Ask the Author: Stephen Morrill
Answered Questions (6)
Stephen Morrill
Ah. May fave question. Book critic Kevin Tipple remarked, in his review, that Mangrove Bayou was "Very reminiscent of the Jesse Stone series by Robert B. Parker … "
And he was square on-target. When Parker died I was bereft of my Jesse Stone/Paradise, Massachusetts police procedurals. I moped around for a while and then said, "Steve, you're a writer. You've already tried your hand at several fiction genres. You could write a Jesse Stone book."
So I created the fictional Florida town of Mangrove Bayou and the assorted characters therein, revolving around my police chief Troy Adam, northern-born, mixed-race, fired from his last job. It clicked with me and I hope it clicks with readers. Fun to write. Fun to read. Plenty more where that came from.
And he was square on-target. When Parker died I was bereft of my Jesse Stone/Paradise, Massachusetts police procedurals. I moped around for a while and then said, "Steve, you're a writer. You've already tried your hand at several fiction genres. You could write a Jesse Stone book."
So I created the fictional Florida town of Mangrove Bayou and the assorted characters therein, revolving around my police chief Troy Adam, northern-born, mixed-race, fired from his last job. It clicked with me and I hope it clicks with readers. Fun to write. Fun to read. Plenty more where that came from.
Stephen Morrill
Money. The cat needs food.
Stephen Morrill
Another Mangrove Bayou mystery, of course! I'm up to five at the moment (Tuesday, 23 June, 2015). Sitting to one side: The first Cord MacIntosh private eye mystery, all done and needing to be sent around to agents. My four-volume fantasy series, Sorcet Chronicles, is ready too.
Also working up a rewrite of a ghosted book for a client, to be published in 2016 by Reader's Digest Books. Just completed yet another historic preservation grant application and another waiting to get started. If it requires strung-together words,and if you have money, I'm your guy.
Also working up a rewrite of a ghosted book for a client, to be published in 2016 by Reader's Digest Books. Just completed yet another historic preservation grant application and another waiting to get started. If it requires strung-together words,and if you have money, I'm your guy.
Stephen Morrill
Learn the business. Learn your genre. Read the competition. And write. And write. And write. And never give up.
Mark Twain once said, "Anyone can be a writer. The words are all in the dictionary." And a lot of people actually believe that. Then they meet rejection and give up. If you simply don't give up when you're rejected you break free of the pack and are on the way to success.
In the olden days, when we sent out manuscripts by postal mail, I used to say that the difference between successful writers and wannabees was the size of their postage-stamp bills. Today it's easier. So make that cable connection smoke with use.
Mark Twain once said, "Anyone can be a writer. The words are all in the dictionary." And a lot of people actually believe that. Then they meet rejection and give up. If you simply don't give up when you're rejected you break free of the pack and are on the way to success.
In the olden days, when we sent out manuscripts by postal mail, I used to say that the difference between successful writers and wannabees was the size of their postage-stamp bills. Today it's easier. So make that cable connection smoke with use.
Stephen Morrill
hah. This subject came up just a few days ago on the message boards for the American Society of Journalists and Authors. My answer was …
"Not working for stupid people in stultifying offices doing menial, repetitive tasks comes to mind. And nobody will ever ask me to piss into a bottle."
"Not working for stupid people in stultifying offices doing menial, repetitive tasks comes to mind. And nobody will ever ask me to piss into a bottle."
Stephen Morrill
I don't get writer's block. This is my job. I've been a full-time writer, mostly nonfiction and only recently some fiction, since 1984. I usually have things stacked up awaiting my attention.
But I can say, from observing others, that I SUSPECT that writer's block stems mostly from three factors: First, the project seems so daunting. Nobody sits down and says "Today I'll write a book." But if you say "Today I'll do 1000 words" then in a couple of months you have a book.
Second is a matter of priorities. You have to PLAN to do that thousand words each day. You have to establish a routine time to do it. You have to NOT GET DISTRACTED because the dishes need washing.
And third is planning. I'm a huge believer in detailed outlines. I've heard all sorts of would-be fiction authors say, "Oh. My characters just tell me what to write." That's nonsense. Your characters will wander away and forget to phone home. My characters do what I tell them to do and when because it's all in the outline. No outline, no book. In my opinion.
But I can say, from observing others, that I SUSPECT that writer's block stems mostly from three factors: First, the project seems so daunting. Nobody sits down and says "Today I'll write a book." But if you say "Today I'll do 1000 words" then in a couple of months you have a book.
Second is a matter of priorities. You have to PLAN to do that thousand words each day. You have to establish a routine time to do it. You have to NOT GET DISTRACTED because the dishes need washing.
And third is planning. I'm a huge believer in detailed outlines. I've heard all sorts of would-be fiction authors say, "Oh. My characters just tell me what to write." That's nonsense. Your characters will wander away and forget to phone home. My characters do what I tell them to do and when because it's all in the outline. No outline, no book. In my opinion.
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