Ask the Author: Eric Lotke
Answered Questions (7)
Eric Lotke
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Eric Lotke
I had something I wanted to say.
Eric Lotke
I’m cooking up a new novel idea. I might have started it … but life intervened.
I’m also working to promote my last book. People who read it, like it. But few people know it exists. That describes a piece of work that begs to be done.
I’m also working to promote my last book. People who read it, like it. But few people know it exists. That describes a piece of work that begs to be done.
Eric Lotke
Every writer has a day job. Hopefully, it enables you to write.
When I get discouraged I think of writing as a hobby. At least I’m doing something I enjoy; hopefully someone will read it. I think of it like playing the guitar. People do it because they like to, even without an audience.
When I get discouraged I think of writing as a hobby. At least I’m doing something I enjoy; hopefully someone will read it. I think of it like playing the guitar. People do it because they like to, even without an audience.
Eric Lotke
My biggest surprise – after writing two novels – is how differently I now read. I see things entirely differently.
I expect that when architects walk into a building they see things that I don’t. When naturalists or environmental scientists walk through the woods, they notice things that I don’t even know to look for – from plant species to drainage flows.
Nowadays when I read fiction, I notice things that I might previously have missed. I have new appreciation of why the author did certain things or questions about why they didn’t. Why did they build the scene that way? How long did they make me wait between developments? What did they show me in the interim?
That change has been a surprise and a joy.
I expect that when architects walk into a building they see things that I don’t. When naturalists or environmental scientists walk through the woods, they notice things that I don’t even know to look for – from plant species to drainage flows.
Nowadays when I read fiction, I notice things that I might previously have missed. I have new appreciation of why the author did certain things or questions about why they didn’t. Why did they build the scene that way? How long did they make me wait between developments? What did they show me in the interim?
That change has been a surprise and a joy.
Eric Lotke
Hmmm. I don't really believe in writer's block. I think writer's block is simply not knowing what to say.
Back when I was a writing tutor, students would complain of writer's block. I would ask, "What are you trying to say." They'd hum and haw until finally it became clear that they simply weren’t sure.
That was the first step towards resolution. I could ask more targeted questions about the subject, the underlying issue, what they found most interesting (or not), whatever. Soon enough we’d develop a thesis. Then they could take the lead in writing it down ….
So if you have writer’s block, maybe try stepping back. Ask: What am I trying to say? Am I uncertain of the next development of the plot? The setting where the scene takes place? How she responds to what he asks? Maybe the problem isn’t writing. Stop writing and work to figure that out. Once you have, you need only write it down ….
Back when I was a writing tutor, students would complain of writer's block. I would ask, "What are you trying to say." They'd hum and haw until finally it became clear that they simply weren’t sure.
That was the first step towards resolution. I could ask more targeted questions about the subject, the underlying issue, what they found most interesting (or not), whatever. Soon enough we’d develop a thesis. Then they could take the lead in writing it down ….
So if you have writer’s block, maybe try stepping back. Ask: What am I trying to say? Am I uncertain of the next development of the plot? The setting where the scene takes place? How she responds to what he asks? Maybe the problem isn’t writing. Stop writing and work to figure that out. Once you have, you need only write it down ….
Eric Lotke
It started with a death penalty case. I wanted to take that poor kid's beginning and give it a different ending.
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