Ask the Author: Rock Neelly
Answered Questions (6)
Rock Neelly
The great detective noir writer Charles Williford said the answer was to make yourself write one page before using the bathroom in the morning. Then in a year you've got a novel.
I am not that extreme. My publisher claims that you are either a "pantser" or an outliner. A "pantser" flies by the seat of his pants and ends up with a novel via subconscious planning. I, however, am an outliner. My outline was quite complete as I wrote this novel and my sequel is planned out in my head and will be outlined in the next two weeks -- before I put the first sentence to paper.
I am not that extreme. My publisher claims that you are either a "pantser" or an outliner. A "pantser" flies by the seat of his pants and ends up with a novel via subconscious planning. I, however, am an outliner. My outline was quite complete as I wrote this novel and my sequel is planned out in my head and will be outlined in the next two weeks -- before I put the first sentence to paper.
Rock Neelly
You do get a lot of attention. But it is solitary for the most part. John Gardner wrote that he had to move every couple of years to shed friends to give himself writing time. That's extreme, but you do have to carve out blocks of time to be by yourself and to compose. And sometimes you just have to sit and stare at a wall. People will wonder what the heck you are doing until you publish. Then you have an excuse. Ha.
The best thing, hmmm? It might be getting that ISBN tattooed on your arm. Just kidding.
The best thing, hmmm? It might be getting that ISBN tattooed on your arm. Just kidding.
Rock Neelly
Find other writers and ask for help. I did and other more successful writers and editors were tremendously helpful.
Go to writer's conferences and learn more about the business of writing books. It's not exactly what you think. I guarantee that.
And learn your craft. Read the best in your genre. Then be different than that. Try to understand what they do best, but be you while doing that. Don't put the word "girl" in your book title. That's this year's deal.
Go to writer's conferences and learn more about the business of writing books. It's not exactly what you think. I guarantee that.
And learn your craft. Read the best in your genre. Then be different than that. Try to understand what they do best, but be you while doing that. Don't put the word "girl" in your book title. That's this year's deal.
Rock Neelly
The sequel. More of Roddy and Grace's story. These two guys have more to say to the world, so I intend to give them a case or two to give them voice. I plan on having it out roughly the same time next year.
The promotion of The Purple Heart Detective Agency is keeping me busy right now. And I do have a full time job as a professor at Gateway Community and Technical College, so not much writing time.
I know the plot now and will be outlining in the next two weeks.
The promotion of The Purple Heart Detective Agency is keeping me busy right now. And I do have a full time job as a professor at Gateway Community and Technical College, so not much writing time.
I know the plot now and will be outlining in the next two weeks.
Rock Neelly
I was pretty disciplined. If you wait for inspiration, you probably will always find something else to do. You have to make it something YOU DO. I wrote from 9-11 or 11-1:00 am, depending on my schedule. But not every day. I wrote in two hour bursts and then edited then next day or the day after.
But I wrote consistently. And edited out large chunks. What ended up being the prologue was original 50 pages in. Half the book was originally in a second person present tense in flashback sequences. Readers whose opinions I valued did not like that switching of voice, so I rewrote half the book. Huge pain, and then it sold. Huge gain.
But I wrote consistently. And edited out large chunks. What ended up being the prologue was original 50 pages in. Half the book was originally in a second person present tense in flashback sequences. Readers whose opinions I valued did not like that switching of voice, so I rewrote half the book. Huge pain, and then it sold. Huge gain.
Rock Neelly
I teach at a community college and my experience with the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan made me realize their heroism. So when Robert Beattie, a friend and a New York Times best-selling author offered to mentor me through the writing of a novel, I decided my protagonists would be wounded warriors, vets returning with disabilities.
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