Ask the Author: K.B. Elijah
Answered Questions (6)
K.B. Elijah
Don't think. Don't plan. Not until afterwards. Don't question "do people want to read this?" or "are people going to understand that?"
Just write; the rest can be sorted out/edited later.
Write for you, not for them.
Just write; the rest can be sorted out/edited later.
Write for you, not for them.
K.B. Elijah
/r/writingprompts is a fantastic place to start. Just read through until you see something that catches you - don't force yourself into a prompt that doesn't seem interesting to you, even if it is popular, recommended, or clever.
Read lots of books. Watch lots of movies. Listen to people's stories. The ideas will come. There's no shame in using someone else's premise or idea, if you can add something to it to make it your own.
Read lots of books. Watch lots of movies. Listen to people's stories. The ideas will come. There's no shame in using someone else's premise or idea, if you can add something to it to make it your own.
K.B. Elijah
Two very different methods.
One, I go for a swim. The repetitive moment, up and down the pool, with nothing to do but think, really helps my imagination (although it's often water-based scenes because damn it, I write from my environment).
The second is to surround myself with people. On a train, in a park, in a shopping centre. You start noticing little mannerisms - the way she tucks her hair behind her ear there, the way that man starts each sentence with "see, the thing is", the careful way that boy is chewing around his crusts here. And it starts writing itself.
One, I go for a swim. The repetitive moment, up and down the pool, with nothing to do but think, really helps my imagination (although it's often water-based scenes because damn it, I write from my environment).
The second is to surround myself with people. On a train, in a park, in a shopping centre. You start noticing little mannerisms - the way she tucks her hair behind her ear there, the way that man starts each sentence with "see, the thing is", the careful way that boy is chewing around his crusts here. And it starts writing itself.
K.B. Elijah
I've heard many suggestions for this one: just push through it, write nonsense, try writing a different story.
For me, it depends on what stage I'm at. If I've not yet started a story, I don't force it: the inspiration will come.
If I'm partially through a story, I will make myself sit down and write a few words a day. Eventually it starts flowing again, particularly if I've been thinking about what I want to happen. The flexibility of writing is such that you can decide "this scene is boring, I want the character to be HERE", and suddenly they are. Because you control the story (mostly...watch this space for more on this!).
For me, it depends on what stage I'm at. If I've not yet started a story, I don't force it: the inspiration will come.
If I'm partially through a story, I will make myself sit down and write a few words a day. Eventually it starts flowing again, particularly if I've been thinking about what I want to happen. The flexibility of writing is such that you can decide "this scene is boring, I want the character to be HERE", and suddenly they are. Because you control the story (mostly...watch this space for more on this!).
K.B. Elijah
The excitement of those around you, especially those who you have inspired to write themselves: it's just addictive!
Although the moment of finally seeing your book advertised on Amazon is pretty frigging awesome.
Although the moment of finally seeing your book advertised on Amazon is pretty frigging awesome.
K.B. Elijah
Volume 2 in The Moments in Time Anthology has been drafted, and I'm now getting stuck into the first few thousand words of Volume 3 as a late NaNoWriMo project. I'm currently writing about a prisoner named Shawn Torosian, aka Agent Ivory...
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