Ask the Author: A.E. Decker
Answered Questions (7)
A.E. Decker
This turned out to be a really hard one! After thinking it over, I could give half a dozen honest replies, but I think Sam Vimes and his wife Sybil, from Terry Pratchett's Discworld top the list. They're not conventionally attractive people, they each have their own lives an interests, and they're older than couples are generally portrayed. Despite their quirks, they build a loving, egalitarian relationship that lasts, and have an adorable son with a (very scientific yet wonderfully childish) interest in poo. Because this is Pratchett.
A.E. Decker
The Meddlers of Moonshine, although unfinished, is what I think of as my most current book. It was inspired by Henry James' The Turn of the Screw as well as by other works of Gothic literature. Hopefully, I've added my usually comedic, twisted-logic spin on the subject matter, however. I don't want to say much more for fear of spoilers.
A.E. Decker
Hmm. . . inspired to write? I suppose I look on the actual writing as my job. If you're talking about ideas, they're everywhere. Sometimes a single image of the television screen will spark off the idea for a scenario in a story. Sometimes you'll read a book or see a movie with a particular character you feel got a raw deal in their story line and be inspired to put it. Stories begat other stories. Trust your subconscious. Give it time to breathe, respect it, give yourself downtime, and the ideas will come.
A.E. Decker
I am currently working on the second book in the Moonfall Mayhem series, tentatively titled The Meddlers of Moonshine.
A.E. Decker
Write. Every day, if possible. I know there are a lot of excuses for not writing, but unless you're responsible for defusing a nuclear bomb before it hits Chicago or something like that, try not to make them. The biggest stumbling block to becoming a writer is getting the work done, and I know far too many talented people who seem to spend time coming up with a litany about why they can't write rather than using it for writing.
Once you've established good writing habits, force yourself to finish a piece. Short stories are a good place to start. Try not to get stuck in the trap on endless revisions. No story is ever going to be perfect--and that's wonderful! The world needs great stories, not perfect ones.
Once you've finished a novel or story, find a place to submit it. This is probably the most painful part of the process at first, but when you get your first acceptance, trust me, it'll all be worth it. Above all, persevere. No one else can write your stories. If you don't write them, no one will, and all your worlds will remain undiscovered countries. Isn't that motivation enough?
Once you've established good writing habits, force yourself to finish a piece. Short stories are a good place to start. Try not to get stuck in the trap on endless revisions. No story is ever going to be perfect--and that's wonderful! The world needs great stories, not perfect ones.
Once you've finished a novel or story, find a place to submit it. This is probably the most painful part of the process at first, but when you get your first acceptance, trust me, it'll all be worth it. Above all, persevere. No one else can write your stories. If you don't write them, no one will, and all your worlds will remain undiscovered countries. Isn't that motivation enough?
A.E. Decker
As a writer, you're creating a world. A world you then get to share with other people, which means, in a way, you're giving them a world. I can't think of anything more awesome.
A.E. Decker
Truthfully, I've never really suffered from it. I generally don't write unless I know the ending of the story, and so I always have an idea where I'm heading. I do frequently suffer from what I call the "skip to dessert" syndrome, where I take a long time writing a slower, more connecting scene because I know there's a more exciting sequence coming up that I really want to write. Also, "word amnesia" syndrome, where I know there's a word I want to use, but for the moment it's completely escaping me.
The solution? To just put down words anyway. That's was revisions are for--to clean up previous messes!
The solution? To just put down words anyway. That's was revisions are for--to clean up previous messes!
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