Ask the Author: Keith Jacobsen
Answered Questions (8)
Keith Jacobsen
There are mysteries in the life of my family to which I will never know the answers for sure, so writing can serve as a proxy for finding those answers. I can 'discover' them in fiction. I can ask my parents the questions I never dared to ask, and which they never would have answered. Of course, beyond a certain point it all becomes fictionalised, the characters take on their own very different qualities. So this is just a starting point. For example, I believe my late father was a closet homosexual. He would never have admitted it. But it would explain a great deal which has puzzled me over the years. In fiction I can make him admit what he would never have done in real life and make sense of it. This does not mean that the homosexual fathers in my books (there are 2 so far) are portraits of my father. The characters have their own distinct qualities. One of them is a good man, the other is not. But the existence of real and unsoluble mysteries in your past can lead to the creation of fictional mysteries and the plots whereby they are solved. A very good question if an imperfect anwer!
Keith Jacobsen
Cathy and Heathcliff. Nothing compares for intensity.
Keith Jacobsen
my most recent book, 'Sisters of Fury' will be published later this year so I need to avoid spoilers. There was no single idea, just issues around love, friendship, faith, betrayal, that came together in a pattern. Perhaps I can say more when it comes out.
Keith Jacobsen
Wouldn't call it inspiration - ideas float around and they may or may not crystallise in a pattern which I want to commit to writing. Even then only some of these patterns ever make it to final form. Where do the ideas come from? Unresolved issues in my own past in some cases, family 'mysteries' which were never explained, so in fiction I can put that right by explaining them, not directly - that would be deadly to the reader - but by extrapolating them into situations where they are highlighted and intensified.
Keith Jacobsen
'Place of a Skull' - radio drama version of my novel published in 2013, 'Eye of God' - sequel to 'Out of the Depths' published in 2012. Also some non-fiction, on a musical subject.
Keith Jacobsen
I am not sure I am qualified to answer this. Writing took me up when I had other plans. I would suggest, read widely and critically, only write about what you care about rather than what you think others will care about, show your work to people whose judgement you trust but be prepared to ignore their advice if you feel it takes you in a direction which is not right for you, and - this is a common piece of advice but very valid - if you write fiction, show don't tell.
Keith Jacobsen
Living in the minds of your characters and becoming involved with their lives, their hopes and dreams, their triumphs and disasters, experiencing a sense of flow when a story writes itself. (But most of the time it is not like this - the drudgery of revision, correction, self-criticism takes up far more time!)
Keith Jacobsen
Do other things. Writing takes place in the mind, often subconsciously. When the time comes to write it down you will know.
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