Editing Dragonlance (section)

=== Creation ===
[[File:Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis - GenCon 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis at Gen Con 2008.]]
Hickman developed his world creation technique by writing and self-publishing with his wife Laura the [[List of Dungeons & Dragons modules|adventure modules]] ''[[Rahasia]]'' (1979) and ''[[Desert of Desolation#Pharaoh|Pharaoh]]'' (1980), and writing TSR's [[Ravenloft (module)|''Ravenloft'' module]] (1983). He was unemployed in 1982, and TSR offered him a job based on his submission of several modules.<ref name="Hunt"/> That year, while driving from Utah to Wisconsin to start a job with TSR, Hickman and his wife created the ''Dragonlance'' universe concept. During the trip, Hickman and his wife discussed two ideas they had had for several years: an entire world used to support a storyline, and a world dominated by dragons.<ref name="Archer"/>

Their ideas were well received by TSR, whose marketing department felt they had enough dungeons, but not enough [[Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)|dragons]]. Hickman suggested a series of twelve modules, each featuring a different dragon. TSR employee [[Harold Johnson (game designer)|Harold Johnson]] suggested that Hickman should try to get additional support from other TSR staff members and, after a period of months, Hickman had the support of [[Jeff Grubb]], [[Larry Elmore]], [[Roger E. Moore|Roger Moore]], [[Douglas Niles|Doug Niles]], [[Michael Williams (author)|Michael Williams]], and others with whom they discussed ideas for the project. Meanwhile, Weis was editing and writing various ''[[Endless Quest]]'' books for TSR. The ''Dragonlance'' group decided that novels should accompany the game modules; TSR reluctantly agreed and hired a writer.<ref name="Archer">{{Cite book | last=Archer | first=Peter | year= 2004 | chapter=Dragonlance | title=[[30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons]] | publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]] | pages=64–75 | isbn =0-7869-3498-0}}</ref> Hickman became the design coordinator for ''Project Overlord'', the cover name for what would later be known as the Dragonlance saga.<ref name="Dragon #120">{{cite journal
  | last = Hickman
  | first = Tracy
  | author-link = Tracy Hickman
  | title = TSR Profiles
  | journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]
  | issue = #120
  | pages = 90
  | publisher = TSR, Inc.
  | location = [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]]
  | date = April 1987}}</ref>

TSR decided to create a franchise, including modules, board games, lead figures, and - for the first time - novels. Weis had been hired as an editor; with Hickman, she began working with the author hired to write the novels. They weren't satisfied with the author, and decided they should be the ones to write the books.<ref name="Hunt"/> They collaborated over a weekend, writing the prologue for the first five chapters of the first novel,<ref name="Hunt"/> ''[[Dragons of Autumn Twilight]]'', based on the module ''[[Dragons of Despair]]''.<ref name="courier"/> TSR liked their treatment and gave them the assignment, firing the author. After two years of development, TSR released the module ''Dragons of Despair'' and the novel ''Dragons of Autumn Twilight'' in March and November 1984, respectively.<ref>{{cite journal |date=November 1984 |title=Chronicles: a novel idea |journal=Dragon #91 |publisher=[[TSR, Inc.|TSR]] |volume=IX |issue=6 |pages=44–45 |issn=0279-6848}}</ref><ref name="history">{{cite web | url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp | title=The History of TSR | publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]] | access-date=August 20, 2005 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924195557/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp | archive-date=September 24, 2008}}</ref> TSR had doubts about the finished novel's sales potential, and attempted to order thirty thousand copies, ultimately ordering the minimum print run of fifty thousand. The success of the novel prompted TSR to publish more copies to meet demand.<ref name="Hunt"/> The novel was written after the completion of the first [[Dragonlance modules (DL series)|''Dragonlance'' game modules]]. Weis and Hickman felt this was constraining and made the novel feel too episodic, so they reversed the process for the next books and completed the novels before the related modules were written.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 22, 2007 |title=Interview: Screenwriter, George Strayton |url=http://www.dragonlance-movie.com/news/show_news.asp?id=12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814060903/http://www.dragonlance-movie.com/news/show_news.asp?id=12 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 14, 2007 |access-date=March 24, 2007 |publisher=Dragonlance movie site }}</ref> ''Dragonlance'' received support products such as novels, calendars, computer games, and books of artwork.<ref name="D&Dfaq">{{cite web | url = http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp | title = ''Dungeons & Dragons'' FAQ | access-date = October 3, 2008 | publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081002132129/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp | url-status = dead | archive-date = October 2, 2008}}</ref>