Ask the Author: Ian Hiatt
Answered Questions (4)
Ian Hiatt
I'm currently devouring Marie Brennan's Lady Trent series. Hoping to finish it this summer!
Ian Hiatt
Being a writer gives you an excuse to do absolutely bat-guano crazy stuff all under the genuine need for "research". Jumping out of planes, swimming with sharks, finding out what a rhino's poop smells like. All things that you might need to know as a writer. Or just cause...come on...what DOES rhino poop smell like?
Ian Hiatt
Two things: research trips and music. Museums, locations, movies, whatever it takes to learn more about whatever I want to write about. I've gone to centuries-old ships, hiked paths with titanic statues, walked city blocks---whatever it takes. There's nothing better than just putting yourself there where your characters would be.
And music. Gotta have music. Make a playlist for your book. Have songs represent key scenes. Instrumental or lyrical, doesn't matter. It helps you shape the emotions around the scene and gets you amped-up to write it!
And music. Gotta have music. Make a playlist for your book. Have songs represent key scenes. Instrumental or lyrical, doesn't matter. It helps you shape the emotions around the scene and gets you amped-up to write it!
Ian Hiatt
Writer's block is a symptom, not the disease. Usually it means that you're unsure of where to go with your story or you're afraid of doing something wrong. The best way to deal with it is to clear your head and then force yourself to write. Even if it's garbage. I've written a lot of crap piles to beat writer's block. You can always throw out the stumbles you did on your way to the marathon.
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