Ask the Author: Jacky Gray
Answered Questions (6)
Jacky Gray
Meeting so many wonderful characters and hearing their stories - both in my books and in the wonderful people who read them and contact me, allowing me a glimpse into their lives. So many of them end up as characters in my subsequent books - it's just so fulfilling.
Jacky Gray
I get to know my characters - what drives them, how they got where they are. If you already have detailed bios, interview them, asking why they did what they just did and what they think might happen to them as a consequence.
Even if you've already edited what you've written to within an inch of it's life, go back and scour every page for more than 3 sentences of backstory/padding or long decriptions - seek and destroy.
Create a timeline of what you have already, go back a few days/months and see if anything interesting happened in their lives, then go forward and imagine three different ways the sction could play out.
Somewhere along the line, inspiration will hit and you'll be back on the hamster wheel, churning out words by the thousand.
Even if you've already edited what you've written to within an inch of it's life, go back and scour every page for more than 3 sentences of backstory/padding or long decriptions - seek and destroy.
Create a timeline of what you have already, go back a few days/months and see if anything interesting happened in their lives, then go forward and imagine three different ways the sction could play out.
Somewhere along the line, inspiration will hit and you'll be back on the hamster wheel, churning out words by the thousand.
Jacky Gray
Read voraciously, especially (but not exclusively) in the genre you want to write in. Watch movies/TV shows to get a feel for what works, and listen to people talking to get a feel for natural speech patterns and rhythms to improve your dialogue.
Write something every day, even if it's only a sentence. Or an idea for a character/scene/plot. Write whatever brings you the greatest joy.
Write something every day, even if it's only a sentence. Or an idea for a character/scene/plot. Write whatever brings you the greatest joy.
Jacky Gray
Dear Ginny,
I am utterly touched by your message and apologise unreservedly for taking so long to reply.
I can only imagine the woman you are today is strong, courageous and lives every minute her life with love, joy and absolute respect for everything around her.
Bless you, my love, and thank you for making my year.
Sending warm, loving thoughts - shimmy when you read this to get the full benefit of their sparkly joy.
With love
Jacky xxx
I am utterly touched by your message and apologise unreservedly for taking so long to reply.
I can only imagine the woman you are today is strong, courageous and lives every minute her life with love, joy and absolute respect for everything around her.
Bless you, my love, and thank you for making my year.
Sending warm, loving thoughts - shimmy when you read this to get the full benefit of their sparkly joy.
With love
Jacky xxx
Jacky Gray
I am currently working on a different series of books, but will shortly be doing the necessary revisions to prepare the fifth book Geraint for publication later this year.
After writing the screen play for Archer, I'm looking into a re-release with the addition of an important new scene and stunning new artwork design by Rebecca Sterling. I'm hoping this will also be this year, hopefully by the summer.
After writing the screen play for Archer, I'm looking into a re-release with the addition of an important new scene and stunning new artwork design by Rebecca Sterling. I'm hoping this will also be this year, hopefully by the summer.
Jacky Gray
I wrote Slater after visiting Avebury henge in Wiltshire and it's much better known little brother Stonehenge. I say little brother because Stonehenge is only around 100 yards in diameter, whereas Avebury is 3 times bigger, containing two stone temples dedicated to the sun and moon, each around 100 yards diameter. Can you tell which one appeals to me most? The idea for two rivals tribes was born.
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