Ask the Author: Judy Bruce
Answered Questions (6)
Judy Bruce
WALL-E and EVE. It's unexpected, sweet, and strong. She replaces his parts--that's love!
Judy Bruce
This question is vague because I'm not sure if it refers to my most recently published book, the story with a completed first draft, or the one the bouncing around in my head. Let's go with the former, as it's the starting place for the other books in the Wind series.
On my way from my home in Omaha to a family vacation in the Rocky Mountains, we stopped in western Nebraska for a break. This area of the High Plains, with its ruggedness and relentless wind stirred something inside me. Yes, the Rockies are spectacular, but this feeling of yearning and eeriness stuck with me. I don’t think I can describe how my mind then jumped to the creation of the characters and story, except to say that like me, my protagonist is a law school graduate, so that seemed like a character I could relate to, at least to an extent. Spoiler: I've never killed anyone!
On my way from my home in Omaha to a family vacation in the Rocky Mountains, we stopped in western Nebraska for a break. This area of the High Plains, with its ruggedness and relentless wind stirred something inside me. Yes, the Rockies are spectacular, but this feeling of yearning and eeriness stuck with me. I don’t think I can describe how my mind then jumped to the creation of the characters and story, except to say that like me, my protagonist is a law school graduate, so that seemed like a character I could relate to, at least to an extent. Spoiler: I've never killed anyone!
Judy Bruce
Well, besides learning how to market a recently published book, I'm revising the sixth book in my Wind series (Voices in the Wind is the first entry) and developing new ideas for the seventh book.
Judy Bruce
Feed your inner storyteller. I don't read other writers when I'm writing, but movies and TV can stir ideas. And don't limit yourself to one genre--explore comedy, war, Japanese anime, classic Hollywood, action, foreign, anything, even if it isn't your area of storytelling.
Most importantly, study your craft--structure, characterization, plot, etc. And study grammar! Agents and publishers expect it (if you know grammar, then you'll succeed at finding fun and creative ways to destroy it). There's a whole industry that exists to help you develop storytelling. I've found Writers Digest to be a great tool.
Most importantly, study your craft--structure, characterization, plot, etc. And study grammar! Agents and publishers expect it (if you know grammar, then you'll succeed at finding fun and creative ways to destroy it). There's a whole industry that exists to help you develop storytelling. I've found Writers Digest to be a great tool.
Judy Bruce
The writing, of course! I get a story in my head and when I'm ready to write, it's all I want to do. I've even skipped meals to write, though I'm always ready for chocolate. In a way, it's a solitary undertaking, but I'm never alone. I'm in the midst of a series, so I've known these characters so well--I've even dreamed in character. Once my protagonist showed up at a family gathering, as did my parents, who are both deceased. It seemed funky, yet natural, too. When I'm not writing, I miss my characters. It's always a letdown to finish a book--but I know I have several rounds of revisions ahead, so that comforts me.
Judy Bruce
It doesn't happen to me. For one reason, my writing time is limited due to family obligations, namely, an autistic son, so when I do get the time to write, I'm ready. Before I write a story, I first make a general, three part outline. This helps me establish necessary structure. In each act, I have a folder full of ideas that have come to me, usually when I am nowhere near my computer. In short, I know where I'm going, and an outline and fully imagined plot and character sketches keep me on track. That said, those "aha" moments still happen. They may not occur while I'm in front of my computer--they might happen while I'm on the exercise bike or in the soup and veggie aisle at the grocery store. I keep paper nearby at all times--those are the ideas that make up most of my story. Inspiration can't be forced, but you can create the structure of your plot and subplots then let the ideas flow when they're ready to come to the surface. I never assume my best ideas will appear just because I'm ready to type.
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