comments just turned into me railing on great writers, but since I’m already doing it, you could totally outdo what Game of Thrones has turned into the last two books.

Will Wight link

12/19/2013 11:58:53 pm

Epic: Like you said, there's not a whole lot of padding in my books, so I'm not sure if I even could write a good series of that length. That said, all the worlds I come up with (the Traveler's Gate world, for instance) are sized for big, meaty, world-building series instead of the trim action books I'm writing now. Most of my favorite series are ponderous and weighty, so I'd love to write one of those. Just got to come up with the right balance...

Western: Man, it would be so much fun to write a magical western! I keep trying to come up with an idea that would allow me to have spell-using gunslingers with magic revolvers. Spellslingers, if you will. I suspect this one is only a matter of time.

Other Authors: Abercrombie is always a bit too grim for me, the Dark Tower's ending was a mess, and Song of Ice and Fire has no characters left that I care enough about to root for. I kind of want them all to die at this point, which is good, because that's what's likely to happen.

That said, Stephen King does paranormal suspense like nobody else in the English language. I couldn't keep a reader hanging like he does if I had a noose and a gallows.

Abercrombie somehow manages to come up with a unique, compelling voice for each one of his umpteen dozen characters. How? I don't know. While writing City of Light, I literally have his book The Heroes open next to me. Whenever I need inspiration on making a new character's voice unique, I go to a new chapter and see how he did it, hoping that I will learn something. This is a true story.

George R.R. Martin is, on the sentence level, a professional wizard. After forty more years of doing this, I can only pray I'm half as good at characterization, description, and wordplay as he is.

See? Now our positivity toward great writers outweighs our criticism, and we can stop feeling guilty :)

cleanflea

12/19/2013 12:31:46 pm

You have mentioned a Valin novella; I recommend a full length feature. Although not necessarily next. Maybe a guide to wrestling octopi.

Will Wight link

12/19/2013 11:48:35 pm

They do say to "write what you know." And what I know is wrestling octopi.

Harlequin

12/19/2013 03:29:57 pm

3rd time attempted posting...
Hmm. Well right at the moment im on a space age colonization / space naval battles scifi binge, and i've been trading it off and on with fantasy since summer. Gehenna Dawn, Admiral Who?, March Upcountry being the contemporary ones that stood out.

If you are leaning towards writing Fantasy...Let me start spewing random thoughts.
-Hmm how about a novel about a region of a Kingdom which historically was independant, but at a time a few generations ago was annexed. The people of the former nation have tried to maintain their cultural identity even as a vassel state. But There is a small -but growing - underground movement (maybe several conflicting movements - within the system and rebels?) pushing for rebellion in order to take back their independence, maybe in a medival setting. (modern examples: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_separatist_movements_in_Europe )

-I've always disliked most stories involving dragons for some reason. However strange it may sound "Dragonlance" novels did the best job of it.

-In a land of myth and magic, where kingdoms and nomdaic tribes brush up agaisnt eachother. A sudden ice-age begins to set in, due to a meteor imapct. How do they survive, they send peopel on a quest to find out.

-maybe a story involving a race different than mankind as the main focus? Once read a novel which as half-decent titled "Orcs" which had a company of orcs as the primary cast. Liked the Lizardmen from Crimson Vault, maybe create a simialr race and run with it?

-I always dig fantasy stories with interesting pantheons. Figure their more of a challenge to write though. A Character gaining godhood through a series of adventures, like Cyric or the Dead Three from the Neverwinter setting of D&D would be interesting.

Sorry thats all the ideas i could come up with off the top of my head.

Will Wight link

12/20/2013 12:10:48 am

Third time attempted posting, eh? Did your comments just vanish when you tried to post them, and you were afraid to try again lest you double-post? That's happened to me before, and I still don't know what caused it.

1.) That sounds like a very specific, and interesting, political situation. And it sounds like you're very familiar with it. Why don't YOU write it? I'd love to read it!

2.) You know, as weird as it sounds, I know what you mean about Dragonlance. And also about not liking dragons much. I love dragons, but often they're not portrayed in the way that I would like. Dragonlance did a great job. A lot of my ideas do involve dragons, but they don't revolve around dragons.

Interestingly enough, despite the name that the Valinhall Travelers took on themselves, dragons are a myth in the Traveler's Gate universe. More on that in Gardens of Mist.

3.) What this meteor idea immediately made me think is, "What if a meteor fell in the middle of a low-magic setting, like GRRM's Westeros, and the meteor itself was a huge source of magic? How would the society change?" That's probably a different idea, but I like yours too.

As a matter of fact, what you've got is enough for you to start writing. I've written stories with less of a thesis statement than that.

4.) My only problem with writing something like "Orcs" or "Goblins" (it's a webcomic, check it out) is that I would effectively have to write in a Tolkien-esque classic fantasy setting. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy that, but for the time being I'd like to keep creating my own worlds. Of course, I could do my own races, and I think it would be neat to write a high fantasy novel with no humans at all. Well, maybe one or two. But no common humans.

5.) That kind of stuff always inspires me. The idea that powerful D&D characters can somehow ascend (hey, Steven Erikson) to godhood has always been interesting to me. I always think: "Man, what is it like to start out as a human and end up with phenomenal cosmic power? Would you screw something up? Would you still deal with the same insecurities?"

I think Brandon Sanderson does a good job of illustrating that dynamic in Warbreaker, and something like that, I think, would be a blast to write.

Thanks for your thoughts, Harlequin! I enjoyed reading this.

Tim

12/19/2013 09:04:17 pm

Try this!
Imagine a love triangle of different races. OH MY! Now, instead of using believable or even possible means of advancing the plot, contrive something frustrating and completely out of every character! Whilst using silly tricks to get people to turn pages, some must fall pray.

Tim

12/19/2013 09:19:21 pm

Prey... Damn. Ruins the whole thing. Now they are falling down and praying.
Anyway, a long book would be fun. I like the idea of urban-ish fantasy also, trying to weave fantasy into a world like ours. Start with we have now and follow a massive change in world conditions. New power structures and chaos while people try to make sense of it all.
Or maybe something in sort of a multiverse, where instead of space travel to find other races they find us through magic. We learn we arent without just cursed by some other race long time ago to this planet without it naturally occurring. Humans are mostly subjugated. By others, taken to other worlds, earth mostly abandoned. Okay GO! Write humanity returning to greatness.

Will Wight link

12/20/2013 12:16:15 am

The members of the love triangle are also highly religious and like to fall to their knees and pray constantly. SOLD! I'm going to write this, and I'm going to credit you, Tim, on the cover for my inspiration. It's going to be called "Sunset" and it's going to be aimed directly at teenage girls.

The multiverse thing would be neat. Kind of a Starbound or Titan A.E. plotline, but with multiple worlds instead of multiple planets. Maybe both! You're blowing my mind, here, Tim.

As for the urban-ish fantasy thing, that's the frontrunner for me right now. It has been for years, actually. I wrote a draft of that book back in 2009. It sucks, and I only got 50,000 words in (a little less than half the length of House of Blades) before I stopped.

That was, of course, my mistake. I should have finished it, no matter how bad I thought it was. But this was four years ago, and I was young and naive.

I've still got it. It sits here on my laptop, poisoning me, calling me back. I still love the idea, I just have to make it work. I'm not sure I'm good enough to do it yet, to be honest.

Rhys

12/19/2013 11:02:06 pm

I've got loads but they are generally very detailed, at least as far as world biulding goes. I've got pages of notes that I've jotted down notes on when I get an idea. Won't be able to lay out my (numerous) ideas here.

Will Wight link

12/20/2013 12:20:30 am

Well, I wasn't necessarily asking for specific ideas. Especially if you've got the whole book figured out. I'm not trying to take your ideas, I'm just trying to get a feel for the kind of book you all would like to read from me.

If you have pages and pages of notes on an idea, by all means, write the book!

If you have a more general, broad idea--like, "I'd like to see more romance in your books," or "I want to read first-person detective novels, how about that?" or "I will read anything with a murderous clown in it," then by all means tell me.

And if you would like to share your intricate world-building so that we can marvel at your creativity, awesome! I would be more than happy to marvel.

Again, though, if you've got a really fleshed-out and specific idea, I'm certainly not going to take it. That's all you.

Rhys

12/20/2013 04:23:31 pm

I can't wright characters so a novel from me is still a VERY long way off. I can however share some of my ideas with everyone to laugh at.

One of my oldest ideas is that the main character is a Necromancer and a (I call it a shadowmancer). He is not exactly good and is supported by the most evil goddess in the pantheon. However he is trying to save the world from an invasion from another dimension. Not of Demons I hasten to add. First off demons are very boring and in this story I planned to have these beings be more at a human sized level of strength and intelligence. It wouldn't be a swarm but a long and complex campaign with both sides making manoeuvres spread over 3 different continents.

Hey there we are, one of my oldest ones not great to be honest but I was quite young when I planned it. I still play around with it in my mind from time to time.

bludvein

12/20/2013 05:47:34 am

I'd like an urban fantasy with some kind of were-creature protagonist. You'd be amazed how hard it is to find a decent urban fantasy that is actually aimed at men instead of having a ridiculous male model on the cover.

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 12:20:06 am

I basically just re-read the Dresden Files whenever I want an urban fantasy fix.

bludvein

12/23/2013 01:57:03 am

What happens when you've already reread Dresden Files 3+ times, one of them recently? Looking forward to Skin Game, but i'd like a little variety. I could count on one hand the number of series/stand-alone urban fantasy that I actually enjoy.

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 08:11:52 am

I've read the Dresden Files six or seven times, and it never gets old.

Well, it does. But I still enjoy it. And yeah, I agree; urban fantasy is in a weird, paranormal romance-themed rut.

Ricardo

12/25/2013 12:12:31 am

Well, you can try the Demon Accords series by John Conroe. I think its a noteworthy exception of this plague - sparkling vampires and such - in the urban fantasy genre.

By the way, really liked both of your books, Will.

Hope to read City of lights soon.

Greetings from a Brazilian reader. :-)

bludvein

12/25/2013 10:15:31 am

I've read Demon Accords as well. I count it an exception to the rule also, although I wasn't a huge fan of the last one. Hopefully Forced Ascent and his upcoming side-story turn it back around.

Xian

12/28/2013 04:06:44 pm

Also try Richard Kadrey, then.

Will Wight link

1/9/2014 01:16:42 am

Sorry it took me so long to respond, Ricardo: these holidays were crazy for me.

Glad you enjoyed the books! I still find it a little bit crazy that people are reading my stories on different continents. It's kind of unreal.

Xian

12/28/2013 04:05:36 pm

Have you tried one of the true founders of Urban Fantasy, Tim Powers? Try "Last Call",

Kira

1/1/2014 01:03:54 am

The Alex Verus series has a similar feel to Dresden files (it even references it on the first page) if you want more urban fantasy beyond girl in leather killing things

Will Wight link

1/9/2014 01:17:14 am

I've never heard of Alex Verus, actually. This looks like a job for Google!

Kekkama

2/24/2019 08:25:29 am

Alex Verus is great. It's like Harry Dresden, but the main character is a diviner. Be can see a bit into tbe future. The power is played with very well imo.

vegeta1565

12/20/2013 08:12:10 am

Hi,
In a previous post you mentioned an idea you had about a post apocalyptic world with magic. I would like to see that. For some reason it reminded me of Isaac Asimov 's "Prelude to Foundation." Have you read it?

Have you ever written a story about an evil twin? Evil twins are fun.

On a separate note, I understand that you need a break from Traveler's Gate. However, I'm really hoping to eventually see the Valinhall Orgins novela.

If you see this thanks for taking the time to read it.

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 12:21:49 am

I have read it. I'm a big fan of Asimov.

The idea reminded me of a Ray Bradbury story, but honestly I can't remember which one off the top of my head.

Valinhall origins is coming eventually, I promise.

Not the only sentient penguin?

12/20/2013 11:25:49 am

Will, is this you? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upqhpIAzDXk

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 08:17:18 am

There was only one appropriate response I could think of to this question.

Brian, what's the history of Cinco de Mayo?

Sven

12/21/2013 10:42:36 am

Love how your stories get to the point and don't wander. Too many of the epics (Jordan, Erikson, etc.) tend to do that eventually. That being said, it is nice to have 5-6 books in a series to chew on. Also love how Simon had to work towards his abilities and not just been born or destined to it.

As far as good ideas, I would love to see a story around tech so advanced that most of the characters see it as magic. Think technomages from the B5 series. but set in feudal times.

I would also love to see the story of how Valin's Territory was created. The themes of the different rooms and their secrets are different than anything else out today.

Anyways, great work. Will watch for new content expectantly.

Sven

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 08:19:26 am

Thanks, Sven! I'd also enjoy a series with science so advanced it's almost magic, or magic so advanced that it's almost like futuristic science.

GriffinRider

12/21/2013 02:26:01 pm

Here's a short and not very detailed idea: write a story from the point of view of the villain. Through the book, the character can develop to begin to look like a good guy, then quickly ruin it at the end.

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 08:24:07 am

That's a good idea, but I feel like it would be terrifyingly difficult to execute. The longer you spend with a character, the more sympathy you develop for them, and the more you like them. Readers would most likely either feel betrayed when the character is revealed as a villain, or else choose not to believe it.

That said, Breaking Bad's Walter White and Dexter's Dexter Morgan both do something like this, where you're never sure whether the protagonist is villain or hero, but you have sympathy for them the whole time. I think I might enjoy writing something like that.

GriffinRider

12/24/2013 03:34:42 am

I think a trick to doing this kind of story would be to have a hero who, rather than always fighting the villain, tries to make them a better person, but ultimately fails. It would be somewhat like the old tale of the scorpion and the frog.

Gary Chasteen

12/21/2013 08:46:42 pm

I would like to see a good cyberpunk/future realty book that isn't the same rehash of a William Gibson book. I like stand alone books as well as series.

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 08:25:08 am

I'm not sure this is exactly up my alley; William Gibson was never my cup of tea. But I agree with you that I'd like to see some more cyberpunk books that break the same old well-established mold.

Paul

12/22/2013 10:02:43 am

I would love to read the story of the creation/founding of the house of blades. The use of territories is one of the more creative things I have seen in fantasy in a long time.

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 08:26:11 am

Thanks, Paul! I'm definitely going to do that at some point, just not immediately after City of Light. I need a break from this world before I return.

12/22/2013 10:54:40 am

I want to see a fantasy novel along the lines of Louis Lamour's The Sackett Brand. I love the idea of "you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us" Just lots of separate people causing mayhem as they go to help a family member.

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 08:18:14 am

With a set of characters that are interesting and compelling enough, that could definitely work. And I think it might be fun to write, too.

cleanflea

12/22/2013 01:17:13 pm

I'm posting again now that I've actually thought about the question. I would read any of the ideas you have mentioned so far. What I would like to see in whatever you write next is more development in character and themes. Travelers Gate was totally appropriate for a coming of age type story. I would like to see something for an adult book with more mature themes.

cleanflea

12/22/2013 01:20:38 pm

Clarification: when I say mature/adult I do NOT mean trashy, I mean more depth and/or complexity.

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 12:19:09 am

Message received loud and clear. Next novel: BDSM erotica based on Twilight fanfiction.

For real, though, I agree with you. I'll likely moderate my tone in the next series so it's a little more mature.

Igor

12/22/2013 06:09:17 pm

What kind of book would I like to see from you? Well, i enjoyed your writing style immensely in the Traveler's Gate, it was mostly light hearted, despite some scenes and attitudes of various characters. but maybe you would be interested in writing something with a more serious atmosphere? Using a serious atmosphere would probably be more helpful if you wanted to write an epic series... Just my thoughts, take it as you will:) Maybe you can also somehow incorporate phoenixes into your next series? I find myself to have an almost childlike obsession with them, and they are so rarely used...

P.S. Come back to League Will! I promise I won't troll... I will try not to anyway!

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 08:16:31 am

There's no way I could write for very long in the fantasy genre without including phoenixes. They're too awesome.

Serious atmosphere...I'm not so sure about that. The Traveler's Gate Trilogy has a lot of ME telling jokes, but none of the characters have much in the way of a sense of humor. I'd like to write a series in which the main characters take things a little more lightly, even if the narrative tone is more serious.

P.S. I don't believe you! Lies!

Penelope 27

12/22/2013 07:45:23 pm

I vote for Steampunk.

Penelope 27

12/22/2013 07:47:52 pm

Oh, and not necessarily"YA romance", just steampunk...

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 08:14:18 am

I love the idea of steampunk, and I suspect that I'll eventually include some kind of steampunk aesthetic in a book at some point. I'll just need to come up with the right idea.

I do love a good steampunk story.

Arindam

12/23/2013 02:53:46 am

How about secret society of wizards who meet and fight in underground fight clubs at night and go to work in the daytime. Then one day they start getting killed one by one......

Will Wight link

12/23/2013 08:12:41 am

I'll do it, but only on the condition that Brad Pitt ends up being a figment of Ed Norton's imagination all along.

Brian S

12/23/2013 12:58:29 pm

I would like to see a book with words in it. Maybe a few ideas. A little adventure perhaps. It shoooooould have at least one character, and that character should probably go outside at least once. Unless, of course, that character is agoraphobic.

If the book only has one character, that character should have the ability to use or interact with magic. If it has more than one character, they don't all need to be capable of using magic, and in fact, at least one person should be unable to use magic. Having more than one character usually makes it easier to have a witty character, though some people have been know to crack themselves up.

I would prefer for the book to have a setting. The setting doesn't have to be on a world, but that usually makes these things a bit easier.

The word dragon should be used by at least one character in a curse repeatedly. Such as "Dragon Dung!" or some equally silly yet odoriferous phrase. This character may or may not have had considerable experience with the subject matter of this curse.

The book should be overly long and include bathroom breaks, because really, there is nothing more ridiculous than reading about a character who had to run behind the bushes for no better reason than to take care of business. This will totally desensitize the reader for the next author who only sends characters off the the edge of the woodline to get brutally slain by the roguish assassin who likes to catch his victims with their pants down. By doing this you will be doing a service for the writing community as a whole.

If you are intending to ever write in the first person, PLEASE write the entire story from that same point of view from the beginning of the story to the end. I have wasted enough money on authors who think that they can make that work without twenty of thirty years of writing experience. They can't.

Now, I don't want to read about any mindless dead bodies wandering aimlessly through the world in search of fresh, tasty brains. If you do decide to explore the wonderful world of zombies, please find them an alternate food source. I always thought that if I were ever to become a zombie I would seek out whiskey. I mean, how much cooler would that be? Zombies and humans fighting to the death over whiskey...or in a pinch moonshine.

Okay, I know some of these thoughts may not have looked like I was taking your request seriously, but I assure you I mean everything I said with the utmost seriousness.

Okay, now I'm absolutely certain that I've inspired you, but in the event I failed, get yourself a bottle of whiskey and drink it, but don't drive, because that's against the law...Oh, eating human brains is also against the law, so don't try that either. Good luck.

Jack S

12/25/2013 09:52:39 am

I throw my vote for a steampunk book. I'm not all that into the romance but hey it's your book. I also enjoy the darker books of some sort. Just ideas like everyone else I guess. I'll defiantly miss the traveler's gates though. I really enjoyed them. Thanks.

Will Wight link

12/25/2013 10:28:22 am

Thanks, Jack! Steampunk would be a lot of fun, and I'll probably get there at some point. I don't have much planned out, though, so it probably won't be my next series. Maybe the one after that. Or maybe a standalone novel in the middle, I don't know.

Liam

12/25/2013 10:23:49 pm

Hey Mr. Wight, Merry Christmass!
I was thinking of a book about ninjas vs. samurai
Or
A book about a battle like hellsingate, the training this highly valued group of individuals, and maybe have them win because of the genius of the leader and the rigorous training

Will Wight link

1/9/2014 01:21:18 am

A belated Merry Christmas to you too, Liam, and Happy New Year!

Honestly, I've wanted to do a ninjas vs. pirates story for years. I'd find it hilarious, especially since I would take the plot seriously. It would be a fantasy world conflict between two sides: an army of pirates who sail around stealing and unearthing ancient magical artifacts, and a clan of mercenary magical assassins hired to kill the pirates and take their loot.

Personally, I would enjoy that entirely too much.

12/19/2016 08:57:10 am

Firdt mention of Elder Empire. Wooioooot

Eric

12/26/2013 04:41:20 am

Why stop this world or character with just one triligy. Just make a new Triligy with diffrent problems

Eric

12/26/2013 05:16:16 am

Oh yeah... and Curse those evil Octopi!

Will Wight link

1/9/2014 01:23:01 am

I won't, Eric. I'm coming back to this world at some point in the future. I'll write a Valinhall origin story, as well as another story (most likely another trilogy with a new conflict and mostly new characters).

Assuming those cursed octopi will finally leave me alone!

Will Wight link

1/30/2014 12:13:43 pm

*I won't STOP, Eric.

That's what I meant to say. It just now occurred to me that it looks like I said "I won't do what you're saying," which is not what I intended at all.

Xian

12/28/2013 04:15:31 pm

For myself, I think there's plenty of steampunk to go around already, though the periods at either end of the Victorian period remain fertile ground.

I'd like to see works where the stakes for the characters are quite high, even if The World Does Not Hang In The Balance. For example, do you care if some young people put on a play? If you read Mansfield Park, you do. The stakes have to matter to someone who matters to the reader.

Also happy to see things unencrusted with thick layers "dark grit" and cheap cynicism.

Will Wight link

1/9/2014 01:12:40 am

I read Mansfield Park, and while Jane Austen is a certified genius, I never liked that book. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books of all time, but Mansfield Park...eh.

That really has no bearing on what you said, though, as your point remains a good one.

That's one of the things I want to work on in my writing: I need the stakes of the plot to matter more to the characters on a personal level, so that they will matter more to the reader. I need to create more genuine emotional investment, and I am working on that. I promise, I'm getting better.

As for the dark grit and cheap cynicism, I couldn't agree more. I'm a big fan of sarcasm and deadly threats, but have you ever noticed how often the protagonist of first-person urban fantasy is a sarcastic piece of crap? I don't want to read a first-person series from the perspective of someone I wouldn't want to hang out with in real life.

And as for grit, I don't need a book to point out how dark and crappy the real world is. I can see that for myself, thanks.

Well said, Xian!

Emily

12/30/2013 03:14:50 pm

I've really enjoyed reading previous comments as well as your commentary on them so I thought I'd give my two cents. I would really enjoy a book about someone destined to be a villain. The character wouldn't want to be a villain, but the good guys would push him/her into it by virtue of their belief that he/she would become evil. Or something along those lines.

Will Wight link

1/9/2014 01:04:23 am

Sorry it took me so long to respond, Emily: I've been out of town for the holidays, followed by crunch time on Gardens of Mist, followed by crunch time on City of Light.

But I do read all comments, don't worry! And I do my best to respond...eventually.

At some point in the future, I will write a story from the perspective of a Dark Lord-type figure. This is 100% guaranteed; there are too many ideas and possibilities for me to pass this up.

Incidentally, as far as I've currently thought this through, the "evil" Dark Lord protagonist will most likely be a woman.

The most promising outline I have so far boils down thus:

Starts with the protagonist and her childhood friend. Through a contrived misunderstanding, each thinks that the other is dead. She fights her way through a blighted monster-infested wasteland to take the empty throne of Monster Lord (or whatever title I come up with, this is just off the top of my head). Meanwhile, he's back in civilization, trying to scam people into thinking he's the Hero. Little do either of them know that, once the monsters accept her as their leader and the humans accept him as their hero, they will be expected to fight and kill one another.

It makes more sense when you see the detailed outline, but that's the general picture. It will likely change significantly between this and its final version, especially since I wrote the first outline before House of Blades, and I don't want to hit the "prophesied hero, but not really" trope too hard.

But yeah, I will certainly write a "villain" protagonist at some point.

Thanks for your comment, Emily!

Emily

1/9/2014 02:34:54 am

Don't worry about response time, thanks for responding at all. After reading this I can't decide which I'm more excited for--more Valin or a "villain" protagonist. Love all of your work

Will Wight link

1/9/2014 04:53:58 am

It's all out there in the miraculous, unexplored world of the future!

...assuming I ever finish City of Light. Speaking of which, HI-HO! HI-HO! IT'S BACK TO WORK I GO!

Brad Payton link

1/2/2014 12:16:28 am

After reading Garden of Mist I think a series on Valin would be very interesting. He is crazy not to serious and just sounds Fun!

Will Wight link

1/9/2014 12:57:54 am

Thanks, Brad! I, too, think that Valin sounds like a fun character to write. Even as an Incarnation, when he's completely insane, you can still see pieces of the man he used to be.

Julie link

1/7/2014 09:29:53 am

Please don't end the saga at three - I want more!!

Will Wight link

1/9/2014 12:56:55 am

I actually just answered this on another thread, but I'll tell you what I told him:

Are three books enough? NO! I will be returning to the world of the Traveler's Gate in the future, with at least one book on the history and origins of Valinhall, and then probably another trilogy/series with a new set of characters. And maybe some old ones, assuming that any old characters survive City of Light.

Julie, to tell you the truth, I WOULD have plotted the Traveler's Gate story out as a serial series (like The Dresden Files, or what Wheel of Time turned out to be) if I had thought people would enjoy it as much as they have. I would have preferred writing a series, I can tell you: I could have written fast-paced action books without them seeming rushed.

However, I outlined the story as a trilogy because readers--especially ebook readers--will often wait until the whole series is out before buying the first book. A trilogy is a relatively quick way to release multiple books that tell one complete story and have people buy it. People are much more likely to take a risk on an unknown author's trilogy than an unknown author's series.

That said, I was expecting five hundred people to read House of Blades, not fifty thousand (or whatever we're up to now). Had I known, I would have written it as the first book in a series. Alas...

That said, I WILL return to the Traveler's Gate world in the future. But this particular story, following Simon's role in the conflict between Enosh and Damasca, will end with City of Light.

John C

1/13/2014 09:49:10 pm

Why not a different take on magic? What if magic were like a disease? Some kind of wasting sickness. Something that will kill you slowly if you use it but harmless if you don't. I can see that creating interesting conflicts. You have the ability to solve virtually any problem but it will come at the cost of your health.

The bigger the spell the sicker you get. Maybe this group of mysterious people are developing different strains of magic to try and get rid of the lethality?

This isn't something I've seen done before in fantasy but I could be wrong. By the way I'm loving your books so far. Can't wait to read more from you. You're quickly becoming one of my favorite authors in fiction :)

Will Wight link

1/15/2014 08:58:18 am

Thanks, John! I'll do my best to keep putting out books you'll enjoy!

I do like magic systems with terrible inherent costs, and of course any magic system needs to be balanced with SOME cost to avoid every magic-user turning into Gandalf the White. But magic systems with costs like you're talking about don't...appeal to me quite as much, as a writer.

The book that immediately springs to mind is C.S. Friedman's Feast of Souls, in which mages can cast extremely powerful spells as long as they're willing to burn away their own life force to do it. So your life is literally getting shorter every time you use magic. I love that idea--and that's a great book--but I'm not sure I would enjoy writing it.

Besides, one of my core tenets in writing any fantasy story is that the world should get MORE magical as the story progresses, not less. I'm not interested in writing a book in which magic is leaking out of the world; I'd much rather write a book in which magic is leaking IN. If that makes sense.

However, I would certainly read such a story! Maybe YOU should be the one to write it :D

Jamison

1/19/2014 07:45:30 am

Just got House of Blades last week, now I'm halfway through Crimson Vault - awesome reads so far, thanks so much for writing them!

Here's what I love about what you're writing: It's on-point, entertaining, and unique. The concept in the "The Traveler's Gate" trilogy where almost anyone can be a traveler, with the unique benefits and powers therein, is refreshing. It's not something you're born with (unless your Elysian or Damascan royalty), it's something you can learn and earn. I'd like to see something like that, where anyone can be powerful and magical if they're willing to work at it and dedicate themselves. I read Wheel of Time (which I loved) but in the back of my head I'm thinking "well yeah, if I can't channel who cares..." whereas in your books I've just gotta work at it, which is awesome! So whatever you're gonna do, keep doing what you've been doing - only BIGGER! So wish you'd have done a huge series with Traveler's Gate, dammit Will - go for it.

To finish up, I have not read any of George RR Martin's books, but I've been watching Game of Thrones since day one (and since I watch it with my wife and she hates fantasy and it's a minor miracle that she loves that show, no I'm not reading the books - I want to go through the journey with her) and I will say that the concept of anyone being fair game to die is pretty intriguing. So many books I've read I'm pretty sure I already know how it's gonna turn out (the hero CAN'T die, right!?) but watching G.O.T. and seeing Ned Stark get beheaded, Red Wedding, etc is pretty cool - it keeps us on our toes, and I never feel like I know what's next.

Whatever you're gonna write about next, do it from a place of passion and desire, have a plan, and follow through with your unique brand of story telling. As long as you're following your own plan, narrative and desires it will be successful.

Anyway, thanks for your writing, I really look forward to your future efforts.

Will Wight link

1/20/2014 09:24:57 am

Glad you enjoyed the books, Jamison!

I completely agree with that in WoT: it's my favorite series of all time, but other than Mat, all of the important characters were channelers. Because you were either born with it or you weren't, it felt monstrously unfair. Especially since all the really significant people were unbelievably powerful, so even if you're a regular channeler you can't compete.

In terms of the huge series, it is definitely too late. I plan on coming back and writing some more books in the Traveler's Gate world, but I plotted this particular story out as a trilogy, so I've got to resolve it as a trilogy. If it was going to be a longer series, I would have written the first two books very differently. So that ship has sailed, but I'll still come back to the world in one way or another.

George R.R. Martin's books, like Joe Abercrombie's, are much more bleak than anything I would care to write, but I absolutely agree that the element of Anyone Can Die (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnyoneCanDie) is awesome, and works really well in A Song of Ice and Fire.

I didn't go that route for the Traveler's Gate Trilogy, obviously, but I'd enjoy killing off critical characters in the future.

Then again, in City of Light, everyone you like dies.

Jamison

1/20/2014 12:07:50 pm

Disclaimer - I have not finished book two. That being said, I am *totally* bummed that Valin, Lysander and Naraka die. Since they're my favorites and all... oh well, they had a good run.

Zach

1/22/2014 05:56:09 am

Sorry, I had to: http://xkcd.com/928/
Title text: "Even if the dictionaries are starting to give in, I refuse to accept 'octopi' as a word mainly because--I'm not making this up--there's a really satisfying climactic scene in the Orson Scott Card horror novel 'Lost Boys' which hinges on it being an incorrect pluralization."

Will Wight link

1/24/2014 03:15:45 am

No need to apologize; any reference to XKCD is welcome here.

Rohanist

1/30/2014 06:59:16 am

Okay, so I really loved the Traveler's Gate Trilogy, and you're right up there with Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, and Jim Butcher in my opinion.
What I would like to see from you after Traveler's Gate is a story about mercenaries.
I'm not talking about those annoying, one-dimensional characters you see in a lot of fantasy that only care about money and power, or a little bit thick. I would love to see a truly well organized, skilled guild of mercenaries, with characters caring about others more than themselves.
Of course, these mercenaries should be magicl. :)

Will Wight link

1/30/2014 12:10:21 pm

Your words are as a flattering balm to my soul, Rohanist.

And you know what, it's weird: I've been reading a lot of Joe Abercrombie lately, and he writes about mercenaries as the stealing, cheating, cowardly low-down scum they probably were. But as I was reading it, I kept wanting just ONE mercenary group that was better than all that.

I feel the same way when I read Berserk, the manga. With the exception of the main character, every mercenary is portrayed in essentially the worst light possible. It always makes me want to write a heroic mercenary book.

So that is a secret dream of mine that I have nursed for years. I may even fulfill that dream someday; who knows?

In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.