Ask the Author: Mike Thayer
Answered Questions (4)
Mike Thayer
I'm currently editing my next middle grade novel (coming out 2023) called The Talent Thief about a girl who gets the ability to steal people's talents for a day.
Mike Thayer
This is going to sound kinda simple, but the best advice is just to WRITE and have fun with it. Don't worry if it's good enough or if it's unoriginal. Just get the words flowing. Try to complete an entire story. Get used to writing, get used to finishing something. Write what you love, get together with friends who like to write. Surround yourself with writing awesomeness.
Mike Thayer
Writer's block for me typically just means I can't figure out a clever solution to the problem I've put my character in. The weird thing is that I actually TRY to do this. I try to paint my characters into impossible situations. That way, when I eventually come up with the solution, hopefully it'll seem super clever to the reader.
Other times I get writer's block is when something just feels off with the story. It feels boring, disjointed, unsatisfying. If that happens, I usually go back to the 7-point plot structure and see if I'm hitting my beats. I'm usually not and re-aligning myself to the plot structure always helps. Easier said than done, though.
Other times I get writer's block is when something just feels off with the story. It feels boring, disjointed, unsatisfying. If that happens, I usually go back to the 7-point plot structure and see if I'm hitting my beats. I'm usually not and re-aligning myself to the plot structure always helps. Easier said than done, though.
Mike Thayer
All my ideas come from answering two questions
1) Wouldn't it be cool if...
2) Man, if only I could...
The Epic Adventures of the Techno Wizard was a 1). Wouldn't it be cool if I was transported back in time with a cell phone and gadgets that still had signal back to the modern day.
The Double Life of Danny Day was a 2). Man, if only I could get another shot at today knowing what I know now.
Ask yourself those two questions and you're bound to get awesome ideas for stories that you'll be passionate about.
1) Wouldn't it be cool if...
2) Man, if only I could...
The Epic Adventures of the Techno Wizard was a 1). Wouldn't it be cool if I was transported back in time with a cell phone and gadgets that still had signal back to the modern day.
The Double Life of Danny Day was a 2). Man, if only I could get another shot at today knowing what I know now.
Ask yourself those two questions and you're bound to get awesome ideas for stories that you'll be passionate about.
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