Ask the Author: Howard Gurney
Answered Questions (6)
Howard Gurney
I have been reading fantasy fiction for 40 years, although interestingly I could not stand it for a decade or so in my 30s. I have a bookcase full of my favourite books and almost certainly many of the plots and characters have stuck. If you are a fantasy aficionado you will recognise some in my books. But otherwise, I have a pretty good imagination and clever people around me who I can bounce ideas off. Again, ideas are not in short supply. Time is!
Howard Gurney
I have a pretty full life. I work with cancer patients, have lots of weird and varied friends, a lovely wife and great adult children. Inspiration is easy. Time is the problem!
Howard Gurney
My second book THE THREAD FRAYS has just been sent off the the manuscript assessor. Almost certainly changes will be suggested by hopefully that will not take long. The book should be published mid 2016. I have finished the first draft of the third book in the trilogy CHAOS and I'm now going through filling in the gaps in the story, twisting the tension, heightening the feelings and so forth.
To me writing is a bit like painting a canvas, although I can't paint for the life of me. The first three or four drafts are just the foundation. Its the fine detail (a little description here, a touch of emotion there) that makes a better book.
To me writing is a bit like painting a canvas, although I can't paint for the life of me. The first three or four drafts are just the foundation. Its the fine detail (a little description here, a touch of emotion there) that makes a better book.
Howard Gurney
Get a day job. Write for a hobby. Persist. Talk to as many people as you can who know what they are doing either through web-sites, blogs or writing groups (although I have never done the latter).
Review your work critically and then get others to do so, if you can find someone to give an honest opinion.
Then get professional advice. Its worth paying a small amount of money to get a subjective, professional review.
Edit your work ruthlessly but know when it is time to stop. You will never get it perfect but you must try.
Above all, make sure it is interesting. Your words should generate emotions in yourself when you re-read the work months later.
Review your work critically and then get others to do so, if you can find someone to give an honest opinion.
Then get professional advice. Its worth paying a small amount of money to get a subjective, professional review.
Edit your work ruthlessly but know when it is time to stop. You will never get it perfect but you must try.
Above all, make sure it is interesting. Your words should generate emotions in yourself when you re-read the work months later.
Howard Gurney
Having a story develop from the end of your pen that hopefully takes me (and my readers) to another world. Sometimes even I don't know what will happen to my characters. They seem to develop a life of their own!
Howard Gurney
I find that music and a good red wine (not too much!) usually overcomes a block although I'm so busy with other things that thankfully this doesn't happen to me very often. Or I ride my bike around the Rocks in Sydney to blow out the cobwebs.
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