Ask the Author: Gregory Eaves
Answered Questions (4)
Gregory Eaves
There are two points I would like to make here:
One is that you should always listen to your gut instinct, rather than other people. Ignore the naysayers. If you have an intuitive feeling that you could be a good writer - not just that you want to, but that you can - then follow that. Don't allow negative comments from others to deter you.
The other point I want to stress is an extension of the first: Other people's "constructive criticism" isn't always right, or constructive. Take it with a grain of salt. Even if they say they are experts - English teachers,etc. Again, follow your instinct. Be open to changing your writing, but don't allow others' opinions to damage your self-confidence. You know better than anyone how much potential your writing has. If nothing else, you have your intuition. Learn to hone that intuition so that you can critique your own writing. If you are writing garbage, don't be afraid to throw it out. But if you think it has potential, don't let someone else tell you it's garbage. Not a publisher, not your mother, not a friend. Some local writing groups critique each others' writing. Be careful. Bad criticism from people who don't know any more, and in many cases, don't know as much as you do, can be very damaging to the new writer's tenuous relationship with his writing. Just don't let it happen. I avoid those groups like the plague. It's much like that saying from the Bible: Do not cast your pearls before swine.
One is that you should always listen to your gut instinct, rather than other people. Ignore the naysayers. If you have an intuitive feeling that you could be a good writer - not just that you want to, but that you can - then follow that. Don't allow negative comments from others to deter you.
The other point I want to stress is an extension of the first: Other people's "constructive criticism" isn't always right, or constructive. Take it with a grain of salt. Even if they say they are experts - English teachers,etc. Again, follow your instinct. Be open to changing your writing, but don't allow others' opinions to damage your self-confidence. You know better than anyone how much potential your writing has. If nothing else, you have your intuition. Learn to hone that intuition so that you can critique your own writing. If you are writing garbage, don't be afraid to throw it out. But if you think it has potential, don't let someone else tell you it's garbage. Not a publisher, not your mother, not a friend. Some local writing groups critique each others' writing. Be careful. Bad criticism from people who don't know any more, and in many cases, don't know as much as you do, can be very damaging to the new writer's tenuous relationship with his writing. Just don't let it happen. I avoid those groups like the plague. It's much like that saying from the Bible: Do not cast your pearls before swine.
Gregory Eaves
The book I'm working on now started with an interest in acupuncture and Asian culture. I finished 2 years of a master's degree in Oriental Medicine, and I felt like it would make a good background for a novel set in China. I also wanted to use an exotic location for the story.
Gregory Eaves
I like to read books on writing. Some of them are really inspiring and make me want to write. I usually start my writing days by reading a little in one of these books, then I do some writing. Reading fiction books also inspires me, if it's one that I like. Of course, you don't know that, until you get into it. Sometimes I put down a book I don't like, and move on to another one.
Gregory Eaves
I'm about half way through a novella. This is the first time I've tried writing in this format, and I like it. A novella has some of the qualities of a short story, but much longer. I tend to prefer writing (and reading) short novels - I'm just not a long, epic-novel type of guy. This new project takes place in China, and it's about a policeman who has blackouts, gets fired, then turns P.I. to solve the murder of a friend of his. He takes an experimental herb formula for his blackouts, with surprising results. There are paranormal elements to this story.
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