Ask the Author: Bob Clary
Answered Questions (5)
Bob Clary
The best aspect of being a writer is knowing that you are a writer. Down deep, you know. Maybe it's a letter to a child, a card to a friend, or something that is private, not published. But you — and the reader — can sense the passion behind the words. Ultimately, this is still the best method of human communication: sharing words with one another. Writing is not about fame or fortune, it's about sharing an emotion with someone else.
Bob Clary
All of us are aspiring writers, especially anyone reading this question and answer. I don't know when or if a person moves from being "aspiring" to being "accomplished." Somehow the sense of aspiring brings more passion. Advice? You probably already know if you're meant to write. Trust yourself, follow you own instincts, feel good about your style, and know that it's okay to break a few rules.
Bob Clary
Inspiration comes at different times. While I can be very disciplined, I don't believe in forcing words on paper based on a time clock. All my life, whether as a journalist or as a creative director, I've always started with a blank sheet, and with no preconceived notions of how an idea should be shaped. Also, I found myself most productive by simply writing, simply starting a paragraph and then another. Later, I could edit and craft sentences that missed the needed cadence or flow.
Bob Clary
This is the hard part, or deciding where to focus next. I'm filtering some ideas for another novel, and I'm compiling some short stories.
Bob Clary
The storyline just unfolded as I wrote. I had no outline, no plot in mind. With each chapter, I was as surprised as the reader! I focused on memorable but flawed characters and built scenarios that made sense for them. On the surface, the idea of opening a casino in this environment seemed highly unlikely, but as pieces came together, the story started to become sensible and reasonable. Sometimes, we just have to chase a dream.
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