Ask the Author: J.D. Daniels
Answered Questions (6)
J.D. Daniels
In 1997 I was teaching at a University in Ankara, Turkey. One day I took the bus into the city and after walking a block was trapped in an angry crowd of thousands. Tanks and soldiers were everywhere. Shots ran out. It was frightening.
The people of Turkey were outraged when the dead occupants of a car accident revealed obvious government corruption.
A couple of days later I stood on the balcony of my Turkish friend's home with a darkened apartment behind us, banging on the railing with pots and pans, joining in the Minute of Darkness for Enlightment Protest. This non-violent method of protest was devised to get the people off the streets--to save them from being injured.
My novella Minute of Darkness was inspired by this true life incident.
The previously published collection of flash fiction stories at the end were inspired by various other literary works and author's lives.
The people of Turkey were outraged when the dead occupants of a car accident revealed obvious government corruption.
A couple of days later I stood on the balcony of my Turkish friend's home with a darkened apartment behind us, banging on the railing with pots and pans, joining in the Minute of Darkness for Enlightment Protest. This non-violent method of protest was devised to get the people off the streets--to save them from being injured.
My novella Minute of Darkness was inspired by this true life incident.
The previously published collection of flash fiction stories at the end were inspired by various other literary works and author's lives.
J.D. Daniels
I never know. In fact, I don't think I "get inspired". I believe inspiration gets me. It could be a line from a book I'm reading, a news clip, a bird flying by, a person I see on the street. There's an image of a gypsy I saw in Europe that keeps popping up. I'm sure eventually he will become the protagonist of a novel or short story. But not yet and that is just fine. What I love about the life of a writer is that it is continually full of adventure and new discoveries. I don't write anything knowing how it will end or even knowing what character will pop up on the page. Writing is such an evolutionary process.
J.D. Daniels
I am currently revising a Jessie Murphy Mystery while working on the next in a series. In between these when I am inspired, I write a poem. Just wrote one last week. Two days ago I wrote a short essay. Tomorrow I might write a flash fiction story.
J.D. Daniels
Write for yourself. Write what is important to you. Write to discovery. Use a journal often. Don't let publication define you as a writer. If you are putting words on the page and following your passion to do so, you are aspiring to feed your soul's needs, you are indeed a writer. Bravo.
J.D. Daniels
Following your passion. I am a very lucky woman that I have been able to live the writer's life these past years. I pay my bills by teaching and having rental property, but have been able to maintain the independence my spirit and imagination desires to write what I want, when I want.
J.D. Daniels
I let it breathe. I don't angst. I assume it's a time I need to be doing other things, keeping the faith that when I am ready, the words will come. And they do. They most definitely do.
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