Ask the Author: Joshua Gayou
Answered Questions (11)
Joshua Gayou
Answer in link: https://joshuagayouauthor.com/2018/12...
Joshua Gayou
Four book series. Three is in production right now. Thank you!
Joshua Gayou
It's in production right now! Thank you!
Joshua Gayou
It's in production right now!
Joshua Gayou
February, 2018!
Joshua Gayou
Writer's block is combated through the application of discipline and planning. If you're writing a story, you should have a point that you're making. Some overall idea that states "X does Y" (in other words, a plot and theme). Examples of story points include "Power Corrupts" or "Love can and will endure anything". It's a central point you want to drive home.
Following that, you need some characters and a set of circumstances they need to be subjected to. There needs to be some conflict that allows them to demonstrate and personify the point you're trying to make.
The longer you spend thinking about this, the closer you're going to come to having an outline, whether you keep it in your head or you scratch it out on a notepad. Once you have enough of the story laid out with the principle characters, you'll have a road map that you can fall back on when you run into writer's block.
Can't think of anything more to write? Look at your road map and figure out what the next problem is that you have to set up and solve.
And above all: be disciplined.
Following that, you need some characters and a set of circumstances they need to be subjected to. There needs to be some conflict that allows them to demonstrate and personify the point you're trying to make.
The longer you spend thinking about this, the closer you're going to come to having an outline, whether you keep it in your head or you scratch it out on a notepad. Once you have enough of the story laid out with the principle characters, you'll have a road map that you can fall back on when you run into writer's block.
Can't think of anything more to write? Look at your road map and figure out what the next problem is that you have to set up and solve.
And above all: be disciplined.
Joshua Gayou
So far, my answer would have to be producing a story that I'm proud of with characters that I believe are interesting. I know that not everyone is going to be happy or interested in the same stuff as me but if I can at least entertain myself I figure I have a better than average shot at resonating with others.
Outside of that, I've had at least a few people I know personally that tend to stay outside of my current genre (sci-fi/fallen society/survival) that have been sucked in by the characters alone. This has been tremendously gratifying.
Outside of that, I've had at least a few people I know personally that tend to stay outside of my current genre (sci-fi/fallen society/survival) that have been sucked in by the characters alone. This has been tremendously gratifying.
Joshua Gayou
Come back and ask me this question if my work ever achieves some level of success. I'll hopefully be spending less time aspiring myself by that time. ;)
Joshua Gayou
I'm currently working on the second book in my series: Commune.
Joshua Gayou
Inspiration is overrated. In my (admittedly short) experience, waiting around to be inspired is a fantastic way to never finish your project. It's great when inspiration hits and you want to try to ride that wave for as long as you can. But there is no labor lasting longer than a few hours of which you'll enjoy every moment. There are points where the process is going to drag and it's going to feel a lot more like work than play. During those times, your personal level of discipline is going to be a much bigger factor than any sort of inspiration.
Inspiration is only useful for starting the job. Discipline is what gets it done.
Inspiration is only useful for starting the job. Discipline is what gets it done.
Joshua Gayou
The ideas for the main story came about from me reading other books in a similar genre. More specifically, I found that the ones I had read would tend to skip or glaze over a lot of the aspects that I would have liked them to explore some more. Of course, there was more to it than that in the long run (I had to believe I had a story unique enough that it was worth telling), but yeah. The very first ideas were the result of me reading other books and wondering, "Well, what if such and such a thing had happened?"
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more