Ask the Author: Janice Schwarz
Answered Questions (6)
Janice Schwarz
I'll go beyond the usual "write what you know" or "just sit and write".
Keep learning. About anything and everything.
Go out and get life experience, don't just keep your nose in a book.
In my 20's, I realized I'd spent most of my life reading and not living. So I went out, started doing lots of new things, experiencing new things, and going outside my comfort zone. I met people of all backgrounds; different cultures, geographic locations, rural and urban, and a variety of subcultures. I traveled a lot due to work and life and that helped too. Even before then, I was hard to shock. Now: I'm pretty much shock-proof.
Get out there and LIVE! Keep learning! Keep an open mind and study subjects from all points of via (AKA ditch your bias).
You'll suddenly find you have more to write about than you did before.
Keep learning. About anything and everything.
Go out and get life experience, don't just keep your nose in a book.
In my 20's, I realized I'd spent most of my life reading and not living. So I went out, started doing lots of new things, experiencing new things, and going outside my comfort zone. I met people of all backgrounds; different cultures, geographic locations, rural and urban, and a variety of subcultures. I traveled a lot due to work and life and that helped too. Even before then, I was hard to shock. Now: I'm pretty much shock-proof.
Get out there and LIVE! Keep learning! Keep an open mind and study subjects from all points of via (AKA ditch your bias).
You'll suddenly find you have more to write about than you did before.
Janice Schwarz
Seeing that this is my first book, I'm at the: "holy cow, I'm a "REAL" writer!" phase.
I have a book. I've always wanted to write. This is very new to me, so I can't say what will come later. Right now, I'm just happy that I've put out a book that will help a great many people.
It is very satisfying to have a completed book. And then finally get it out for the general public to have access to.
I have a book. I've always wanted to write. This is very new to me, so I can't say what will come later. Right now, I'm just happy that I've put out a book that will help a great many people.
It is very satisfying to have a completed book. And then finally get it out for the general public to have access to.
Janice Schwarz
I realized that a lot of what I had written in this book was already in my blog, but needed to be expanded on. And I looked at my 14 years in my industry, and thought about all the mistakes I've seen website owners, web designers, and web developers make. I'm highly motivated to help people, so I decided it was time to make a book to help people avoid all the mistakes I've watched people make over the years. I want EVERYONE to have a website! And most importantly, I want them to be great websites!
Janice Schwarz
I find a subject that moves me, and write about it. And as they say: write about what you know, and I do. There is the author's joke about a book grabbing you by the throat screaming: "YOU WILL WRITE ME!". There is a lot of truth to that, for both fiction and non-fiction.
That said, sometimes deadlines do it too. I took a writing class in college and in one hour, we had to write a short fiction story. Mine was the only one read to the class.
Same for one of my RTF classes in college: had to write a Treatment for a current TV show. Mine was the only one read to the class.
That said, sometimes deadlines do it too. I took a writing class in college and in one hour, we had to write a short fiction story. Mine was the only one read to the class.
Same for one of my RTF classes in college: had to write a Treatment for a current TV show. Mine was the only one read to the class.
Janice Schwarz
Right now: promoting the book. I also blog regularly at geekartist.com. I'm working on writing articles for BuzzFeed now and should soon be joining wordcarnivals.com as a regular writer (pending their approval, we're in the discussion phase right now).
I have a fiction book in progress. However, because I think so visually, and because my first college major was Radio/Television/Film, it needs a lot more fleshing out. It's almost like a short Treatment, at the moment.
Future book plans:
I also have a book planned for WordPress (a how-to for non-techies). And possibly an SEO and website promotion book.
Because my son and I are both autistic, I have plans to write a book about that subject, and other mental health issues. Not just about my personal experiences, but will also discuss science and research behind it.
Lastly, book project: The Economics of Caring. This is a massive research project that is taking some time to go through. But I enjoy research and this should actually be fun for me to write.
I have a fiction book in progress. However, because I think so visually, and because my first college major was Radio/Television/Film, it needs a lot more fleshing out. It's almost like a short Treatment, at the moment.
Future book plans:
I also have a book planned for WordPress (a how-to for non-techies). And possibly an SEO and website promotion book.
Because my son and I are both autistic, I have plans to write a book about that subject, and other mental health issues. Not just about my personal experiences, but will also discuss science and research behind it.
Lastly, book project: The Economics of Caring. This is a massive research project that is taking some time to go through. But I enjoy research and this should actually be fun for me to write.
Janice Schwarz
I stay on the computer and play video games that I know so well, I can do it on auto-pilot. Then, I get struck with an idea or figure my way out of a problem.
OR
Walk away from the computer. Eat, watch TV, go for a walk. Amazing what ideas can hit you in the shower too.
OR
Walk away from the computer. Eat, watch TV, go for a walk. Amazing what ideas can hit you in the shower too.
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