Ask the Author: Jane Jago
Answered Questions (39)
Jane Jago
I only just saw this question. I’m very pleased you enjoyed The Letter. The story will appear on Goodreads when I issue my third collection of stories and verse later this year.
Jane Jago
Probably best if you mail a 500 or 700 word extract to workingtitleblogspot@gmail.com.
We can take it from there
We can take it from there
Jane Jago
Can you mail 500-700 word extract to workingtitleblogspot@gmail.com.
We can then take it from there
We can then take it from there
Jane Jago
Can you mail 500-700 word extract to workingtitleblogspot@gmail.com.
We can then take it from there
We can then take it from there
Jane Jago
The books of Guy Gavriel Kay. The music of The Travelling Wilburies. Cheese
Jane Jago
I just stick my head down and write.
Jane Jago
Perhaps the last mojito was a bad idea she mused, as she stumbled homeward under the harsh yellow streetlights. She didn’t hear the man until she felt his hands at her throat, he didn’t see her fangs until they latched into his flesh...
Jane Jago
I am pleased you like my stuff, and I do write longer stuff. I have written seven full-length novels...
Jane Jago
Narnia. For the simple pleasure of conversing with a beaver
Jane Jago
Nothing yet. I'm waiting to be ambushed by a beautiful story...
Jane Jago
My husband says it's how I can be not listening to him but still repeat what he said verbatim. Apparently it's very annoying
Jane Jago
Chin-Cha was a challenge to write, in that I wanted to give him depth as well as difference. I had to make quite a few adjustments.
First, there's always the thing of a woman writing a man. Then there was the need to make him both human and canine at the same time, and all within the word constraint of a short story.
But I liked him so much that it was pleasure as much as work
First, there's always the thing of a woman writing a man. Then there was the need to make him both human and canine at the same time, and all within the word constraint of a short story.
But I liked him so much that it was pleasure as much as work
Jane Jago
You know how to ask them.
And honestly I don't know. But I'm fond of the paragraph below as it ends a book with a beginning, which I kinda like.
The beginning...
Midnight, and a small figure sits on a bench in the park that surrounds the palace gardens. She is barefoot, though wrapped in a smoke-grey cloak, and shivers slightly in a chill wind. Her sharp ears catch the slightest of sounds and she turns to look into the amber eyes of the biggest grey wolf she has ever seen. Arbel Liefsdottir throws back her head and howls triumphantly before dropping her cloak and making the change herself. For a moment, the two wolves tussle in the grass like puppies before streaking off across the silver landscape to hunt together for the first time.
And honestly I don't know. But I'm fond of the paragraph below as it ends a book with a beginning, which I kinda like.
The beginning...
Midnight, and a small figure sits on a bench in the park that surrounds the palace gardens. She is barefoot, though wrapped in a smoke-grey cloak, and shivers slightly in a chill wind. Her sharp ears catch the slightest of sounds and she turns to look into the amber eyes of the biggest grey wolf she has ever seen. Arbel Liefsdottir throws back her head and howls triumphantly before dropping her cloak and making the change herself. For a moment, the two wolves tussle in the grass like puppies before streaking off across the silver landscape to hunt together for the first time.
Jane Jago
Ever since I was old enough to hold a pen I have written stories and verse. I told stories to other children, wrote poems and limericks to order, and won quite a few prizes in school. Then the need to eat got in the way, so I wrote less.
Now I am a retired person and I can find time, I write just about constantly
Now I am a retired person and I can find time, I write just about constantly
Jane Jago
Not really. Once I write a few paragraphs of a character that personally seems to take over and dictate how he orbshe will behave. Mennare a bit more difficult, but I'm married to one and I tend to,ask myself what he would say or do if I get stuck.
Jane Jago
I am a bit multi-genre already. And although I write fantasy, thrillers, short fiction and perverse verse there are elements of romance, family saga and even sci-finwithin what i do already.
I would love to be able to write humour, but I can't it's just not funny.
However, I do have a story knocking around my brain that will be pure sci-fi if it ever gets written
I would love to be able to write humour, but I can't it's just not funny.
However, I do have a story knocking around my brain that will be pure sci-fi if it ever gets written
Jane Jago
That's a hard one. I think it's probably always the one I'm writing at the time, because that's the one I'm most involved with.
I must admit to also having a sneaky love for Arbel Liefsdottir from my very first book. She's a plain little thing with a big secret
I must admit to also having a sneaky love for Arbel Liefsdottir from my very first book. She's a plain little thing with a big secret
Jane Jago
You do. Mostly. But there are times when ruthlessness is an absolute necessity.
Jane Jago
Fun, but frustrating. It can be the very best thing, but you do have to be prepared to go back over it and scrap stuff where they have led you right up the garden path.
I'd recommend any new author to try everything from rigid line by line planning to complete seat of the pants writing. That way you will find your own unique voice
I'd recommend any new author to try everything from rigid line by line planning to complete seat of the pants writing. That way you will find your own unique voice
Jane Jago
Guy Gavriel Kay
Dorothy L Sayers
Jane Austen
Dylan Thomas
TS Eliot
And more
I think everything we read influences our writing. How can it not...
Dorothy L Sayers
Jane Austen
Dylan Thomas
TS Eliot
And more
I think everything we read influences our writing. How can it not...
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