Ask the Author: T.C. Weber
Answered Questions (7)
T.C. Weber
A lot to choose from. Rather than pick from the classics, I'll mention Marko and Alana from Saga. Like Romeo and Juliet, they are from opposite warring factions, but they are also from different races (species actually). Alana and Marko fall in love and choose to opt out of the war. They are hunted by both sides because their love might inspire others to do the same.
T.C. Weber
For Sleep State Interrupt, I have always been worried about the concentration of media and the decline of journalism, and the threats those trends pose to independent, critical thought and democracy. Then it was just a matter of inventing characters who would also be concerned about it. I lived in Baltimore and have been involved in music scenes and community organizing so it was easy to include those as background elements. I have some experience with computers and video/news production. I consulted with a lot of experts to fill in the details, especially the tech-related ones.
T.C. Weber
It's more a question of habit than inspiration. You just have to sit down and get to work.
T.C. Weber
I am editing two novels, both alternate history, and drafting two: one a sequel to Sleep State Interrupt, the other a farce about local politics.
T.C. Weber
Make lists of ideas. Write something every day, even if it's only a paragraph or short poem. Expand your best ideas into story synopses. Take the best synopses and write complete stories. Have fun.
T.C. Weber
Writing is hard work and involves a lot of drudgery (particularly editing). But it's rewarding to see characters and worlds come alive. My favorite moments are when a character veers from the outline and does something unexpected, especially if it's something a lot smarter and more inventive than the outline called for. Unfortunately this doesn't happen often, but when it does, I throw away the outline and go with it. (Thankfully my outlines are only a few pages).
T.C. Weber
I only get "writer's block" when my characters get in a situation that seems impossible to escape. Then I have the characters talk it through until they come up with a solution. Only a small part of the conversation may make it onto the page, but it's just like real life - some problems require a lot of brainstorming and hypothesis testing.
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