Ask the Author: Andrew Emery
Answered Questions (6)
Andrew Emery
Read a lot. Read widely, read deeply. While it can be intimidating - most of us aren't going to be able to write like our heroes - it teaches what good writing is, and reading widely shows that there are many types of good writing, and you may be able to master one of those. And if you hate what you write first time, try a different genre, a different perspective. You might find your perfect niche on the 4th or 5th go. And find good readers and editors who'll give you honest feedback. And then listen to it.
Andrew Emery
There are many ways. Often it's when my brain won't turn off when I want to go to sleep - I'll churn over an idea until I have to jump out of bed. Other times it'll be friends reminding me of something, setting off a train of thought. Speaking of trains, they're a great inspiration - jump on one that's travelling to somewhere nice in Europe, tap away at your laptop and drink good wine. It makes writing a pleasure, and you'll see and hear things that you can use.
Andrew Emery
That feeling when you read something back - a sentence, a paragraph, a page, perhaps more - and you feel you've really expressed what you wanted to. And when a reader confirms it, when they actually get it, you can't put a price on that moment.
Andrew Emery
I used to deal with it by just putting it off. Now I know it's best just to lock myself away with no distractions, write something - anything - even if it's the worst first draft ever - and fix it later when inspiration returns. Or just go and read, and fall in love with words again.
Andrew Emery
I'd explored the idea before in lyrics, when I used to rap. I'd avoided turning it into a book until a good friend showed me a similar book about heavy metal and said - 'basically, this is your life, but with different music - you should tell your story'.
Andrew Emery
I'm putting the finishing touches to the details of a deal with Unbound to put out 'The Book of Hip-Hop Memorabilia' in 2018. I've just started a collaboration with Dan Greenpeace called 'Adventures With Rappers', about our times as music writers, editors and publishers. I'm plotting my first novel, a supernatural thriller, and I'm planning a huge hip-hop book undertaking but don't want to share any details as it's all a bit daunting at the moment.
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