Interview with Minh Anh Do

Minh Anh Do

Interview Date: 8/30/2012

Biography

I'm an Vietnamese ( a small Asian country of South East Asia), I'm 17 and right now I stop writing to focus on my studying to win a place in a university ( In my case,I attempt to study Psychology to provide my writing).I have written since I was 12, gain a small award of Literature Honor Student in my city - Hanoi.
I'm the founder of my own so-called game company, as a writer and main designer.We had been working on 2 projects,one is sci-fi and one is a fantasy project,but the first one is cancelled for some reasons of the illustrator.Beside the gaming, I also write an on-going light novel of my own,had posted it on the Internet (in my country and in Vietnamese) and gain quite reputation.


When did you start writing, and was there a significant event that prompted you to do so?

I started writing when I was 12, and being honest, I'm quite a greedy person,want to do things on my own and satisfy my own self, so I started writing just to re-design my vision,my imaginary and my pleasure.


If you could have one superpower, what would it? (Assuming said power would be reasonably powerful.)

About the supernatural power, I think I would love an extreme intelligent, as calculating in every aspects of life to give the right answer. Like when I decide to ride a bike ,I can calculate the speed of the wind, how rough is the road to make the finest speed to ride. ( I know it sounds pretty weird )

Kev's response: Super intelligence sounds like a great power!


Do you have a favorite superhero from novels, comics, or movies?

Well,my favorite heroes are not so heroic. They are the Big Daddy from Bioshock series, and GLaDOS of Portal. I think they are unique, well-developed and have great design. Who doesn't love a good-looking, bad-ass character?


Where do you get your inspiration for writing? What motivates you?

As my previous answer, I write to satisfy myself. But, things change when I co-operate with my teammates, I changed my point of view. Now I also write for other people too.


Do you pre-plan your stories, or are you a by-the-seat-of-the-pants style writer?

I used to be a by-a-seat-of-the-pants writer, but now I changed to a planned one. But ,in my opinion, sometimes a planned writer can't be creative and ideas-expanding as a by-the-seat-of-the-pants, because we need inspirations too. But to have a logical story, well, be a planned writer. Or both.


Do you write only when inspired, or do you have a set schedule where you sit down to write?

For my own projects. I write only when I'm inspired. But as a member of a team, I write in schedule when I work the group's project.

Kev's response: That makes sense. A production team has to keep rolling along.


Do you have a favorite genre to write in? To read?

My favorite genre is sci-fi and fantasy-realism, both to write and to read.


What do you enjoy the most about writing?

I enjoy in hacking in people's mind, how they think, how they feel, their power and their relationship between their abilities and their true self, making a whole new world in my own vision. Oops I sounds like a psycho.

Kev's response: Not at all. Many psychos want to hack ... er, I mean many writers want to have some effect on readers!


Is there any part of writing that you don't enjoy?

Well...I don't like writing about girly girls. Blond hair, flipping hair, cares nothing but make-up, get the hair done and squeaking about idols. Just no.


Can you tell me something odd about yourself?

I think I'm pretty normal. Normal girls love to stay inside and make figures. Oh and they love to screaming like a fan girl at video game characters. And drawing monsters. See,nothing odd about me.

Kev's response: Mmm. Monsters. I used to get pretty hostile at online games when I played them. Best that I stay away now...


Are you for, or against, evil plots to take over the world? (Not saying I'm doing that, but thought I'd ask, just in case....)

Erm..not quite. I think I prefer taking over people' mind. Just people, not including trees, animals, anything else.

Kev's response: The last time I took over a tree, I didn't get anywhere, and felted downright planted in my plot. No more tree plots.


Where do you see the future as far as paper books versus digital e-books?

I think paper books will focus on more psychotically, or emotionally than digital books.Maybe more tragic stories. Paper books will stand for young adult, adult or elders. Digital books are more for teenagers, or male readers.


What are your current projects?

My current projects are a fantasy game named Midheaven: Bravery,a twist of the legendary Andromeda tale, not being a beautiful princess waiting for the hero to save her from the punishment of the Gods and her step-mother's ultimate brag, but a victim of a cruel plan (this is just a part of the series Midheaven) ; and a School-life light novel named My Blue, about a normal high school student and his tragic of discovering his crush-a very gentle-looking girl-actually is a fierce delinquent and how he involves to her life.

Kev's response: Those darn gentle-looking girls. Delinquents, all of them!


Do you have any advice for others about self-publishing?

First of all, you have to know that many useless, boring, yet popular writers out there. Why? Because they didn't know they are that bad, and they promote their "work" everywhere as if they are so awesome. But you, you are a rough diamond, a hidden star, don't lose your faith .Promote them in many places ,but be polite and listening, cuz you know there are many talented people. And, haters gonna hate, but don't forget to improve yourself everyday.


Do you have any online sites where readers can find out more about you (and your books)?

http://www.facebook.com/groups/198739786921395/ yes,this is our game group page, and I hope you guys will support us, because we only had 6 people and we are still very young.
Best regards,
Minh Anh Do.

Kev's response: Minh, thank you for joining me! Good fortune with the game endeavor, and the production-scale writing!



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