Ask the Author: Joy Monette
Answered Questions (6)
Joy Monette
Partially, it's a real treat because I run a full-time business on my own as well as doing the writing thing. So writing time is something to look forward to. Also, in the planning phase, I create huge lists for every chapter I intend to write - before I start writing a word. That makes it easy to pick up where I left off. In case that fails, when I finish writing for the day, I create a bulleted list of what I want to say in the next session. Then I simply have to expand on the bullets. Even if it's not-so-good writing, it's still there for me to edit later. I've discovered that if I read through the previous few paragraphs, I often get inspired to continue. Finally, I find that if I force myself to write for fifteen minutes every day (I time it), I usually get to a psychological/emotional place where I want to carry on.
Joy Monette
Making up stories and not getting into trouble, and having imaginary friends that other people believe in! And it's portable: you can do it anywhere.
Joy Monette
Most of us are paralyzed by the fears that we don't have talent, that other people won't enjoy a book we've written, that we'll never get it perfect. 1) Skill comes with practice, so be thick-skinned. If people don't buy your first book, find out why, and write a second. And a third. 2) Wake up to the fact that some people won't ever like your book. Just read all the terrible reviews received by JK Rowling and James Patterson. 3) If you try to get your writing perfect, you'll never publish it. There comes a time when you are rewriting what already worked well. I have found typos and funny punctuation in books by Lee Child, John Grisham, Marian Keyes, and so on and so on. Perfect is not something we can achieve while on this earth, so don't insist on making yours the only perfect book in the known universe.
Joy Monette
I'm planning to publish a new short story every couple of months. I'm also busy with a series of three novellas. They are based on the true story of a high-class hooker: the why, the how, and what happened to her. They are not terribly explicit, and they're full of tension, hope, and humor (I like to think, anyway). You can check progress on my website.
Joy Monette
1) Things that have happened to me because writing about them can be fun or nostalgic, or both. It's a great way to learn from one's experiences and very cathartic. 2) People-watching and listening in on conversations (but not in a stalker way). 3) I take notes in a good, old-fashioned wire-bound notebook whenever I read or watch something that inspires me. I also write down great descriptive passages that I come across. For inspiration, I read through my notes every now-and-then. 4) I read voraciously in my free time. I don't mean that I copy other authors' plots or characters or whatever, but I end up with a unique blend of ideas. Remember, all English books are just different combinations of 26 letters. How hard can it be!?
Joy Monette
It's a short story in an anthology (the first of many, with a series of novellas to follow as well) and it comes from the eating disorders I battled with for years as a teenager and young adult.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more