Ask the Author: Robin Roughley
Answered Questions (7)
Robin Roughley
Hi Andrea, first let me apologise for being so late with my answer, I am easily baffled by technology and have never really got to grips with Goodreads though I need to try and learn my way around the site. I never start out with a plot and simple concentrate on getting the first chapter as good as I can. This usually means asking a set of question to myself, why did this happen and who is responsible. I then spend the rest of the book trying to answer the mystery. I did try plotting a book once but found it restricting and ended up dumping the idea and starting from scratch.
Many thanks for helping to spread the word it really is appreciated.
Many thanks for helping to spread the word it really is appreciated.
Robin Roughley
The writing itself provides the inspiration, when you want to know what happens next then you know you are heading in the right direction.
Robin Roughley
Just finishing editing number nine in the Lasser series as soon as that is complete will start on number thirteen though as yet I have no idea what it will be about. I simply wait for an image that excites me and then get cracking.
Robin Roughley
Be disciplined and don't give up. In my experience you have to get the work down then you have something to work with. Secondly as soon as you have written it put it to one side and start another. Never rely on one book your aim should be to produce a body of work that hopefully people will enjoy.
Make sure you get help with editing someone you can trust to be honest and who's opinion you value.
Make sure you get help with editing someone you can trust to be honest and who's opinion you value.
Robin Roughley
Best job in the world especially when it is going well. I don't know about other writers but just losing yourself for a few hours is wonderful. Then the kind words when readers contact you to say they have enjoyed the work is the icing on the cake.
Robin Roughley
I have found the knack to writers block is to write. After all you can always delete or change at a later date. In fact in the past some of the writing I have been unhappiest with the readers have enjoyed the most and some of the stuff I have been proudest of has fallen flat. So maybe the writer is not best placed to judge but at least if you get the words down then you have something to work with.
Robin Roughley
To be honest I never have a clue where a new book will take me. I simply concentrate on getting the first chapter as exciting as I can and the rest falls into place. I did once try to plan a novel but it didn't work for me so I went back to flying by the seat of my pants it seems to fit the novels better and hopefully keeps them exciting.
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