Ask the Author: William Peace
Answered Questions (3)
William Peace
I am reading Song of Solomon, and I have My Name is Lucy Barton, and Joseph Conrad's Selected Short Stories to read.
William Peace
If I am tired, I find it difficult to compose first rate prose; instead, I'll tend to fall back on cliches. For me, this is the worst form of writer's block, so I don't write when I'm tired.
Another obstacle is not being prepared. It's very difficult to write when one doesn't know what to say, so I spend a considerable time outlining a book before I start on it: who are the characters, their strengths and weaknesses; how do they interact and why; what is the setting, the time frame; what style and voice should I use; what is the point of the book, what is it that I'm hoping the reader will take away? I also outline the content of each chapter before I start.
When I begin a new section of a chapter, I ask myself to feel what the characters in that forthcoming section will be feeling. What are their thoughts? What are the issues they will be facing? This exercise puts me in a good state of mind to begin.
For me, it's also important to have a daily goal. Mine is to write one page of first class prose every day. Sometimes I exceed this goal; sometimes I fall short. There are two important aspects of this goal. One is that I must write; there is no excuse not to. And second, the goal is not difficult. I can take my time to produce the kind of prose I'm proud of. There's no need to rush.
Another obstacle is not being prepared. It's very difficult to write when one doesn't know what to say, so I spend a considerable time outlining a book before I start on it: who are the characters, their strengths and weaknesses; how do they interact and why; what is the setting, the time frame; what style and voice should I use; what is the point of the book, what is it that I'm hoping the reader will take away? I also outline the content of each chapter before I start.
When I begin a new section of a chapter, I ask myself to feel what the characters in that forthcoming section will be feeling. What are their thoughts? What are the issues they will be facing? This exercise puts me in a good state of mind to begin.
For me, it's also important to have a daily goal. Mine is to write one page of first class prose every day. Sometimes I exceed this goal; sometimes I fall short. There are two important aspects of this goal. One is that I must write; there is no excuse not to. And second, the goal is not difficult. I can take my time to produce the kind of prose I'm proud of. There's no need to rush.
William Peace
For me, the joy of writing (and also the challenge) is creating an enjoyable, thought-provoking experience for readers. There are many aspects to the challenge: creating real characters, setting them in interesting places, providing them with obstacles and victories, maintaining the momentum of the story, using clear, intriguing language, and always keeping the reader's heart and mind engaged. It is not easy to do all of this, but when, after months of inspired effort, one comes close, it is a joyful experience!
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