Ask the Author: Kelly S. Epperson
Answered Questions (6)
Kelly S. Epperson
I love the ability to imagine a world into existence. I probably have more fun imagining the setting than I do actually telling the story, which is saying something. I love stories and living in alternate universes. Writing gives me access to both!
Kelly S. Epperson
I'm working around the clock writing my Science Adventure Chapter Book Series! Visit TheSeekersStone.com for more details and loads of free Science Adventure content.
Kelly S. Epperson
Write something, anything. Write something very different than you have been working on. Describe a sunset. Look out your window and describe that. Read Stephen King's "On Writing" for a great perspective on learning to be a productive writer. Another book that helps with the psychology of actually accomplishing the writing (if not the commercial side of things) is "The War of Art." Read Derek Murphy's blog for tips on writing something that sells.
Keep a list of possible topics in a notebook or on your computer or whatever. When you are stuck, pull out something that sounds like it would make a great (or more accurately terrible) B movie. Write a scene from that B movie, as campily as possible. Or something equally ridiculous.
Get writing, even if it seems completely unproductive. Once you get started, you can switch back to your actual task and keep the momentum. Don't fear the page. That emptiness is not a thing. It's just the lack of your words, which will arrive there to fill it once you start writing. Write!
Good luck (you don't need it, but I'll wish it because it's polite)
Kelly
Keep a list of possible topics in a notebook or on your computer or whatever. When you are stuck, pull out something that sounds like it would make a great (or more accurately terrible) B movie. Write a scene from that B movie, as campily as possible. Or something equally ridiculous.
Get writing, even if it seems completely unproductive. Once you get started, you can switch back to your actual task and keep the momentum. Don't fear the page. That emptiness is not a thing. It's just the lack of your words, which will arrive there to fill it once you start writing. Write!
Good luck (you don't need it, but I'll wish it because it's polite)
Kelly
Kelly S. Epperson
Write!
Write a story. Any story. It can (and probably will) start out terrible. Once you have a draft, though, you can shape and reshape it until it shines. Stephen King has a great book on writing (Fittingly titled "On Writing") that helped me a ton.
Also, my jazz composition professor in college had the best advice I ever heard (paraphrased from my memory of 10 years ago): "Write a lot. You'll write a lot of bad stuff, but you'll find some good stuff too. Pick out the best stuff and polish it until it shines."
He probably said it better, more clearly, and definitely more smoothly (he is a great jazz player, after all) but the message has helped me greatly.
Don't fear the blank page. Think of it as the potter's wheel, rather than the painter's canvas. Put the clay on there first (Your words are the clay. Sorry if that obvious statement insults your intelligence :) )
Nothing you write is unchangeable. You can shape, reshape, smash back down to nothing over and over until your vision emerges just the way you imagined. So don't fear. Write!
Write a story. Any story. It can (and probably will) start out terrible. Once you have a draft, though, you can shape and reshape it until it shines. Stephen King has a great book on writing (Fittingly titled "On Writing") that helped me a ton.
Also, my jazz composition professor in college had the best advice I ever heard (paraphrased from my memory of 10 years ago): "Write a lot. You'll write a lot of bad stuff, but you'll find some good stuff too. Pick out the best stuff and polish it until it shines."
He probably said it better, more clearly, and definitely more smoothly (he is a great jazz player, after all) but the message has helped me greatly.
Don't fear the blank page. Think of it as the potter's wheel, rather than the painter's canvas. Put the clay on there first (Your words are the clay. Sorry if that obvious statement insults your intelligence :) )
Nothing you write is unchangeable. You can shape, reshape, smash back down to nothing over and over until your vision emerges just the way you imagined. So don't fear. Write!
Kelly S. Epperson
Hmmm...
The first thing I have to do is get away from all the noise, by which I mean the stress of everyday life. I do that by listening to music, going for a run, the beach, hiking a trail, visiting a zoo or the local aquarium, or just playing with my kids.
I do those things with my family (my awesome wife and four crazy kids). For my children's books, I focus on what my kids enjoy and write stories that will entertain them while also giving them something to think about.
Once I have a general idea, I write down a short outline (very bare bones) and then get to work. During the writing and researching, I'll stumble on other ideas and work those in where I can.
Basically, I'm always inspired with different story ideas (I daydream all the time), but the real trick is sitting down and doing the work! Good thing my time as a US Marine has provided me with the opportunity to learn how to keep going even when things were... shall we say... uninspiring!
So what are you waiting for? Get started writing that terrible first draft! They are always terrible. You can't shape the clay until you place it on the wheel!
The first thing I have to do is get away from all the noise, by which I mean the stress of everyday life. I do that by listening to music, going for a run, the beach, hiking a trail, visiting a zoo or the local aquarium, or just playing with my kids.
I do those things with my family (my awesome wife and four crazy kids). For my children's books, I focus on what my kids enjoy and write stories that will entertain them while also giving them something to think about.
Once I have a general idea, I write down a short outline (very bare bones) and then get to work. During the writing and researching, I'll stumble on other ideas and work those in where I can.
Basically, I'm always inspired with different story ideas (I daydream all the time), but the real trick is sitting down and doing the work! Good thing my time as a US Marine has provided me with the opportunity to learn how to keep going even when things were... shall we say... uninspiring!
So what are you waiting for? Get started writing that terrible first draft! They are always terrible. You can't shape the clay until you place it on the wheel!
Kelly S. Epperson
My kids love science, and they also love reading. They are getting older now and they are graduating from illustrated children's books to chapter books. When I looked for a Science Adventure chapter book series, I didn't find any. So, I decided to write one myself!
I intend to go deeper than the general "science is exciting" idea and get into some actual explanations of findings and the process that leads to them. At the same time, most of the book focuses on the excitement of the adventure and the amazing things we see around us.
I'm working to ensure that the illustrations support that feeling of wonder we experience when we see the beauty in the world around us.
I'm pretty excited about it! What about you?
I intend to go deeper than the general "science is exciting" idea and get into some actual explanations of findings and the process that leads to them. At the same time, most of the book focuses on the excitement of the adventure and the amazing things we see around us.
I'm working to ensure that the illustrations support that feeling of wonder we experience when we see the beauty in the world around us.
I'm pretty excited about it! What about you?
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