Ask the Author: Bill Patterson
Answered Questions (6)
Bill Patterson
Samuel Peralta has asked me to write a story for the third volume of his Alternate History anthology. It's going to be a fun one. Did you know that Edgar Allan Poe once was a West Point cadet? True fact.
Bill Patterson
1. Write. Always be working on something. Take a break on your novel by working on something else.
2. Join a writers group. If you don't like the group dynamics or leadership or direction, change groups. There are a lot out there. Join a couple.
3. Network with other writers who are in their careers where you want to be. That doesn't mean try to get Steven King's attention. It means find someone about half a mile down the road you're already on, and get to know them.
4. Write. Oh, wait, I covered that.
5. Pick a few Open Call markets, write the works they are looking for, and submit. You will get rejected, probably, but the feedback is invaluable.
2. Join a writers group. If you don't like the group dynamics or leadership or direction, change groups. There are a lot out there. Join a couple.
3. Network with other writers who are in their careers where you want to be. That doesn't mean try to get Steven King's attention. It means find someone about half a mile down the road you're already on, and get to know them.
4. Write. Oh, wait, I covered that.
5. Pick a few Open Call markets, write the works they are looking for, and submit. You will get rejected, probably, but the feedback is invaluable.
Bill Patterson
I just wondered, "What if X happened?". Yeah, vague, but I do want to keep the idea under wraps for a bit longer.
Bill Patterson
By observing the world around me. I will see something, and ask "What if X were to happen?" I see a family confrontation, and observe real dialog and wonder what else is going on. Sometimes, it's a writing prompt--I tell the subconscious to go ahead and work on it, then go do something else. The inspiration will strike when it is ready.
Bill Patterson
Unless I am under deadline, in which case I must write, I treat a reluctance to write as a signal from my subconscious that it's not ready for the next part of that story. I will then either see if there's something I DO want to write, or I will go read someone else's work.
Bill Patterson
You get to be the first one to read the book. This isn't egotistical in the least. I never know what my subconscious is going to come up with, and thus am often surprised by the twists and turns things take.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more