Ask the Author: Riain Fox
Answered Questions (7)
Riain Fox
I read just about every genre, so I'm all over the place. I'll be reading some of Lish McBride books (I love her Necromancer series), and I'll also be catching up on Dungeon Crawler Carl and the Primal Hunter books.
Riain Fox
This is a tough one. Probably one of Jasper Fforde's. Either Thursday or the Dragonslayer worlds. All his worlds are zany, and so different from our own.
Of course, choosing the Thursday universe is kind of a cheat, because the character in those books belongs to an organization that polices the book world, so she gets to visit whichever book worlds she wants.
Of course, choosing the Thursday universe is kind of a cheat, because the character in those books belongs to an organization that polices the book world, so she gets to visit whichever book worlds she wants.
Riain Fox
"I'm here, I'm here—sorry I'm late!"
"Great, but where are your pants?"
"Great, but where are your pants?"
Riain Fox
I try not to rely on inspiration. Being a published author is a job (for me, at least). Can you imagine someone in any other industry only working when inspiration strikes?
I have a routine. Before I sit down and write, I do the same actions. It's a trick I picked up in some psychology, self-help, productivity hack book. Create a routine, stick with it, and then even if you're not "in the mood," as long as you do the steps leading up to writing, you'll be in the mood when you finish the routine.
One of the things I do is listen to music while I write. Instrumental only, so no lyrics. I listen to the same playlist on Spotify, so now when I hear it come on, like Pavlov's dogs, I get the itch to write.
I have a routine. Before I sit down and write, I do the same actions. It's a trick I picked up in some psychology, self-help, productivity hack book. Create a routine, stick with it, and then even if you're not "in the mood," as long as you do the steps leading up to writing, you'll be in the mood when you finish the routine.
One of the things I do is listen to music while I write. Instrumental only, so no lyrics. I listen to the same playlist on Spotify, so now when I hear it come on, like Pavlov's dogs, I get the itch to write.
Riain Fox
1) Create a writing habit and stick to it. You don't have to write every day, but you should plan when you're going to write and actually do it. Even if your habit is to write 100 words, make sure you meet that goal.
2) Don't worry about writing the perfect first draft. Striving for perfection will only get in your way. The first draft is going to be ugly. Even if you're a plotter and you know what's happening next, it'll still be rough.
Give yourself permission to write a crappy first draft. Write it. Then make it better in the second draft, third draft, etc.
2) Don't worry about writing the perfect first draft. Striving for perfection will only get in your way. The first draft is going to be ugly. Even if you're a plotter and you know what's happening next, it'll still be rough.
Give yourself permission to write a crappy first draft. Write it. Then make it better in the second draft, third draft, etc.
Riain Fox
I'm a plotter. So before I start my first draft, I have an outline of at least the major events in the book (and usually much more than just the major events). So I don't generally get writer's block because I know where the story is going.
With that said, none of my outlines cover 100% of the story. There's always something that comes up. As I write, the outline needs to change because what I planned to happen doesn't make sense any more.
When that happens, my go-to solution is boredom. I tend to listen to audiobooks or podcasts when I'm exercising or doing chores around the house, but when I'm stuck on a story I'll do those things without any entertainment. Just me and my thoughts. The act of doing something else allows my brain to sort of passively consider the problem, and a solution usually presents itself.
With that said, none of my outlines cover 100% of the story. There's always something that comes up. As I write, the outline needs to change because what I planned to happen doesn't make sense any more.
When that happens, my go-to solution is boredom. I tend to listen to audiobooks or podcasts when I'm exercising or doing chores around the house, but when I'm stuck on a story I'll do those things without any entertainment. Just me and my thoughts. The act of doing something else allows my brain to sort of passively consider the problem, and a solution usually presents itself.
Riain Fox
As of this writing, I am finishing up the outline of The Herald, book 2 of the Eldritch Affair.
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