Confessions From A Moleskine - All About My Writing

All About My Writing1

What started you writing?2

I cannot remember the exact time I started writing, but I do remember when I was younger I was always fascinated with and kept diaries. 3

Then when I was about thirteen, when I started high school I began to write longer workings of writing. Mostly short stories verging into novellas. 4

I was also an avid reader. 5

So I guess reading also played a part in me starting to write, but I don;t think I got serious about writing until June of 2007. It was a therapy as well as a passion and once I started I found it hard to stop. 6

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What is your main inspiration?8

My main inspiration would be the written word on paper, that and reading and talking about writing. I am always inspired greatly when I can see my own words written on paper. It is one of the simple things that can keep me inspired. 9

Reading about writing in such a form. Already published writers. 10

I also love to hear about other writers writing. I find that when I talk to others and help them with their work that it inspires me to write and question my own writing.11

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Is there a routine you have in your writing? Time of day? Coffee?13

My main time for writing is late at night or mid afternoon. I have been known to write during the early morning, but these days my writing is more productive during the afternoon early evening.14

I do need coffee mostly when I am writing something long, but I do enjoy a cool glass of soft drink.15

I usually write until I have written enough to sacrifice me for that day. I listen to a lot of music when I am writing as it motivates me, but occasionally my routine will chance and I will write in silence. (It does not usually last that long- Silence is scary.)16

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What is your primary genre?18

My primary genre? I would have to say thriller, psychology and romance. Mainly darker themes, darker sides of reality. I would not call it fantasy because most of what I write is based on human nature and life. So maybe I could call it reality fiction or true fiction.19

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How do you plan a character? Are they a small part of you or something you saw in someone else?20

As much as I dislike admitting it, I do believe that every character I create has a little aspect of myself inside them.21

Generally my rule is not to base a character of other people or what other people want for my characters.22

I tend to think of them as my children and I feel like a mother defending them when someone questions me (good or bad) about the way they are created.23

My characters are like unplanned pregnancy's. They are inside of me for a certain period of time before I allow them to come into my life, to grow and then I raise them to the point where they no longer need my help. Which at that point they are ready to tell me their own story.24

I have tried to plan characters before, but my stories always fail.25

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What is your thought patter on coming up with names for your character?27

They come to me out of nowhere majority of the time. Other times I will hear a name on the television or radio and I will use it, but it has to feel right. 28

I have forced a name on a character before and it was not their story. It made them seem like imposter's and the story was flat.29

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Do you outline or just got with the flow?31

I used to go with the flow, but nowadays I like to have a fair idea where my story is going.32

I try different methods with outlining and planning with each novel so it is not monotonous. Most of the time it is about trial and error.33

Right now I am loving rough note taking and using my notebook.34

I like to really think about an idea before I write a story. Not every idea is meant to be used.35

I do believe that a story will speak for itself if it is meant to be written.36

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Do you proof or allow someone else to assist you in this?38

No I don't. I mean occasionally I go through it and I have asked people a few times to help me proof my writing, but I prefer to leave it till the end and work through it myself so that I can learn what is wrong and right with my writing.39

I hate proofing while I am writing. To me it ruins the flow of my writing and discourages me often.40

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Do you proof or allow someone else to assist you in this?42

No I don't. I mean occasionally I go through it and I have asked people a few times to help me proof my writing, but I prefer to leave it till the end and work through it myself so that I can learn what is wrong and right with my writing.43

I hate proofing while I am writing. To me it ruins the flow of my writing and discourages me often.44

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Do you have a lucky charm?46

Not really. Though I do seem to have objects that make my write more productively.47

One would be my monstrous green jumper and another would be a cup of earl gray tea.48

I wrote the majority of my novel “The Apparition Man,” while drinking endless cups of earl gray tea.49

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