Ask the Author: Jason Streubel
Answered Questions (5)
Jason Streubel
Any old word processor works for me. I still make outlines in notebooks quite a bit, especially in the earliest stages of a story's creation. Basically, I use whatever's handy.
Another great question! Thanks for asking!
Another great question! Thanks for asking!
Jason Streubel
So far, nearly all the stories I've worked on all started as something totally different, and most of those haven't seen the light of day. Most conceptualizing starts with, "Wouldn't it be cool if..." For instance, my current project about an interstellar adventure started as an idea for a video game that had none of the story or characters. That didn't work out, but the core concept stuck with me. Years later I had some ideas as to how to turn it into a book, but it would have been longer than I would have liked. A buddy of mine suggested writing it as a series of shorter stories, and the idea stuck. In short, my current recipe is 1 part neat idea, 1 part running the idea past my wife, 2 parts serendipity, and gin to taste. Then boil for 3 to 5 years until ready to write.
I do use outlines, but I tend to keep them on the general side. I've found that stories (especially in regards to the characters and their actions) tend to write themselves as I go, and keeping a outline that can be fluid stops me from boxing myself in. It's just enough structure to keep myself from going too far off the reservation, but not so much as to be confining.
Great question, sir! Thank you for asking!
I do use outlines, but I tend to keep them on the general side. I've found that stories (especially in regards to the characters and their actions) tend to write themselves as I go, and keeping a outline that can be fluid stops me from boxing myself in. It's just enough structure to keep myself from going too far off the reservation, but not so much as to be confining.
Great question, sir! Thank you for asking!
Jason Streubel
I had read an article about what the most practical superpower would be in the real world. Abilities like super speed and flight were out of the question due to what I call, "The Hancock Complex." That is, super powers tend to backfire in the real world, where anonymity would be nigh impossible. Stopping time, on the other hand, would be far more applicable and subtle, if used properly. I was pondering this and thought, "What if you could stop time, but couldn't make it start again?" That led to the theorizing that became the premise for, "Lapse."
Jason Streubel
I'm currently working on a novella series. The first one should be done in autumn of 2016.
Jason Streubel
Patience, mostly. However I've found that music that matches the tone I'm trying to convey in my story often helps the scenes play out in my head more vividly.
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