Ask the Author: Lawrence Christopher
Answered Questions (8)
Lawrence Christopher
A fellow author/writer posed and answered the title question to other writers and to his readers.
Honestly, I’ve never been asked this question, so I had to take a moment to give it some thought. In the past I have shared some of my habits when I’m working on a writing project; I write during the baseball or football season. Why? The games themselves are like white noise that I don’t focus on. If something interesting happens during the game there is always instant replay. There are also the scheduled breaks, between quarters, the 2: 00-minute warning, halftime, and the seventh inning stretch, etc. So this is how I stay on schedule.
How do I start a story? The answer to that question has varied since my first book. It also varies based on how the story idea is introduced or comes about. To borrow a biblical phrase; “in the beginning,” I would write a short story and post it online. Based on the comments and feedback I received from the readers, I became encouraged to expand on the storyline or answer questions about the characters. Short stories turned in novellas or novels.
Since the beginning, I’ve tried tips from other writers like using an outline or index cards to give a structure to my process. I found it too restricting to my creative flow. As ideas or scenes come to mind, I would have to jump around in the outline and hopefully there was a place in the outline for the idea to fit. So I’ve sort of abandoned the outline idea.
Here are two process items that I follow regularly. 1) I pull out one of the Family Dollar composition books and write the title of the project on the front. I must have a title to work from. 1A) is I to have a through-line that coincides with said title. A through line is; a connecting theme, plot, or characteristic in a film, television series, book, etc. The composition book is to capture character development, supporting quotes and songs for a soundtrack. If there is a dependency on the order of events, there might be a light outline so that I don’t lose track.
2) Because I’m a visual person before I can get too far into the project I have to have a mockup of the book cover. I do have some artistic talent. I drew the cover for my first novella. In fact, I illustrated my children’s “Tickle Fingers” books. If I don’t create the cover first hand, I work closely with the artist or graphic designer.
After steps one and two are in action, it’s then pretty much a go with the flow of ideas. Ideas come from a vivid imagination (according to my elementary school teacher), life’s observation, day and night dreams, commercials, supported by news and social media. I write what I have coined as “fact-based fiction.”
Honestly, I’ve never been asked this question, so I had to take a moment to give it some thought. In the past I have shared some of my habits when I’m working on a writing project; I write during the baseball or football season. Why? The games themselves are like white noise that I don’t focus on. If something interesting happens during the game there is always instant replay. There are also the scheduled breaks, between quarters, the 2: 00-minute warning, halftime, and the seventh inning stretch, etc. So this is how I stay on schedule.
How do I start a story? The answer to that question has varied since my first book. It also varies based on how the story idea is introduced or comes about. To borrow a biblical phrase; “in the beginning,” I would write a short story and post it online. Based on the comments and feedback I received from the readers, I became encouraged to expand on the storyline or answer questions about the characters. Short stories turned in novellas or novels.
Since the beginning, I’ve tried tips from other writers like using an outline or index cards to give a structure to my process. I found it too restricting to my creative flow. As ideas or scenes come to mind, I would have to jump around in the outline and hopefully there was a place in the outline for the idea to fit. So I’ve sort of abandoned the outline idea.
Here are two process items that I follow regularly. 1) I pull out one of the Family Dollar composition books and write the title of the project on the front. I must have a title to work from. 1A) is I to have a through-line that coincides with said title. A through line is; a connecting theme, plot, or characteristic in a film, television series, book, etc. The composition book is to capture character development, supporting quotes and songs for a soundtrack. If there is a dependency on the order of events, there might be a light outline so that I don’t lose track.
2) Because I’m a visual person before I can get too far into the project I have to have a mockup of the book cover. I do have some artistic talent. I drew the cover for my first novella. In fact, I illustrated my children’s “Tickle Fingers” books. If I don’t create the cover first hand, I work closely with the artist or graphic designer.
After steps one and two are in action, it’s then pretty much a go with the flow of ideas. Ideas come from a vivid imagination (according to my elementary school teacher), life’s observation, day and night dreams, commercials, supported by news and social media. I write what I have coined as “fact-based fiction.”
Lawrence Christopher
A short story of a Mick Hart mystery.
Lawrence Christopher
Why do I use a pseudonym?
Lawrence Christopher
“Out of the Barrel” my latest book is the backdrop story of many first generation individuals in their family who’ve found some modicum of success. It’s not a new storyline. Though, I’ve added a twist to the “crab in the barrel syndrome.” It’s not just hater crabs that will pull you down in the barrel on your way or once you’ve reached the rim. There are three other crab (pincer, puller and grabber) types that I’ve identified - whom with varying degrees of ability to keep one from fully appreciating or reaching their success. In popular television sitcoms you can see characters that are these moocher crabs in the barrel. Alan (Charlie Harper’s younger brother), “Two and Half Men,” Joey (Roc’s younger brother), “Roc,” and Kramer (Jerry’s across the hall neighbor, “Seinfeld.”
Lawrence Christopher
Inspiration comes from wanting to tell the story. If you don’t have that then maybe the writer may want to rethink the story idea. Then there’s the characters. When I heard other writers say that the characters keep them up at night or call them to the computer or writing pad, I thought they were making it up - but it’s true. The characters do speak to you and will not let you rest until you tell their side of the story. There is your inspiration for you.
Lawrence Christopher
1) Read what you like. 2) Write what you like. 3) Enlist a reputable editor.
Lawrence Christopher
It’s sort of an omnipresent lifestyle while I’m sitting in front of the computer creating and directing the lives of the characters.
Lawrence Christopher
I may get writers’ pause, not writer's block. That’s where I may get stuck somewhere in the story which might be telling me that I need to take another direction than I was originally working through. How I get passed the pause is by doing just that, taking a pause or break and come back to it later.
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