Ask the Author: James Norton
Answered Questions (6)
James Norton
I just had the idea of writing a story about a towering literary genius who could neither read nor write. The idea intrigued me. I also wanted to write a book set in 19th century Paris that had the feel of a classic, but had the pace of a contemporary thriller. I come from thriller writing having had 8 books published by the likes of Penguin and Simon & Schuster.
James Norton
I've been writing for 35 years and I love writing so I don't really need inspiration. I come up with a new idea for a story every couple of years. I don't really understand the process. One of my books "Spiral", which is certainly not for children, was inspired by a conversation about a tattoo. Another of my books "Mirror" was inspirited by a biography of the painter Jackson Pollock. "The Scrub" was inspired by my frustration with the children's books I was reading to my son. So I think that inspiration can come from very different things.
James Norton
I am currently working on the sequel to my novel "The Scrub", set in a children's prison in the middle of Paris, at the end of the 19th century.
James Norton
First of all, write, but also read books you love rather than the books you think you should love, and try to decide what it is you love about the books you read, and let that guide you in your writing.
James Norton
People who write love writing, so the best thing about being a writer is doing the thing you love!
James Norton
I do different things. I keep a journal, describing the events of my day, sometimes adding fictional elements. I describe faces, I find pictures of people and places I think interesting. I find that the most important thing is to write everyday, at least an hour or two; and, that way, writing becomes a habit.
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