To start off, unfortunately I had no idea where to throw this topic. It's probable that I may have missed a location on the forum for it, and if I did, I do apologize.

Now, the reason is because I have questions that I am seeking possible answers for as I intend on becoming a writer. Due to a chaotic schedule I am unable to contact Tracy by phone and hopefully this more convenient for everybody. I have not had the luxury of reading any books outside the world of Dragonlance but what I was offered there was enough to turn me to here for these questions.

In order to keep this from looking like a mess, I'll separate each question.

The foremost question is in regards to world-development, if that term can cover everything. Where did the deities, lands, languages, and virtually everything in Dragonlance come from?

How did you go about developing the world and was it a set of outlines you followed?

My second question is, in order to further a writing career, what classes in a college do you recommend I take?

My focus is actually fictional writing and I'm seeking to further develop my skills in the various areas of writing in order to keep a reader engrossed in my stories. I want to get my foot in the door but I honestly don't know how to go about doing that currently because I haven't exactly lock-picked it or even knocked on the door.

Now, I feel I must throw this out there because I believe this has to do with why I tend to fall out of writing a lengthy story. A trait that I ended up getting is that I'm eccentric and nearly everything I do with passion, I do in phases. If I begin to write a story with vigor I also fall out of it just as well as I jumped into it. I'm still trying to come up with a way to bypass that but do you have any suggestions as to how I might be able to?

I believe my last question is one of my higher priority questions. How do you go about the writing process? I have looked online but I believe the best way to learn is from those who have walked down a similar path. Do you follow a sort of outline or a series of steps? Recently I have attempted to organize my thoughts before jumping into a story and I have found it semi-productive.

I apologize for intruding on your time but I would be very thankful if you could respond, even with a heads up that you are rather busy. Anyhow, thank you and have a good day.

You're quite welcome and I thank you for your responses. No, they did not come off as harsh at all. They were not sugar-coated, which is good. People tend to get fat on the sugar-coated responses and become irritated when they blatantly explained. I also have to thank you for your last sentence in the beginning, which I have acknowledged before-hand and will undoubtedly remember with each turn of the path.

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the html code for quoting others, I do apologize for that.

" It came from a variety of contributors who were working as designers, artists and editors at TSR, Inc. at the time."

Alright. Thank you. I admit that I have attempted to develop world(s) and have fallen out of tune with them due to my own criticism. I intend to develop another one rather than dusting off my others as they lacked true landmass and even deities, which I know are extremely important.

"Interestingly, we did have a set of rules and outlines which we followed. I teach this process of World Creation — and assist our participants in creating their own rules for their universe, in our 'Scribe's Forge Online Writing Seminars.'"

After this response I will be following that link, which I know I should have done previously. Regardless on if I can make it to one of your seminars or not, I assure you I do intend on pursuing this process as well. Based on one of your later responses, actually, I will attempt to gain from others of the "craft" while also shaping my own rules and outlines. Practice makes near-perfect as well as criticism.

"None. I did not learn the craft of writing from a college course — in face, I nearly failed my 'Creative Writing 101' course at college. I would suggest that what you need to learn in the craft of writing which is taught by those who have been there and by your own sweat and pain. You DO need to learn the craft as it is in the real world but I'm just not sure that college is the place for that."

I understand that. As a sidenote, I recently picked up a book by Stephen King regarded as "On Writing". I recently started it feeling that perhaps it will further polish my knowledge. I have yet to pursue a college course on creative writing but I did follow it in high school. Now, seeing that my turn is rather sudden from a science career to a writing career, right now I'm working on contacting authors. I will further explain this turn at the end of my response as I feel that it is necessary.

"There is no short cut. There is no magic elixir and mysterious hidden secret that can get you to a finished book without learning the craft, putting in the work and staying for the long haul. Discipline is one of the elements required to write a book and there just isn't any secret way around that fact. Eccentricity is no excuse: I know a lot of eccentric writers but the difference between an eccentric writer who is published and read and an eccentric writer who isn't boils down to discipline and craft."

Although I do not doubt I have to work on all three of these characteristics, the one I know I certainly lack right now is discipline. Putting in the work I am determined to do. Before when I was working on a lengthy story I merely put two to three hours a day twice a week. I am aware that writing can not only be a hobby but as a writer, it is also the job and jobs require up to and over eight hours a day, five or more days a week. I intend on contributing a work day's time each day to any story I write. Yes, I say it now; words are not actions here necessarily. Actually, to be honest this sounds like I'm attempting a motivational speech towards myself. Anyhow, I also recognize that research is required and that I have done since I cannot honestly remember, even if it's an unfamiliar word or a new location.

"Story is structure: a structure and process which we teach in our online seminars. Everyone's process is different but the important thing is to have a process. I could tell you how I write a book — and, again, I do so in our writing seminars — but everyone must discover and follow their own process. Again, story is structure as William Goldman so famously said — which means it is not an accident nor does it spring full born out of talent alone. Talent is not enough. There are many talented people out there who will never have their words read or communicate meaning to others because they lack the discipline and craft to turn their talent into solid, strong storytelling and narrative.

Any time I hear someone tell me that they are 'different' — that they are 'unique among writers' or don't want to be 'tied down' or' shackled' by rules — I know that they will never move anyone with their words because they falsely believe that there is an 'easy way' around all that learning and practice based on their talent alone. Perhaps they have gotten by on talent with their teachers or their friends before. But a real writer who challenges a readers perceptions and changes their lives are those who stop looking for short cuts and get to work learning the craft and disciplining themselves to act on that craft."

Your beginning sentences hit one of my questions, whether I vocalized it or not (yet another problem I have is not returning to the beginning and rereading my writings. It has been acknowledged.) right on the head, so to speak. Which reminds me that it is still a form of art, like sketching. I believe I'll be saving this conversation so I can return to this to read. This paragraph is extremely helpful in that it points out that "wishing" is only half the job.

I can assure you I have no intention on proclaiming such things. Should I ever in my life, then that is when I have become too blinded by comments. That is exactly why I started first with attempting to contact authors. I did consult with my English professor today, but it's extremely simple to recognize the different responses. I want to read what authors like yourself and others have to say to my questions because you all have had your books read and have furthered your lives by such things. I only know each of you formally, so I do not know if it is for better or for worse but your books were read nonetheless, they were acknowledged and drew the readers in.

In regards to one of my previous responses, it was very recently that I decided to make this choice. I can assure you that I have been writing for several years and before that role-playing physically with my family when we were younger. Granted, they have fallen out of the worlds but I have not, which is why I am here. I'm not going to reminisce but I will say that had it not been for them, I do not believe I would be pursuing this now. My original goal was to follow a scientific path which narrows to the point of suffocation, in my belief. I considered both this and the science career and I did not decide but rather felt (as peculiar as that sounds) that I want to be a writer.

My final paragraph is another question. What I have taken from this is that it is taught by others but mostly self-taught. I understand my best place to start is to start in a document, writing. To begin refining my process. I will read about your seminars and if I can, I will make an appearance in them. Yet, to be sure, are there any other necessary places I should start?

I can assure you that I will gladly return to this forum. Once again thank you. Nobody makes differences in the world be it writing, politics, or otherwise. Everybody simply has their brief glimmer, if they're willing to work for it.