Great panel with great authors – here are the highlights<\/p>\n

Q: Which comes first for you – characters or world?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jennifer St. Giles<\/strong>: I have to add conflict to the choices – you need conflict. Whatever inspires you, that’s what you use.<\/p>\n

Lynn Abbey<\/strong>: It never happens the same way twice – and if you think it will, you’re in the wrong panel.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Maberry<\/strong>: The other day, a couple of characters were talking in my head. Now, if you’re not a writer, this is a cry for help.<\/p>\n

EC Ambrose<\/strong>: One caution – your instincts have been shaped by the world around you, so instead of using the first thing that springs to your mind, keep looking and digging. You’ll either have\u00a0a character with a problem, then find a world; or you’ll have a world and a problem, and need a character.<\/p>\n

Jim Butcher<\/strong>: I played a lot of D&D – I start with a map! When you’re learning, you have to try different things and weave them together to see what works. Just remember the Iceberg Rule: your world is way more interesting to you, but your readers don’t need to know the vast majority of that information – just give them what they need for any one scene.<\/p>\n

Michael Bunker<\/strong>: Wow, I think about this a LOT less than most people do!<\/p>\n

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