Ask the Author: Athena Book Tavern
Answered Questions (5)
Athena Book Tavern
You get to share in the Devine act of creation. There is nothing like it. Not ever.
Athena Book Tavern
1) Read...read a lot. Read literary fiction, comics, cheesy thrillers, political op-eds, read anything.
2) Live. You won't be a writer if you aren't a living, breathing, whole of a human being. Live and suffer heartbreak. Live and savor success. Live and go through doubt about even being a writer. Live...and be productive...and multiply.
3) Never ever lose sight of your True Path. Life has a tendency of cudgeling you around into obsequence. Don't give up.
4) Know people. If you want to be a writer, you need to put your ego on the shelf and sit down with seemingly ordinary human beings and just listen to them. Don't assume anything about people's motives and hopes; more often than not, people who seem very banal and clicheic will knock your socks off. Just wait for it.
5) Write. But don't make an ideology out of it. Writing is an art form. Don't be a radical artist, don't be a weirdo. Don't write for art; write for people. And whatever happens, don't put yourself above those you are writing for.
6) Don't write for money. If you want money, become a surgeon.
7) Enjoy what you do. Take it easy. Love. Prosper. Learn. Breathe.
2) Live. You won't be a writer if you aren't a living, breathing, whole of a human being. Live and suffer heartbreak. Live and savor success. Live and go through doubt about even being a writer. Live...and be productive...and multiply.
3) Never ever lose sight of your True Path. Life has a tendency of cudgeling you around into obsequence. Don't give up.
4) Know people. If you want to be a writer, you need to put your ego on the shelf and sit down with seemingly ordinary human beings and just listen to them. Don't assume anything about people's motives and hopes; more often than not, people who seem very banal and clicheic will knock your socks off. Just wait for it.
5) Write. But don't make an ideology out of it. Writing is an art form. Don't be a radical artist, don't be a weirdo. Don't write for art; write for people. And whatever happens, don't put yourself above those you are writing for.
6) Don't write for money. If you want money, become a surgeon.
7) Enjoy what you do. Take it easy. Love. Prosper. Learn. Breathe.
Athena Book Tavern
I have a very successful strategy to deal with that. Whenever I feel I'm "blocked," I type a few random words on the screen. The next step entails a cognitive challenge: I MUST use those words---no matter what it takes, no matter what that means for the narrative. A couple of sentences later, I usually find my muse waiting for me, sitting on the boulder by the riverside with crossed legs. "Why did it take you so long?" she asks. I always reply, "I had to get my first two sentences right."
And from there we go on to explore unchartered imaginary lands.
And from there we go on to explore unchartered imaginary lands.
Athena Book Tavern
I'd very much love to travel back to the world of THE SUN ALSO RISES.
Period.
Period.
Athena Book Tavern
Two books are worth mentioning here:
"SHOW YOUR WORK" (by Austin Kleon) which is an absolute must-read for all creatives, no exception)
And "THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA" (by Scott Lynch), a late but necessary read for anyone interested in fantasy.
I'm reading a chapter each a day. I'll keep you posted if I have any strong opinions about either book
"SHOW YOUR WORK" (by Austin Kleon) which is an absolute must-read for all creatives, no exception)
And "THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA" (by Scott Lynch), a late but necessary read for anyone interested in fantasy.
I'm reading a chapter each a day. I'll keep you posted if I have any strong opinions about either book
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