Ask the Author: B.J. Knapp
Answered Questions (8)
B.J. Knapp
In the summer I tend to read lighter "fluffier" books. I will often revisit some of the chick lit greats, like Devil Wears Prada. I read a lot while on my boat, so I burn through books super fast. There was one 2 week sailing vacation where I read 7 books.
B.J. Knapp
I like to imagine that the disappearance of my husband's socks would make for an awesome plot. We could go so many ways with that. A deranged sock thief making a suit out of them a la Silence of the Lambs? Are the socks actually alive, and they have all congregated and are planning a coup? Really, it could be anything!
B.J. Knapp
I am a metal nerd. I love 80s rock. But I wonder what happened to a lot of those fly by night 80s bands. Whatever happened to them? I daydreamed a meeting in a conference room where a bunch of has-been guys wearing eyeliner and leather were told that they are broke and they have to take off the metal garb and get jobs in office cubicles. I even had a scene like that in the book originally, but had to take it out because it didn't fit. But then I thought about those guys and how they could get back on top again. And then I started writing the story down in a lime green journal given to me by a friend. I carried it in my purse everywhere I went, and scribbled it out whenever I had moments here and there. Then I revised it approximately 39523589 times.
B.J. Knapp
Ideas are everywhere. I am constantly getting ideas. Now, figuring out if they are actually good ideas is a different story.
B.J. Knapp
I am working on my next novel. It's about a couple that wins $250 million in the Powerball Lottery. They are trying to figure out what it's like to suddenly win that much money. But then something big happens to them... and I am still figuring out how they'll recover from that big event.
B.J. Knapp
Put your butt in the chair and write. Words don't get on paper if you procrastinate. Schedule time for yourself and get it done. If you "don't have time" then here is my challenge to you: for an entire week keep a log of how much time you spend on doing things in your life. Then give your log a thorough examination. You will find pockets of time. Waiting to pick up your kids from their activities? Write then. Watching TV at night? Write then. Reading other peoples' books? Write then.
B.J. Knapp
Connecting with people is definitely the best. When I did my launch party via Facebook for Beside the Music, I had a BLAST responding to comments and "mingling" with the people who took time out of their day to hang with me on Facebook.
B.J. Knapp
The way I deal with writer's block is to write something else. If I am stuck on a scene I am working on, I'll work on another one. Then eventually the juices will get flowing and I'll get un-stuck. There's always something to write, and you don't have to write chronologically to get a novel done.
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