Ask the Author: Thomas Greanias
Answered Questions (3)
Thomas Greanias
I just don't write. Seriously. I know as a "pro" we are supposed to write every day. But if I'm feeling so much resistance that I'm "blocked," then I know at some fundamental level the story just isn't working for me. So I do something else. For a minute. A day. A week. Sometimes years on big projects I just haven't "cracked" yet.
Usually the answer or direction comes soon enough, though.
To be clear, I'm talking about deciding what my "next" major book or series or will be. I just don't think writers should be throwing crap out into ether. (Trust me, even your Big Five publisher won't care if you've got the sales track record and will just want to put something under your name out every year, so you have to be on your guard unless you're a total hack.) Now it's OK if you like your crap and it actually turns out to be crap. Happens all the time. But not OK if you or your publisher need to put "something" out there. Better to have something to say than to simply say something.
As for writer's block in the middle of a novel, it always happens and you stick with it until you get through. Yes, even if you need to take a mini break. But even writers who meticulously outline eventually get "lost" somewhere in the middle of their book.
Rather than a map or formula, I use what I call "The Creators Compass." It has four cardinal points: Character, Conflict, Choices and Consequences. I've taught it to fourth grade classes it's so simple. If enough people want me to explain further here I can. But it's pretty self-explanatory and usually helps me get out of the woods when I get lost in the middle of a novel.
Usually the answer or direction comes soon enough, though.
To be clear, I'm talking about deciding what my "next" major book or series or will be. I just don't think writers should be throwing crap out into ether. (Trust me, even your Big Five publisher won't care if you've got the sales track record and will just want to put something under your name out every year, so you have to be on your guard unless you're a total hack.) Now it's OK if you like your crap and it actually turns out to be crap. Happens all the time. But not OK if you or your publisher need to put "something" out there. Better to have something to say than to simply say something.
As for writer's block in the middle of a novel, it always happens and you stick with it until you get through. Yes, even if you need to take a mini break. But even writers who meticulously outline eventually get "lost" somewhere in the middle of their book.
Rather than a map or formula, I use what I call "The Creators Compass." It has four cardinal points: Character, Conflict, Choices and Consequences. I've taught it to fourth grade classes it's so simple. If enough people want me to explain further here I can. But it's pretty self-explanatory and usually helps me get out of the woods when I get lost in the middle of a novel.
Thomas Greanias
Greenlight authority. Seriously. I used to help put together some of the big film "slate" deals in Hollywood—20 tentpoles at a time—and it shocked me how few people in town truly had the ability to put a $100M movie into production. Even fewer now. Studio chiefs have to fight tooth and nail to get sole greenlight power from corporate overlords. So the ability to define, develop and produce your own novel—free of studio or network exec notes—is priceless.
Thomas Greanias
Children's author Jamie Gilson used to come into my first grade class and teach, and I ended up writing a poem that got read on WGN Radio and brought a lot of attention.
Later on, filmmaker John Hughes, who based most of his movies on my high school and classmates I knew, told me I had a gift and shouldn't squander it on my dreams of becoming a journalist and "foreign correspondent." He actually sneered when he said "foreign correspondent" to me in front of new college girlfriend (now wife). Instead I was supposed to go out to Hollywood and write and work for him. Mostly, I think, because he hated Hollywood and wanted to bring along as many "real" people as possible. It took me several years before I finally heeded his advice.
Later on, filmmaker John Hughes, who based most of his movies on my high school and classmates I knew, told me I had a gift and shouldn't squander it on my dreams of becoming a journalist and "foreign correspondent." He actually sneered when he said "foreign correspondent" to me in front of new college girlfriend (now wife). Instead I was supposed to go out to Hollywood and write and work for him. Mostly, I think, because he hated Hollywood and wanted to bring along as many "real" people as possible. It took me several years before I finally heeded his advice.
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