Ask the Author: Sally Copus
Answered Questions (6)
Sally Copus
Write, write, write. And read, read, read. Read authors in the genre you think you want to write in. Read good writing manuals available on Amazon. Actually you can Google a question about writing structure, character development, plots, genre, etc., and among all the selections that come up will be several books on Amazon. Check customer reviews and pick the one that seems best for you (most are around $10.) You can also get some good free advice on the web in that way also. But in-depth books are best because you can write in them and reread them often. But whatever you do, don't stop writing; write every day and soon a day will not feel like a good day unless you spent some time writing. It keeps you, and your mind, ready to jump onto your creative ideas.
Sally Copus
KEYS TO ATLANTIS is my recent book. It's a natural progression from BLACKHEART'S LEGACY, book one in The Odyssey of Jon Sinclair, a trilogy.The concept for BlackHeart's Legacy came from one of the first picture books I wrote for my grandchildren twelve years ago. I never published those books because as I was drawing the pictures for the books, my mind kept adding layers of sub-plot. Finally I realized I needed to write more complex plots.
So what was the question? Where did the idea come from? Beats me. Many ideas pop into my head but I act on very few. But when I do take my pen in hand/sit down at my computer the story seems to write itself. I'm just along for the ride; or as in the case of BlackHeart's Legacy, the journey. It's turned into an epic journey of a boy named Jon Sinclair who traverses the world from 1198 BC to the 24th century in search of his true identity and his lost family. Will it end in Book 3? Somehow, I doubt it. Read more on my website: www.sallycopus.com and while you're there, sign up for news as available and free book giveaways. Thank you for stopping by. I look forward to hearing from you.
So what was the question? Where did the idea come from? Beats me. Many ideas pop into my head but I act on very few. But when I do take my pen in hand/sit down at my computer the story seems to write itself. I'm just along for the ride; or as in the case of BlackHeart's Legacy, the journey. It's turned into an epic journey of a boy named Jon Sinclair who traverses the world from 1198 BC to the 24th century in search of his true identity and his lost family. Will it end in Book 3? Somehow, I doubt it. Read more on my website: www.sallycopus.com and while you're there, sign up for news as available and free book giveaways. Thank you for stopping by. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sally Copus
I get out of the bed in the morning, make coffee, put "beautiful music" on Direct TV, or my own CD ... in that order, and ... viola! Where's my pen and paper?
Sally Copus
I'm working Book three of The Odyssey of Jon Sinclair, which is planned to be a trilogy. I am also thinking toward a prequel and maybe some backstories of characters of this series; perhaps an unrelated short series in a time past.
Sally Copus
Escaping the real world! I just sail off into the fantasy world I am creating and enjoy my self. If I'm melancholy, I write feelings into my characters. If I need excitement I write a confrontation between characters or develop another mystery in my story or subplots that will create confrontations. If I want action, I work some of those subplots into a sea battle, a sword fight or a funny consequence to a dramatic scene. In other words, my characters are part of my life and I use present day events to help me see and write what someone else might not otherwise see. My mind is always writing; I just don't always pen it to paper.
Sally Copus
I usually take a day or two out to do research. New data stimulates and moves me forward with new ideas. But, the only time I get "real" writer's block is when I write an in-depth synopsis for one of my books. In that instance, I can't insert any "new" data; and I don't like chopping up good data for a bad, short-sighted end result. For me, it's harder to write a 3,000 word synopsis of my own work than to write a full-length book.
But, if I stall out in a book I'm writing and research doesn't help, I go back to the last exciting chapter and start shaving (cut out chapters). I do a little more research against my newest research data, which moves me in a different direction. I save the cut away material for a while, just in case...but I rarely use any of it--it's dead material. I have no problem with throwing away my writing that doesn't work. It saves time (and stress) and time is valuable to me.
But, if I stall out in a book I'm writing and research doesn't help, I go back to the last exciting chapter and start shaving (cut out chapters). I do a little more research against my newest research data, which moves me in a different direction. I save the cut away material for a while, just in case...but I rarely use any of it--it's dead material. I have no problem with throwing away my writing that doesn't work. It saves time (and stress) and time is valuable to me.
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