| Christopher Paolini
The young author of two best sellers, Eragon and Eldest. This month, he answered your questions!
Ask This Month's Celebrity: Christopher Paolini Questions & Answers: Christopher Paolini
1. I love Eragon. What made you think of such a good story? —Darian, age 13 Christopher Paolini: The idea for the Inheritance trilogy came from my love for the magic of stories and how they can transport the reader to fantastical places. Also, I was inspired by the book Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, by Bruce Coville, the tale of a boy who buys a "stone" from which a dragon hatches. I loved the idea so much, I couldn't get it out of my head. So I asked three questions: What land would a dragon egg come from, who would find it, and-since dragon eggs can't be common-who else would be looking for it? It took all of Eragon to answer those questions. 2. What kinds of challenges did you face as a young writer, and how did you manage to overcome them? —Heydi, age 13 Christopher Paolini: Perhaps the greatest challenge I faced was lack of self-confidence. At the time, I was not aware of any authors close to my age, so I didn't know if it was even possible for a 15-year-old to write a book. Another challenge was trying to master the grammatical skills I needed to tell my story in a clear and concise manner. I had a lot to learn on the subject, and books such as Write Tight and The Chicago Manual of Style were of great help to me. Also, I studied novels by authors whose work I admire. 3. What inspired you to write fantasy? And how did you manage writer's block? I'm writing a story, and I'm having a difficult time with it. —Kaitlin, age 13 Christopher Paolini: Writing fantasy allows you to deal with images and concepts that are embedded in our culture. Through it, you can tap into people's hopes, fears, and ambitions and experience things that would otherwise be impossible. In my own experience, the best fantasy inspires a sense of awe and wonder. That is what I attempted to do with Eragon. In regard to your second question, if you experience writer's block, you might benefit from plotting out your story before you begin writing. In those cases when I get stuck in the middle of the story, I try to think it out or let my subconscious work on the problem while I take a long walk, sleep, or just take a break. 4. Why do you like writing? —Regina, age 8 Christopher Paolini: I take great joy in sharing adventures with readers. 5. Is it hard or fun to write a book? —Rhegan, age 7 Christopher Paolini: Being an author is an exercise in discipline. I'm a slow and steady writer, so it's necessary for me to put in long hours daily to complete a novel. Yes, it's a lot of work. But the plot and characters are so interesting that I seem to live their lives as I write! 6. How did the well-detailed world of Alagaesia come to mind at the age of 15? —Richard, age 14 Christopher Paolini: Before I began writing Eragon, I plotted out the entire trilogy. That's when I invented the basic structures of the world. Although I still follow my original outline, I've had time to daydream in the world of Alagaesia and imagine what it would be like to really live there. That is how I've been able to incorporate so many details into my world. I also keep learning new things in this world that find their way into my novels-like (thanks to my sister) how lace is made and how Native Americans made bows from horns. 7. Did you research dragons or did you make it all up? —Shauna, age 11 Christopher Paolini: As a child, I was fascinated with dinosaurs, which in my mind were nearly the same as dragons. When I set out to write Saphira, then, I imagined her as a dinosaur, although with some fantastical touches thrown in, such as the ability to breathe fire and her brilliant, sapphire-blue scales. 8. How long did it take you to write Eragon and Eldest? —Chin Vern, age 10 Christopher Paolini: It took me a year to write the first draft of Eragon, a year to write the second draft, and a third year to edit the manuscript. Eldest took about two years to complete. 9. Who was your idol when you were a child, and why? —D.J., age 12 Christopher Paolini: I couldn't possibly pick one person. There are so many: my parents, [other] authors, those who help make other people's lives a bit better 10. When is your next book going to come out? —Brianna, age 12 Christopher Paolini: I am deep into writing Book Three of the Inheritance trilogy, which is progressing nicely. I work on it for long hours every day, writing scenes that I've envisioned for years. While I can't give you any hints, I think readers will find the conclusion thrilling. What I can tell you is that the cover will feature a brilliant-green dragon! Thank you to all who submitted questions! And to all my fans, I appreciate your support as I work on the final book of the Inheritance trilogy. And, as my hero, Eragon, would say
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