Ask the Author: Chris Andrews
Answered Questions (7)
Chris Andrews
The idea for Divine Prey wasn't exactly an flash of inspiration. More a desire to write something epic. The book that I eventually published is more an evolution of that desire than any real idea for a book. It began as an adventure for a young man who had to stop an evil overlord, and eventually became the story of a headstrong princess who just wanted to be left alone, but events conspired against her and forced her to fight for the things she loved.
Chris Andrews
Lots of different ways, but generally seeing something that works for me. There's lots of great movies, fantastic books, and other information coming from all directions which you can find inspiration in. The inspiration for Epicentre, the novel I'm currently working on, came from the idea of a mermaid walking the beach, growing desperate with the need to drown someone so she could live, and hating herself for what she intended to do.
Chris Andrews
I'm currently editing a book set on the south coast of New South Wales called Epicentre. It's about a mermaid who really doesn't like to be forced to do the things she needs to do to survive.
After a chance encounter with a young man and his friends, the mermaid gets caught up in events which threaten her species very existence.
After a chance encounter with a young man and his friends, the mermaid gets caught up in events which threaten her species very existence.
Chris Andrews
Assuming you're keen on novel writing: Write a novel, put it in a draw (or a file somewhere), then write another entirely different novel - not a sequel.
After that, write another two or three novels, and only then start thinking about editing the first one. With a little experience under your belt, you'll probably find the experience will really help you edit and write better.
Once you've given one of the novels a once over, put it through a critique group or out to some people, and ask them to tell you everything that's wrong with it, and everything they hate about it. Put your pride in your pocket (or preferably the bin), cop the criticism sweetly, and learn.
After that, write another two or three novels, and only then start thinking about editing the first one. With a little experience under your belt, you'll probably find the experience will really help you edit and write better.
Once you've given one of the novels a once over, put it through a critique group or out to some people, and ask them to tell you everything that's wrong with it, and everything they hate about it. Put your pride in your pocket (or preferably the bin), cop the criticism sweetly, and learn.
Chris Andrews
You get to lose yourself in a world of your own choosing and making, where the rules and ideas and concepts, though constrained by reader expectations if you're a fan of commercial fiction like I am, are generally yours to make up and do with as you please.
Chris Andrews
There are a lot of reasons people get writers block, and so I don't think of it as a single-cause problem or that is has a single solution. For instance, stress may be an inhibitor, but that's very different to a lack of inspiration or a lack of confidence, all of which will require different strategies to work through.
I like to keep a range of projects at various stages of development, so if something not working for me like writing a first draft, I can switch to editing an entirely different story.
I like to keep a range of projects at various stages of development, so if something not working for me like writing a first draft, I can switch to editing an entirely different story.
Chris Andrews
Buffy and Angel. Why? Because they're made for each other, but their very natures sets them apart and into conflict.
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