This just in and a question

[kinzel]

First, an amendment:

These just in ... as in these 328 plus page-proof pages of Duainfey. On my plate for the next few days, yes.

Meanwhile, how do you guys do this? I mean, historically we've had a habit of rereading our previous books when getting ready to write the next one if there's been a break in the writing process ... and since we're contemplating the follow-on to Scout's Progress, which is sort of out-of-story sequence for us, I'm in line to reread ... um ...1.5 or 2 million words? Even at a leisurely book every other day that's a month! And we hear from some of you that you reread the series at least once a year... and have real jobs, too!

Comments

[noiseinmyhead.livejournal.com]

Um, I read so fast it really isn't a problem to reread them. But then I don't have areal just stay at home mommy stuff not things that real grown ups do ;)

[gramina.livejournal.com]

:P Stay-at-home or not, Mommy (or Daddy) stuff is pretty demonstrably real. (and certainly has a more *lasting* effect than reams of unread documentation, to pick a non-random example. ;) )

[drammar.livejournal.com]

I find that when I reread most books I don't read every word -- there are places that I just skim in anticipation of the "really good" parts. Unfortunately that doesn't save me much (if any) time on Lee/Miller books because they're chock full of "good parts."

And I too read very fast -- about 800-1000 wpm -- so a book an evening is easy.

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

I can get through 1000 pages of fiction in a day if I'm not doing anything else. Nonfiction is slower, maybe 500 pages? So it's just not that hard to reread... the whole of the Liaden series would be a week maybe at top speed. Even at regular speed, it's not all that slow.

[muehe.livejournal.com]

LOL, sorry -- Good luck with that.
since everyone seems to be commenting on how fast they read - I only read 50 pages an hour. So if i read a book after work, nothing else gets done.

[lornastutz.livejournal.com]

I've always been a fast reader (tested at 99% retention) - my friends often hear me grumble that my favorites writers just can't seem to keep up... :-)
And even with working full time, running errands and social stuff on the weekends, I can still manage to knock off 6-8 books per week.

Lorna

rereading

[mtz322.livejournal.com]

Chunks. No matter how busy the day there are always little chunks of time here and there when I find myself waiting for something. Before ebooks I usually tried to have a couple of paperbacks, one new and one old friend, that I could pull out. Now, and particularly with Webscriptions and Fictionwise, I carry a good size library around and the only limitation is battery endurance.
Current favorite is the eBookwise, heavier than I really like but with a good 14 hours of reading time fully charged, and has an insert page and write on it for notes.

Re: rereading

[amm-me.livejournal.com]

Just a little advertisement on the e-book-reader front -- Not Another E-Book (NAEB, which just happens to be Baen backwards) is getting in their second batch, tomorrow, of the Bookeen Cybook open-format reader, 6 oz and the battery lasts for 8000 page-turns, they say. They are currently taking orders at http://store.naebllc.com for their batch for May delivery. They are essentially a buyer's club and have negotiated a nice discount from Bookeen.

I know this because MINE is in this batch! so I am not excited, no of course not. I made bold to insert this ad because nonDRM devices need to be promoted, and Naeb are just a bunch of readers who got together and made themselves into a company to do it.

About your assignment, Kinzel, well of course you have to reread Local Custom and Scout's Progress very advertently. I should think that you can skim some in rereading the rest of the books that come after them, as long as you focus on picking up every reference to historical events. I mean, I don't THINK that there is very much about Val Con and Miri's daily life on Vandar you need, unless there are reminiscences on Val Con's part.

Chapbooks, now. I have never read all the chapbook stories in strict historical order, although I could now that I have the Big Bang e-collection. I'm sure some of those are important. And didn't you put little snippets in diary-extract at the chapter heads often? Some of those are probably very necessary.

But Hey, It's not my universe, I just vacation there (with very great pleasure), so what do I know? I look forward with glee to the outcome. And if one person doesn't remember history quite the way another does elsewhere, well, history's like that.

Abigail

[robotech-master.livejournal.com]

I suspect lots of the "read-a-lot" people are just plain fast readers.

The only other solution I can suggest would be to get an ebook-reading gizmo that's a decent compromise between readability and pocket-portability—I use a Nokia 770—and stick the Baen versions of all your books on it. Carry it along with you and read it whenever you have a spare moment (standing in long lines, in the bathroom, etc.)

[gramina.livejournal.com]

We're reading for pleasure -- you're reading for work. It's a whole different level of focus/attention. (And it's not that we don't pay attention; it's that we can keep reading if the attention fades for a few, because if we miss something it's not a big deal. I gather you're reading for continuity/consistency -- much harder.)

[sleary.livejournal.com]

I can reread LC and SP in an evening, if I'm not trying to get other things done. The others take me longer, because I am not very spatial and it takes my brain a while to crunch through the mechanics of a battle, even if I know how it goes.

However, I'm not reading for the level of detail you'd need; I generally just want to be immersed in that world instead of this one for a few hours.

[sleary.livejournal.com]

Er, LC and SP in one evening each, I should clarify.

and have real jobs, too!

[bookmobiler.livejournal.com]

You are making the rash assumption that we have real lives, too!

[gryphonlsb.livejournal.com]

I just finished the main arc and Crystal Soldier

Cant wait to add more books to the Liad corner so I can reread them as well as tell many customers 'You have to find these books'

;)

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

You need a Big Podcast, or books on tape! Then you could listn while you pack orders.

[victorthecook.livejournal.com]

Fast reader, again -- and when allergies leave me unfit for useful work, I can usually still read. Reading the series takes me a week or so of evenings and a couple of not-very-productive weekend days. As several others have pointed out, I'm also reading for comfort, not for detail.

[kinzel.livejournal.com]

Right ...
I guess ti does take longer for the kind of reading we'll be doing, especially since we'll be trolling to find those hooks we put in and make sure they're strong enough as is to carry the story where it needs to go this time around ... else we have to build in another graph or two in places give support within the new addition...

[groblek.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I can't be of help - I naturally read really fast, even when paying attention to detail - I can read one of your books in a day, two in a day if it's one where I don't have to do anything else. My wife is regularly disgusted by this.

[abwarwick.livejournal.com]

good comments, all.
I read fast, most of the time.
I read slower on re-reading.

I have a job that takes a lot of time & energy.
I am able t read/re-read a lot because it takes me somewhere else very different.
thanks! And Good Luck!

How do we do it?

[eta3.livejournal.com]

My reading speed & comprehension retention speed tested out several years ago at over 1500 words per minute and 100% retention over a 5 hour period. I think I'm closer to about 900 per minute now, but I don't think the retention has faded at all. On the other hand, I can't sing, play any musical instrument nor craft stories that enthrall: it's you authors that awe me. And never, ever, EVER trust my cooking! It's either unedible to anyone except me or it's merely awful. My husband does all the cooking at home.

Re: the birds. Over 370 species of birds (imported and native) hard hit by West Nile virus. Slowly some are rebounding, but it sure was quiet for a while without the Blue Jays and Mockingbirds. Ring-necked doves in our area of Florida got hit with a double whammy, and I've not seen a one all year. Haven't seen a flight of Canada Geese overhead since the 2nd fall after we moved here, either. But there are enough different species availing themselves of our feeders to have to re-fill them every other day. The Robin population passed through here last month, and presently we're hosting a reduced number of blackbirds. And the sparrows, of course.