Ask the Author: Christopher J. Jarmick
Answered Questions (6)
Christopher J. Jarmick
Small to Midsize Bookstore - BookTree in Kirkland, WA of course.
Specialty Bookstore - Open Books - Poetry in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle.
Tacoma, Wa. Bookstore - Kings Books
Large Bookstore - Eliot Bay in Seattle, Powell's in Portland
Specialty Bookstore - Open Books - Poetry in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle.
Tacoma, Wa. Bookstore - Kings Books
Large Bookstore - Eliot Bay in Seattle, Powell's in Portland
Christopher J. Jarmick
Poetry books are like long distance cross country running or mountain climbing. I've been working on several ideas for the book for years and others at various times over the last several decades. The book I put out in 2010 was more of an experiment (mostly it worked out well and I'm proud of it) but I didn't include a lot of the work I had because I saw them being part of a different book. I figured in a year or maybe two I would get my next book out there -- but it's been more than 5.
The unpublished (so far) mystery novels I've been writing came about as a result of reading dozens of contemporary mystery novels and getting the idea that I would have to write the kind of book that would really satisfy me as a reader. And then of course as you start writing something like that you see your limitations and flaws and work through them (hopefully) and read more.
In April and several other times during the year I will use prompts to write poetry and some stories or even articles. I will challenge myself and sometimes the prompts lead to something completely different which I let happen.
The unpublished (so far) mystery novels I've been writing came about as a result of reading dozens of contemporary mystery novels and getting the idea that I would have to write the kind of book that would really satisfy me as a reader. And then of course as you start writing something like that you see your limitations and flaws and work through them (hopefully) and read more.
In April and several other times during the year I will use prompts to write poetry and some stories or even articles. I will challenge myself and sometimes the prompts lead to something completely different which I let happen.
Christopher J. Jarmick
Reading always inspires me to write. I don't ever wait to be inspired to write, but I know I'm not reading enough or I'm not reading enough different things if I am not constantly scribbling ideas or sentences or thoughts down. When you develop a good writing discipline you will also be inspired. Watching TV or playing video games rarely provides inspiration... reading always does.
Christopher J. Jarmick
Compete with yourself not anyone else. Read more. There's no substitute for reading. Solutions to problems you will encounter are only revealed by constantly reading a variety of material. Do a little better every day in some way in your writing. Write something every day. Don't give up. Every published writer was rejected and most were rejected dozens or even hundreds of times and most writers continue to get rejected. It means nothing in the long run how many times you were rejected or how many books sell. It only matters that every day you grow and get better as a writer. If you aren't sure you are getting better, perhaps you should worry less about getting approval from someone else and read and read and read until you know what you MUST write and write that regardless of your perception of how sale-able or popular it might be. You should be writing because you have to.
I should add... aspiring writers? If you are thinking and dreaming about writing but not writing you will remain aspiring. If you are writing in fits and starts but not reading and you spend more time excusing yourself for not writing you will remain aspiring. Aspiring writers, write and read and write so much they perspire and wake up one day and decide... I'm a writer. They find more time... not less time to write.
I should add... aspiring writers? If you are thinking and dreaming about writing but not writing you will remain aspiring. If you are writing in fits and starts but not reading and you spend more time excusing yourself for not writing you will remain aspiring. Aspiring writers, write and read and write so much they perspire and wake up one day and decide... I'm a writer. They find more time... not less time to write.
Christopher J. Jarmick
Solving puzzles and problems and accomplishing tasks and goals is part of the writing process. It feels good to complete an assignment or a task you have set for yourself. It can be frustrating because there is always more work to do and the writing can always, always be better -- even changing one word can sometimes make it better but... the fact that you are creating something unique and different, in some way, of your own making, feeds a basic need and opens you up to experience life more than you would if you just ignore this part of you. Artists, musicians, chefs, gardeners, designers etc. etc. consciously allow themselves, push themselves to create something that didn't exist before.
Christopher J. Jarmick
Writing is a discipline. You write every day. Sometimes of course you get stuck and what you intend to work on just isn't motivating you. I might take a short break and do a chore or I might work on some other type of writing and exercise my writing muscles that way which often brings me back to what I wanted to accomplish. I make sure I write something every day.
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