Ask the Author: E.M. Thomas
Answered Questions (6)
E.M. Thomas
I am a devout student of ancient history. As I expound upon in my website's blog, that passion has fueled everything I've written to date, be it fantasy or historical fiction. It's impossible to read more than hour or two of Greco-Roman history and not come away with a dozen characters dying to have their stories told, especially when the giants of the field so dominate the discussion - the Athenians, the Spartans, the Alexanders, the Julius Caesars, etc. Giving voice to the lesser known characters of history is a strong driving force, which ironically is the highest tribute one could pay to an Ancient Greek - their vision of the afterlife (such as it was) was heavily dependent on how their memory was kept alive by their descendants.
E.M. Thomas
I guess it's really two potential questions - (i) what drives the desire to write at all and (ii) what inspires me to sit down and begin/continue the mechanical process of writing?
To (i), it is just the kernel of a story, be it real or imagined, that plants itself in my mind and demands to be expounded upon. My current fantasy series has roots as far back as twenty years ago, which illustrates my point - once it's there, it's there, and I can either act on it or not.
As far as (ii) goes, writing is without a doubt my most favorite hobby, so all things being equal, I will choose to write over anything else. That said, it's tough (and sometimes, impossible) to truly unplug from everything standing between me and the manuscript, even when it's me getting in my own way - too tired, too busy, etc. In those cases, I try to remind myself how great it feels to be in the groove of a good chapter or plot point or bout of dialogue, or how fortunate it is to have that moment at all to write. On a good night, it usually ignites something.
To (i), it is just the kernel of a story, be it real or imagined, that plants itself in my mind and demands to be expounded upon. My current fantasy series has roots as far back as twenty years ago, which illustrates my point - once it's there, it's there, and I can either act on it or not.
As far as (ii) goes, writing is without a doubt my most favorite hobby, so all things being equal, I will choose to write over anything else. That said, it's tough (and sometimes, impossible) to truly unplug from everything standing between me and the manuscript, even when it's me getting in my own way - too tired, too busy, etc. In those cases, I try to remind myself how great it feels to be in the groove of a good chapter or plot point or bout of dialogue, or how fortunate it is to have that moment at all to write. On a good night, it usually ignites something.
E.M. Thomas
I have a few things in the works, both on the historical fiction side and the fantasy. That's all I'll divulge for now. :-)
E.M. Thomas
I count myself among this category, but to the extent I have any perspective, I would recommend simply committing the time to sitting down and writing. That sounds so very simplistic, but with the busy lives we all lead and with the unavoidable 24/7 connectivity we have with the world, it's far more difficult than it appears. There are only so many hours in the day, so it comes down to prioritizing writing at the expense of other activities and distractions. That doesn't always mean you need to be knocking out pages in your manuscript a day - I find that if I'm advancing the ball just a little bit in my story every day, it was productive, even if that means just a line or note about a character or plot point.
I would also explore if you're the type of person that would benefit from a structured outline prior to writing. Some people are, some people aren't, but if you're the former, there are some great templates you can find online.
I would also explore if you're the type of person that would benefit from a structured outline prior to writing. Some people are, some people aren't, but if you're the former, there are some great templates you can find online.
E.M. Thomas
It's truly one of the few things one can do in their life that is virtually free of limitations. The only thing that standards between you and the story you want to write is the time you're willing to invest in it, but the bounds of the content rest with you. You can create worlds that no one has ever created, bring old worlds back to life after centuries in the shadows. The power to do these things is the best part of being a writer - and it's a power free of charge, imagine that!
E.M. Thomas
Take a shower. No, seriously. I find that when I have a block as to where a plot should go or what a character should do, it's typically because there are too many distractions (inadvertent or otherwise), such that I am not focusing 100% on my material at hand; i.e., I've been staring at the screen too long. Removing myself from that situation and allowing my mind to wander in a relaxing environment has consistently (and surprisingly) brought me clarity that proved elusive.
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