Ask the Author: Cem Bilici
Answered Questions (13)
Cem Bilici
Well the most recent is the second in the Ward series. And it was originally supposed to be the third in the series. I can't quite recall what the inspiration for the plot was, I only knew at the time I wanted it to be a different pace to book one.
Ward was made to be quite frantic and action heavy. There's definitely still elements of that in book two, but I wanted to take the double jeopardy off of my main character Stacey and throw some different stuff at her. I have been dealing with issues of anxiety and depression in my life so I threw that in there too. It's funny, as the only real issue I had when I wrote the first draft of Ward was quitting smoking. That MAY or may not come out in the writing.
(HINT: It does)
Ward was made to be quite frantic and action heavy. There's definitely still elements of that in book two, but I wanted to take the double jeopardy off of my main character Stacey and throw some different stuff at her. I have been dealing with issues of anxiety and depression in my life so I threw that in there too. It's funny, as the only real issue I had when I wrote the first draft of Ward was quitting smoking. That MAY or may not come out in the writing.
(HINT: It does)
Cem Bilici
I have a day job.
Nuff said.
But really, I took the task of doing this full time so that is my greatest inspiration. I turned 40 last year (end of 2017) so I'm going hell for leather trying to do this!
Nuff said.
But really, I took the task of doing this full time so that is my greatest inspiration. I turned 40 last year (end of 2017) so I'm going hell for leather trying to do this!
Cem Bilici
I am working on five short stories in the Ward universe as a giveaway collection, and a supernatural thriller set in 90's Melbourne, Australia...and I may soon be working on a screenplay.
Cem Bilici
Just do it. I didn't do it for years and regret it. I have no formal training, and that may show, but I hid away in fear for years -- fear of embarrassment, failing, not being good, not making anything of it. I even started under a pseudonym when I decided to give it a go because I was still afraid.
The fear never goes away really, but if you don't do it, you will regret it. And you can always learn as you go. Hell, there are thousands of free resources out there to get you started!
The fear never goes away really, but if you don't do it, you will regret it. And you can always learn as you go. Hell, there are thousands of free resources out there to get you started!
Cem Bilici
I often lucid dream. But lucid dreaming is usually more like an on-rails VR game where you're confined to that world at that time. With writing, I can blast my way into any freakin' universe I want!
Writing is like having a TARDIS with a Sliders remote control built into the console! Now THERE'S a crossover someone should write!
Writing is like having a TARDIS with a Sliders remote control built into the console! Now THERE'S a crossover someone should write!
Cem Bilici
Chop it with a machete.
Honestly though, I have been outlining my stories more and more so when I get to a part I'm not sure about, I just fluff it or skip it and keep going. More often than not something down the track triggers an idea or fills it in. Or I just go totally off book and start trailblazing. That has definitely happened before. I swapped the order for the second and third books in the Ward series off of something like that.
Honestly though, I have been outlining my stories more and more so when I get to a part I'm not sure about, I just fluff it or skip it and keep going. More often than not something down the track triggers an idea or fills it in. Or I just go totally off book and start trailblazing. That has definitely happened before. I swapped the order for the second and third books in the Ward series off of something like that.
Cem Bilici
At night. I'm a night owl by nature, but my writing at night is from necessity, writing after getting home from the day job, when everyone else is in bed. It's quieter then too. I certainly have written during the day. As to which time I tend to write more, I'm not all that certain to be honest now that I'm in this routine.
Cem Bilici
A paving block, a short story, and a forum post on polyamory. Somehow that all led to a secret world of teleporting wizards fighting amorphous creatures.
Cem Bilici
Ideas hit me in the face like bugs on a motorcycle helmet visor, and instead of pulling over to clean it off I try and make something from the mangled mess. Or open the visor and be hit with more ideas as I travel.
Cem Bilici
My novel, Ward of the South, a dark modern fantasy horror.
Cem Bilici
Don't listen to my advice and just write, write, write!
Cem Bilici
Building worlds, whether only slightly or acutely skewed from our own.
Cem Bilici
I don't force it and wait it out. I guess it's like siege war; starve the sucker out.
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