Ask the Author: Travis Berketa
Answered Questions (6)
Travis Berketa
I am currently working on a fantasy series called The Twelve Adventures of Titus Wulf.
Here is a link to some sample chapters of the first book: https://app.libraro.com/manuscript/de...
Have a read and let me know what you think.
Here is a link to some sample chapters of the first book: https://app.libraro.com/manuscript/de...
Have a read and let me know what you think.
Travis Berketa
Get writing and enjoy what you write! There's no point writing if you dislike what you're doing.
Also, as a teacher I hear many students say that they want to be a writer, but they don't seem to do a lot of writing or they're too worried about what others think.
If you're going to be a writer, you just need to write. Stop worrying about what others might think of the story, because people will always have an opinion on everything - some will genuinely like it, some will genuinely dislike it, others will say they like it because they feel obligated, while others will say they dislike it because they are jealous. Either way you need to write to be a writer and the only initial opinion that you need to worry about is how you feel about the story.
If you are looking to make writing a profession, then you'll need to start looking at the opinions of others.
Also, as a teacher I hear many students say that they want to be a writer, but they don't seem to do a lot of writing or they're too worried about what others think.
If you're going to be a writer, you just need to write. Stop worrying about what others might think of the story, because people will always have an opinion on everything - some will genuinely like it, some will genuinely dislike it, others will say they like it because they feel obligated, while others will say they dislike it because they are jealous. Either way you need to write to be a writer and the only initial opinion that you need to worry about is how you feel about the story.
If you are looking to make writing a profession, then you'll need to start looking at the opinions of others.
Travis Berketa
The best thing about being a writer is creating new worlds and being able to explore them through the different characters that inhabit these worlds. I really get drawn into the world and escape from reality... you just need to make sure that you return to reality every now and again though!
Travis Berketa
That's an easy one. I haven't really had to deal with writer's block too often, because I feel that writer's block is more a state of mind. I feel I need to be in certain moods to write certain stories. There are three things I usually do if I get stuck with what I am writing:
1. Lie down and listen to music from a playlist that I set up for the story. Usually that brings about the images/scenes from the story that I'm writing and I can get back to it.
2. Start writing something else that involves a totally different set of characters and different genre. Sometimes that will mean jumping onto one of the Goodreads writing groups and doing some random writing there.
3. I leave it and play with my daughters or do something that has nothing to do with writing or the story - eventually the story returns when the mood hits.
1. Lie down and listen to music from a playlist that I set up for the story. Usually that brings about the images/scenes from the story that I'm writing and I can get back to it.
2. Start writing something else that involves a totally different set of characters and different genre. Sometimes that will mean jumping onto one of the Goodreads writing groups and doing some random writing there.
3. I leave it and play with my daughters or do something that has nothing to do with writing or the story - eventually the story returns when the mood hits.
Travis Berketa
Inspiration comes from many things. The Dark Heart series was inspired by newspaper articles and news stories from around the world. The Jack Majors series was inspired by my students and my love of superheroes.
I also get inspiration from music and from environments. I usually organise a playlist of songs for a story and go to sleep with the songs playing. These conjure up images/scenes from the story and then I just need to connect the dots.
When I am writing I pretty much zone out from the world and let the characters direct me into writing what they're saying and doing. It's like a movie runs through the scenes in my head and then I just have to write it down. It's a relaxing process - especially after a difficult day.
I also get inspiration from music and from environments. I usually organise a playlist of songs for a story and go to sleep with the songs playing. These conjure up images/scenes from the story and then I just need to connect the dots.
When I am writing I pretty much zone out from the world and let the characters direct me into writing what they're saying and doing. It's like a movie runs through the scenes in my head and then I just have to write it down. It's a relaxing process - especially after a difficult day.
Travis Berketa
'Jack Majors: Superhero' was an exciting challenge for me to write. I have been an avid collector of comics since I was a teenager, so superheroes were always an inspiration for me. However, it wasn't until I was teaching a Grade 5/6 class in 2007 that Jack Majors began playing around in my mind.
Some of he students were excited by the fact that I had had 'Dark Heart: Images of a City' published, but because it was for adults they didn't get to read it. I was asked if I could write a book that had them in it and was based in a school and involved superheroes in one way or another.
From there the story evolved and now I have set myself the mammoth task of writing five more Jack Majors stories, as I feel that that is the amount of books required to tell this story right.
Some of he students were excited by the fact that I had had 'Dark Heart: Images of a City' published, but because it was for adults they didn't get to read it. I was asked if I could write a book that had them in it and was based in a school and involved superheroes in one way or another.
From there the story evolved and now I have set myself the mammoth task of writing five more Jack Majors stories, as I feel that that is the amount of books required to tell this story right.
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