Ask the Author: T.J. Royalty
Answered Questions (6)
T.J. Royalty
"Frenemies: A Tale of Revenge" came to me while rereading some of my favorite Edgar Allan Poe stories. It is loosely based on "The Cask of Amontillado," which I've always found strangely erotic. It's buried (ha!), but I promise you it's there!
My current WIP, "Piggy Boss 3: Taking Charge" is of course an outgrowth of the previous two stories. The original story was inspired by a particularly nasty exchange with a former boss.
My current WIP, "Piggy Boss 3: Taking Charge" is of course an outgrowth of the previous two stories. The original story was inspired by a particularly nasty exchange with a former boss.
T.J. Royalty
Well, I write erotica - or smut, if you're classy - and so naturally much of my inspiration comes from a truly filthy mind, plus a fair amount of real-life situations that I've gotten myself into over the years. I also mine my friends for dirt when they've been drinking.
Oh, and of course I do a lot of reading.
Oh, and of course I do a lot of reading.
T.J. Royalty
Right now I'm planning out a few dark stories for the Halloween season, the first of which I've just recently published to Amazon ("Frenemies: A Tale of Revenge"). I will have two or three more of those most likely. I'm also outlining the last installment in the "Piggy Boss" trilogy, which has been terribly delayed while I worked on some other stuff. That will be the next story that comes out.
T.J. Royalty
Well, I've been an "aspiring" writer for 30 years, so I don't know if my advice would be worth much. I will say that it's so much easier to make writing a part of your life today than it was when I was younger, that it's kind of a shame that more folks who want to write and share their work aren't doing it.
One thing to keep in mind, and this held me back for a long time because I'm a practical guy, is that writing is not a good way to make a living. Most full-time writers are not making tons of money in the publishing industry. But that's no reason not to write and publish. Create a space in your life for it. That might mean shoring up your financial situation, cleaning up some bad habits, or simply locking yourself in a room with your laptop.
One thing to keep in mind, and this held me back for a long time because I'm a practical guy, is that writing is not a good way to make a living. Most full-time writers are not making tons of money in the publishing industry. But that's no reason not to write and publish. Create a space in your life for it. That might mean shoring up your financial situation, cleaning up some bad habits, or simply locking yourself in a room with your laptop.
T.J. Royalty
Well, I wish I was more of a writer, but what writing I do gets me into a completely different head space and helps me forget the stress I'm feeling from the day job or whatever. I'm sure full-time writers have a different experience, since they rely on writing for their livelihood. I'm fortunate to have a job that I'm proud of and don't particularly want to leave, so writing can remain a purer kind of joy for me.
T.J. Royalty
I do a fair bit of pre-writing (it's the former teacher in me), which tends to help me through those times when I lose the thread. I don't typically get "blocked" at the beginning of a story. If I do hit a snag, it's usually in the back half of a story where things need to start coming together. That's when I go back to my original notes and figure out why I'm having trouble. Or, I go back to the outline and try to autopilot my way through whatever scene I'm stuck on. Once I've gotten going again, I will go back and fix that section that I had to force myself through.
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