Ask the Author: Robert Carter
Answered Questions (3)
Robert Carter
Hi Patricia
Good question. I am interested in how events affect people, what actions they take and why. So I study history and my books are extensively researched, but I like to construct a storyline which is true to the time, but which allows me to show a very personal account of what it was like for the people who were living through it.
I am very interested in history and become knowledgeable about the periods I write about, but I am passionate about constructing a good story!
Rob
Good question. I am interested in how events affect people, what actions they take and why. So I study history and my books are extensively researched, but I like to construct a storyline which is true to the time, but which allows me to show a very personal account of what it was like for the people who were living through it.
I am very interested in history and become knowledgeable about the periods I write about, but I am passionate about constructing a good story!
Rob
Robert Carter
I am fascinated by history. I believe everyone should be aware of what has happened in the world, or we are doomed to repeat our mistakes, so I hope always to leave my readers with a more accurate sense of the times I write about.
I really enjoy researching my storylines. The more I read, the more biographies I stumble upon, I find people who have done astonishing things – people completely overlooked by history. I like to find those people - to bring their courage and commitment to the reader’s attention. Sir Sidney Smith (Courage) and Frederick T Ward (Barbarians) to name but two, incredible people who changed history and not many people know about them. My personal crusade, if you like.
I really enjoy researching my storylines. The more I read, the more biographies I stumble upon, I find people who have done astonishing things – people completely overlooked by history. I like to find those people - to bring their courage and commitment to the reader’s attention. Sir Sidney Smith (Courage) and Frederick T Ward (Barbarians) to name but two, incredible people who changed history and not many people know about them. My personal crusade, if you like.
Robert Carter
Would-be writers MUST apply discipline to the exercise of compiling say 80,000 well-chosen words. Without discipline, it’s almost impossible. So the best help you can get is to develop a habit. Set aside a regular time when you do nothing else but write, and never miss a session. For people who can manage that every day, the total soon builds up. If you can write 1,000 words a day for 100 days, you will have created the first draft of a novel in 4 months. Then it’s just a question of editing, and editing is much easier than creating on a blank page. A really good tip is to print your novel on paper and put it in a drawer for at least 30 days. When you come back to it, you will find that household gremlins have re-arranged all the words and made it read like garbage. You will find the second draft is so much better. And the third draft ? You can probably be proud of that one. Some of my scenes have had fifteen drafts before I was happy with them. Re-writing is essential. It is the absolute key to quality.
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