Ask the Author: C.T. Avis
Answered Questions (5)
C.T. Avis
In the first two books, Ironedge and Upshot, I'd laid out a tension between the protagonist Damulis and the government officials in charge of magic. It's time for Damulis to work with a wizard so that he can (possibly) broaden his mind.
Other aspects came from, unfortunately, people's real lives. If you're not familiar with the fantasy genre, that might sound odd. If you are familiar, you'll understand how speculative fiction gives people a different way to deal with being human.
Other aspects came from, unfortunately, people's real lives. If you're not familiar with the fantasy genre, that might sound odd. If you are familiar, you'll understand how speculative fiction gives people a different way to deal with being human.
C.T. Avis
I deal with writer's block by, um, uh...
I have an outline of the novel and I try to end each section with a clear objective about what to write next. However, I don't necessarily write from the beginning of the novel to the end. I'll skip around when I get an idea for a particular scene. If I really like the scene, I will try to write from where I left off to that point.
When I'm writing, I do something with the current novel every day, even if that's re-reading and editing what I wrote instead of creating something new. I don't always hit my goal of five pages a day, but I will always do something productive.
I have an outline of the novel and I try to end each section with a clear objective about what to write next. However, I don't necessarily write from the beginning of the novel to the end. I'll skip around when I get an idea for a particular scene. If I really like the scene, I will try to write from where I left off to that point.
When I'm writing, I do something with the current novel every day, even if that's re-reading and editing what I wrote instead of creating something new. I don't always hit my goal of five pages a day, but I will always do something productive.
C.T. Avis
Work on your writing every day that you're supposed to be writing. I don't write year round, as I have significant periods of vacation from my day job. During those periods, I make myself write five pages a day. I rarely fail to do that, and some days I write more. I don't worry about writing five pages of something good, as that will lead to writer's block, I just write. I trust that I'll fix things through the editing process, so that takes some of the pressure off the creative process.
Also, have at least a broad outline going into the first draft. I know some people say they want to "see where the novel take them". That's fine, but if you also have a road map, the outline, you can find your way back to your plot or at least compared what you wrote to what you planned.
Also, have at least a broad outline going into the first draft. I know some people say they want to "see where the novel take them". That's fine, but if you also have a road map, the outline, you can find your way back to your plot or at least compared what you wrote to what you planned.
C.T. Avis
A few years back, in the midst of buying a house and all the stress that goes along with that, I had a huge flash of inspiration where I outlined a series of novels in what would be come the Inquisitor Damulis series. When it's time to write, I look at that list of ideas. While an arc does go through the novels and I am aiming for character development with each new book, I will generally pick the story idea that appeals to me the most from that list and begin work. The new novel Wizard's Shield does the most at setting up a direct sequel for book four, tentatively called Bloodfalls, so I'm more committed to a particular story idea than I have been before.
Inspiration, though...It's getting harder. I generally like writing. I get to hang out in a world I made up, where I can control things. It's often a refuge of sorts from stress in the real world. I'm not doing it as a hobby, though, so if I don't meet the goals I have for myself, I can get discouraged. It's more of a fight to create these days. Positive reinforcement from friends and readers helps greatly. If you like my stuff, please leave a review.
Inspiration, though...It's getting harder. I generally like writing. I get to hang out in a world I made up, where I can control things. It's often a refuge of sorts from stress in the real world. I'm not doing it as a hobby, though, so if I don't meet the goals I have for myself, I can get discouraged. It's more of a fight to create these days. Positive reinforcement from friends and readers helps greatly. If you like my stuff, please leave a review.
C.T. Avis
The fourth novel in the Inquisitor Damulis series is underway, but I'm not working on it currently as I concentrate on promoting Wizard's Shield.
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