Tuesday, April 6, 2010

I Visit Whatever With My Big Idea

John Scalzi, a science fiction writer famous enough to have a very long Wikipedia entry, has his own blog called Whatever. On occasion he shares his space with other writers, even those like me who aren't famous enough to have any kind of Wikipedia entry.

He calls the visiting writer entries The Big Idea, and I was fortunate enough to be allowed to write one. In it, I tell the completely unvarnished true story of how I came to write This World We Live In.

I'm most grateful to Mr. Scalzi for letting me borrow a bit of his blog to tell about the inspiration for This World (and for Life As We Knew It and The Dead And The Gone). His big idea is very big with generosity, and I truly appreciate it.

19 comments:

Judith said...

Great write up!

ps You'll have a Wikipedia entry in the near future.

Glen said...

I liked the movie METEOR.

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hello to Judith and to Glen-

Oh, I just noticed. Glen, you're back to being Glen. Assuming you are Glen and not somebody pretending to be Glen.

Where was I...

Hello, and I wasn't hinting (too much) about my lack of Wikipedia article. As best I can tell, those things are a real nuisance to write.

And Meteor will always have a major place in my heart. Sometimes I think about what my life would be like if I hadn't bothered watching it, and I get all scared and depressed.

Neither of which are my favorite emotion!

Judith said...

I started a Wikipedia Talk page for you. So you're one step closer to a real Wikipedia article. I'm hoping other readers will help me fill in the details.

Lisa-Marie Jordan said...

Great post! And, actually LAWKI and TDATG both have Wiki entries, so I'm sure you will have one very soon!

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hello again to Judith and to Lisa-Marie Jordan-

When LAWKI first got its Wikipedia page, Wikipedia kept threatening to remove it.

It was very nervewracking. I had nothing to do with it (although I think I did do a little bit of editing), but I couldn't help but take it personally.

I admit to a little bit of envy of people with Wikipedia articles about them, but then again, I frequently feel a little bit of envy about lots of things!

Unknown said...

Now I want a wikipedia article. But first I need to do something important. By the way very good BIG IDEA! Very funny. 10 points to Ms. Pfeffer

Anonymous said...

Hi Susan,

I just spent the past four hours reading "The Dead and the Gone" instead of sleeping before work, LOL. The book was... beyond phenomenal. I just wanted to thank you for giving me that bit of a distraction from real life. The book was amazing and I can't wait to buy the others.

Thank you,
Christina.

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Good morning Jon-

Wikipedia is the most astonishing thing. I use it a lot when I need a quick jolt of information.

There's probably a great mystery to be written about a fraudulent Wikipedia article.

I'll leave it to you to write it!

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Welcome Christina (aka Zombie)-

I'm glad you liked d&g so much. I always like hearing from people who read it first (of course it helps if they read it first and then like it!).

I hope you have a good day at work and don't get too distracted by the image of dead bodies at Yankee Stadium!

Anonymous said...

hi, i love your books will you be making more books like LAWKI? my whole family loves your books we keep coming up with plans to store food if that ever happens like LAWKI

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hello Anonymous-

As of the moment, there are no plans for another LAWKIlike book.

Speaking of plans, I should come up with some emergency plans myself. I still haven't bought a working flashlight!

Judith said...

(drumroll....) the Susan Beth Pfeffer Wikipedia entry is approved! Now we need a photo, background, etc...

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Oh Judith it's so beautiful!!!

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

There's even a Revision History, which offers up the possibility of a Revisionist History (one where everything I've ever done has succeeded and I weigh a lot less).

Thank you thank you thank you again!!!!!!

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Hello again Judith-

Google just sent me a Google alert about my Wikipedia article!

Google Web Alert for: "the dead and the gone" pfeffer

Susan Beth Pfeffer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Susan Beth Pfeffer is a New York Times bestselling author best known for young adult ... The Dead and the Gone (2008, Harcourt Children's Books [| ISBN ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Beth_Pfeffer

Judith said...

*Claps* I'm glad. One less thing for you to envy. Now you can envy those who have a really nice Wikipedia page ;-).

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Ah Judith, it's basic, it's tasteful, it's me all over!

Thank you again.

Luker said...

Hello! I just wanted to say when I fist got Life As We Knew It and Dead And The Gone I spent ALL day reading them. I couldnt put the books down. I have just finished This World We Live In, and I give you props! This world we live in is my Favorite novel (it even exceeds the hunger games which is a phenomenal series) now! Thanks soo much for writing it!

Susan Beth Pfeffer said...

Thank you Luker-

I'm glad you like my books.

And welcome to my blog!