Ask the Author: Steve Friedman
Answered Questions (6)
Steve Friedman
I started jotting down life memories in 2013 after my dad passed away. Several years later, as retirement from corporate America approached, I felt the pull to reconnect with my childhood passion of writing. So I started to consider how I could pull together those memories into a story. A year of tremendous introspection and contemplation later, my memoir evolved with the thread of introversion and the challenges of coping with such stress. The rest, as they say, is history.
Steve Friedman
Sometimes it's easy. Ideas just flow to me. Other times I need to create the right environment. I get a lot of great ideas going on walks or working out at the gym. I also love to go to writing groups, workshops, and conferences to get my mind in the frame of mind to release those creative juices. We all have great ideas, we just have to create the right conditions to invite them out.
Steve Friedman
After writing my memoir, In Search of Courage: An Introvert's Struggle with Addictive Behaviors, I've been creating a weekly blog (www.BeyondIntroversion.com) to provide stories, guidance, and inspirations for introverts struggling to embrace their best selves at home and at work. I continue to create blogs and am formulating a book to help provide such guidance across a wide range of situations. I'm aiming for publication in 2021.
Steve Friedman
Many writers will suggest "just write". But I would first ask yourself a series of questions. What am I most passionate about? Why do I want to write? Who is my target audience? What are my writing dreams? What kind of "voice" do I have - formal, humorous, relaxed, guarded, raw...? Then let your answers direct your pen. Oh, and then don't give up...ever!
Steve Friedman
I just love exploring...letting curiosity be my guide. Most writers love the initial draft and loathe the incessant editing. I really enjoy the rounds of editing because it invites more introspection to dig a bit deeper each time to get the most revealing insights on paper. I think the end result is great learning for the writer and an inspiring read for the reader.
Steve Friedman
Although I'm a pretty structured person, I strive to be flexible with my writing. I carve out time every day to write. But if I just don't feel it, my writing time will be brief. If I'm in the groove, I may write for a couple of hours. I believe putting pressure on ourselves is the biggest creator of writer's block.
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