Ask the Author: Julie Simons
Answered Questions (6)
Julie Simons
First, I take advantage of the time to get caught up on other things in my life, because I know, once the creative juices get flowing again, many aspects of what others call "normalcy" will fall by the wayside. It's hard to maintain structure when you march to the fickle drum of "creativity."
Second, I set goals and try to stick by them if I am really in a rut. I'll sit at my computer and tell myself "I am going to work on x today because I need to get to y. And yes I can do it. Of course I can do it. Why else am I here, how else did I get this far?" I can't count how many times this past year I thought I was certain to not get anything done because I thought my creativity levels had receded into the negatives. But I sat there and worked with determination and, before I knew it, I'd gotten the job done. I've got to be realistic with goals, however. I have to break things into small pieces if I'm feeling really stuck. If all else fails, I edit. You can never proofread too many times. It's impossible.
Second, I set goals and try to stick by them if I am really in a rut. I'll sit at my computer and tell myself "I am going to work on x today because I need to get to y. And yes I can do it. Of course I can do it. Why else am I here, how else did I get this far?" I can't count how many times this past year I thought I was certain to not get anything done because I thought my creativity levels had receded into the negatives. But I sat there and worked with determination and, before I knew it, I'd gotten the job done. I've got to be realistic with goals, however. I have to break things into small pieces if I'm feeling really stuck. If all else fails, I edit. You can never proofread too many times. It's impossible.
Julie Simons
I choose what I want to write about. Let's not confuse this with data entry. Especially with self-publishing. I went down this route because I couldn't stand the thought of anyone dictating plot-line to me or in any way taking creative control of my work--from cover art to content editing. Mine. Mine. Mine. And let's not forget the beauty of the whole concept of bookselling--that one gets paid for their hobby? Genius! Not that money is really the drive, however. Writing, in general, is not as lucrative as people think it is. It can be, but authors shouldn't count on it. We write because we love it. It can't be about money for me. I could never sacrifice my standards for content for the sake of making a buck.
There's another thing, though, that makes authors love writing. It's the drive, the compulsion to bring their stories to life--the stories they can't bear to have trapped in their heads. The story breathes its first breath of life when it gets recorded in words: the writing process. It MUST be completed. But the story--and the characters--don't really LIVE until others can read about them too. For authors, the story is something living; otherwise, we couldn't dedicate so much love and care to our books.
There's another thing, though, that makes authors love writing. It's the drive, the compulsion to bring their stories to life--the stories they can't bear to have trapped in their heads. The story breathes its first breath of life when it gets recorded in words: the writing process. It MUST be completed. But the story--and the characters--don't really LIVE until others can read about them too. For authors, the story is something living; otherwise, we couldn't dedicate so much love and care to our books.
Julie Simons
Write. Get your ideas down even if it's just shorthand and sentence fragments. Later, string those ideas together into something that sounds more like a narration even if all you have are scene snippets that are stranded in the middle of your story. You can write the beginning--or discover it--later. Don't lock yourself into writing in chronological order. Don't fuss over a rough draft thinking it needs to be in complete sentences. It doesn't. And if you think your writing quality isn't good enough to sell--keep writing. Just write, and read other's works. You WILL improve. Go back later and read what you wrote a couple years prior. You'll see a difference. Let it give you encouragement.
Julie Simons
The publication phase of releasing Angel of Night has been a time hog. I've had to put writing on hold for now. But when I get back to my creative phase I will be working on the sequel to Angel of Night titled Angel of Light. Although, I have to admit that it's hard to resist working on the other books on my computer that are begging for attention. They cry to me like abandoned children. But then I remember that I have real children that I can't abandon and so those books will have to wait.
Julie Simons
Two things are most likely to "inspire" creative bursts that lead to story production. One, experiences that trigger the creative corner of my brain--my favorite: watching good Sci-fi. Even bad Sci-fi can occasionally inspire me. Another trigger is, surprisingly, sleep deprivation. Sure, I may be a wreck and too tired to get anything practical done, but I am likely to come up with lots of story-line. The trick is to write it down before it dances out of my mind as quickly as it danced in.
Julie Simons
As with most of what I write, this story implanted itself in my mind of its own accord. Stories--on their own schedule, of their own volition--burst in my mind and play out like movies. I am the viewer, watching, waiting to see what will happen next. It's my job to record what I see in a way that will help others to see what I see and, along the way, enjoy the ride.
Once (while I was driving!) three stories at once fought for attention in my mind--yes, rolling out like movies. It was dangerous. I could hardly see to drive! And it was raining, hard! That was the most intense creative moment I've had yet. I did my best to jot down later, when I was safe at home, the many, many scenes that had played out in my mind. That was the birth of three different books. While Angel of Night is my first published novel, I have many others (upwards of 28) in various stages of completion hogging space on my computer, waiting to be finished and released. I have three children who need my attention more than my books do, so hence the delay. I hope to get to each and every one of them soon.
I suppose, for this book, I could trace the source of some of the scenes or character traits in the book to certain experiences in my life, which I may talk about another time, but I can't say that I sat down and planned out the book. My brain left me on my own to work out some plot issues, but mostly my subconscious is the true author.
Once (while I was driving!) three stories at once fought for attention in my mind--yes, rolling out like movies. It was dangerous. I could hardly see to drive! And it was raining, hard! That was the most intense creative moment I've had yet. I did my best to jot down later, when I was safe at home, the many, many scenes that had played out in my mind. That was the birth of three different books. While Angel of Night is my first published novel, I have many others (upwards of 28) in various stages of completion hogging space on my computer, waiting to be finished and released. I have three children who need my attention more than my books do, so hence the delay. I hope to get to each and every one of them soon.
I suppose, for this book, I could trace the source of some of the scenes or character traits in the book to certain experiences in my life, which I may talk about another time, but I can't say that I sat down and planned out the book. My brain left me on my own to work out some plot issues, but mostly my subconscious is the true author.
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