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[rayne-la]

Ok I think this question has been bugging me since the first time I picked up one of your books:

How do you come up with such fantastical worlds and yet its all so original?

 I mean your imagination must be insanely awesome!!!!!

[Pedestrian]

In one of the other threads, Zombie asked a question about people getting surgery to change their sex, which made me wonder: How would people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise queer be treated in Tally's city, or in other places in the world of Uglies?  Thanks in advance.

I'm just quoting this for emphasis.

Also:
Why do you generally write science fiction?

[scott_himself]

So, I'll be doing all the answers here, if that's okay with you guys.

<i>How does he do his world-building so well? The worlds of Uglies and Leviathan are just amazing!</i>

World-building is tricky. You have to watch the world around you, THIS one, all the time, and watch the way it all fits together. Arts, politics, technology, social stuff like who's friends with whom--and try to see what rules apply. That way, when you create your own world, you'll have an idea what makes sense.

(Speaking of which, does that answer make sense?)

[James-chan]

it definetly makes sense. Scott, what does the oil spill in the Gulf remind you of?

[Mindcaster]

If you had to have one of your characters come to life and live in your house for the rest of your life who would it be and why?

[scott_himself]

How do you feel when you go on tours and meet fans who are obsessed with your books? (Like me )

It's loads of fun, especially answering questions. A lot of the questions people ask might be the same, but someone always comes up with a new question or observation for me.

Would you ever like to try a different job, other than writing? Which one?


I think being a game designer would be cool. But I'd always write, even if it wasn't my job.

Do you like editing a novel? What is working with your editor like?

I like doing rewrites, and getting the almost right word to be the EXACTLY right word. My editor is really smart, and always seems to find the places I have a blind spot. It's like having someone give you good advice about anything else important. It's great as long as you trust them. (Otherwise, it just makes you more uncertain.)

[scott_himself]

when will you do some touring in Aus?


I haven't done any big tours in Oz, but I do some school visits and bookstore appearances in Sydney, and some conferences in Melbourne and Brisbane. I've always wanted to do the Sydney Book festival. Where are YOU?

[Nikki-La]

Whats the whole editing process???

[scott_himself]

how did you get your first book published?


I wrote a novel, then sent a query letter into an agency, and they asked to see the whole novel. They read it, and liked it! Then they handled the rest. That's the great thing about agents. Sending your work around is their problem, not yours.

[Nikki-La]

how did you get your first book published?


I wrote a novel, then sent a query letter into an agency, and they asked to see the whole novel. They read it, and liked it! Then they handled the rest. That's the great thing about agents. Sending your work around is their problem, not yours.

Doesn't it cost though???

[scott_himself]

Did scott ever have a last name for Shay? or was it not important? if Shay did have one what was/is it?

Neither David or Shay have a last name in the books. A lot of my characters don't, it seems. Does that really bug you guys?

[Nikki-La]

do you think we will ever reach the Reputation Society as you described it in Extras ?

i want 1

[scott_himself]

<i>In one of the other threads, Zombie asked a question about people getting surgery to change their sex, which made me wonder: How would people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise queer be treated in Tally's city, or in other places in the world of Uglies?  Thanks in advance.</i>

Didn't I answer this? Anyway, I'm sure that Tally's city wouldn't have a problem with people being gay. They might have a thing against trans-gendered people, because they're into very specific definitions of who everyone is. But in Diego, I'm sure there would be lots of trans people of various kinds.

<i>Also: Why do you generally write science fiction? </i>

The simplest answer is: I like thinking about how the world could be different. It doesn't have to be the way we're all used to it, and for most of history, it wasn't. I mean, I have an older friend who's uncle was born a slave. In this country, not THAT long ago, people OWNED OTHER PEOPLE. How weird (and ***ed up) is that?

Almost everything we think of as normal was at one time considered bizarre, and vice versa. Science fiction is a way of exploring that idea.

[scott_himself]

Scott, what does the oil spill in the Gulf remind you of?

Yeah, that IS a very nasty problem. The crazy thing is that no one knows how to stop it spilling out of that hole. (Or, at least, no one's SURE how to stop it yet.)

[jess-la]

>Does that really bug you guys?<

nope