Ask the Author: Jean Collen
Answered Questions (8)
Jean Collen
It is winter in South Africa, but I have three good books to keep me occupied during the cold winter months. At the moment, I am reading Helen Carey's excellent book, "London Calling", the fourth novel in the Lavender Road series. It is over 600 pages in length so it will keep me going for a while. After that, I look forward to reading "South Riding" by Winifred Holtby, published in 1935, a year after her untimely death at the age of 37. The last book on my list is the latest novel by one of my favourite writers, Margaret Drabble - "The Dark Flood Rises".
Jean Collen
There is a mystery in my own life which would make a good plot for a book but I think I'll keep the mystery to myself for the moment! After all, I might be able to use it as the basis of a plot in a forthcoming novel so I'd like it to be a complete surprise to my readers.
Jean Collen
I believe that writer's block is a form of procrastination. I always work out a rough plan of the plot of my story before I start writing it so although I might have to spend some time working out the best way to proceed, I have never had a complete block. I try writing several versions of a particular part of the story and I keep on writing until I am satisfied which versions is best suited for the story as a whole.
Jean Collen
You choose your own hours and are responsible for the amount of time you devote to writing. In my previous occupation as a teacher of music and as a performer, I needed to exert energy in order to interact with people. I realise now that I enjoy the fact that writing is a solitary occupation and I am answerable only to myself.
Jean Collen
If you have a good idea, start writing! When I first began writing, I thought I should do some kind of writing course first, but I discovered that many people running such courses want you to write according to a certain set formula. I think that this approach stifles creativity and originality. The other piece of advice I can offer the aspiring writer is that you should go over your work carefully and edit it before you submit it to a publisher or an editor. There's nothing more disheartening and soul-destroying for anyone to have to read through your first unedited draft!
Jean Collen
I'm working on the third part of the Malcolm Craig Trilogy. The way it is going, I might have to add a fourth part to the trilogy as the third part is considerably longer than the first two parts, "Just the Echo of a Sigh" and "Faint Harmony". If it works out like that, I shall have to rename the books "The Malcolm Craig Quartet"!
Jean Collen
If I waited for inspiration I probably wouldn't write much. When I have an idea about a book I make a habit of working on it every day whether I feel inspired or not!
Jean Collen
Most of the ideas for all my books come from my life experiences.
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