But Enough About Me!

Periodically (although rarely) in the past I have answered questions from a high school student about writing. I don't really have the time to do this now, however.

Here is a section from one longer interview I did some years ago:



LIFE AS A WRITER:


44. How do you balance writing with your real life?

I try to take weekends off, but I am always thinking about writing. Also, real life has a habit of intruding, no matter what.



45. What is your writing schedule like?

I try to treat writing like a regular job in terms of working Monday through Friday during approximate office hours (9 - 5). At times I work more, and at other times I have the flexibility to work less or take time off to run errands during the day or what have you.


46. Do you have any regrets as a writer?

No. Nothing really. I have learned as I’ve gone along, and what I’ve learned from mistakes I’ve made in the past has allowed me to move forward. I’m not sure there’s really any other way to do it.


47. Do you go with every single idea that you have and try to make it a best seller/great?

I will never have the time to write out as a story or novel every single idea I have had, much less will have.



48. Do you have different standards/goals with different pieces?

Yes. I think every new piece of writing deserves its own standard and/or goal. I try to work on a specific craft issue (for instance: using fewer adjectives; making the pace move more quickly; juggling more secondary characters) with each new novel, because it is always my goal to improve as a writer with each new project.


49. Where do you get your inspiration for writing from?

I don’t know. I’ve written stories since I was young. It seems to be a compulsion.

As for ideas for stories, mostly it’s a matter of reading, experiencing life, observing, thinking and so on, and then flashes of plot or character or landscape will come into my mind and slowly start to adhere together until they start taking on a life, which I can then start stitching together into something resembling a set of ideas for a novel or series.


50. Have you ever taken a creative writing course? If so, did it help?

I have taken several writing courses, but I’m skeptical that I learned much from them. A really good writing teacher can teach some good basics, but most of what I’ve learned about writing directly from others, I’ve learned by working with editors and by discussing writing with other writers. It’s amazing how much I’ve picked up through such conversations. Most of what I’ve learned on the whole, of course, I’ve learned by doing (writing), by reading, by listening, by experiencing.