Ask the Author: Scott Sussman
Answered Questions (8)
Scott Sussman
Yes! I gave you a copy of Silly the Seed. That edition was black & white and softcover. (Yikes!) I took four years of Spanish at FVHS and loved all of you: Banner, Benitez, Shepard, and Joherl (sp?). The process of "learning" Spanish eventually helped me learn Hebrew (I lived in Israel long enough to become conversational). After that I lived in Chile, falling back on my Spanish lessons from high school, and then finally in Italy for 13 years where I learned Italian. I've since forgotten Hebrew and Spanish (though it's quite similar to Italian), but my wife is born and raised in Rome and we communicate mostly in Italian, though her English is good and we live in California now. Lowell was a fantastic school, by the way. Not only the principal and teachers, but also Marco (the custodian) is amazing. I visit a LOT of schools and, honestly, the students at Lowell are in great hands. Thank you for reaching out, and thank you for being an inspiration in my life. All the best always, Scott
Scott Sussman
Hi Ying,
That's wonderful that you're interested in writing and want to be an author. Remember: if you enjoy writing, and that's what you spend your free time doing, then you're a writer now.
Don't worry about publishers and editors right now. Just write. If possible, write every day. If you don't have a lot of free time, write for just five minutes a day, or ten. Write poems, short stories, essays, whatever you want. Write about your day, the people you meet, or about one particular thing that happened that was unusual or extraordinary. Just write. And read, too. The more you read, the more your writing will improve. Read whatever you enjoy reading.
But writing is the most important. Over the years, you will get better and better. When you finally have a poem or short story or novel that you think is very good. You can share it with other people who also enjoy writing and get their feedback. Then you can start to send your work to magazines that publish the type of things you write. After that, when you have a book of poems, a book of short stories, or a book, you can attend writing conferences. You will meet agents, editors, and publishers at writing conferences. You will have the chance to speak to them face to face. You will tell them about your book. One of them may ask you to send them your manuscript. They might even decide that your book is good enough to publish. Then you won't have to hire anybody.
But remember, write every day, even just a paragraph if that's all you have time for. And write because you love to write. Write because you have to. Most of all, have fun.
Good luck, Ying! I wish you the very best.
That's wonderful that you're interested in writing and want to be an author. Remember: if you enjoy writing, and that's what you spend your free time doing, then you're a writer now.
Don't worry about publishers and editors right now. Just write. If possible, write every day. If you don't have a lot of free time, write for just five minutes a day, or ten. Write poems, short stories, essays, whatever you want. Write about your day, the people you meet, or about one particular thing that happened that was unusual or extraordinary. Just write. And read, too. The more you read, the more your writing will improve. Read whatever you enjoy reading.
But writing is the most important. Over the years, you will get better and better. When you finally have a poem or short story or novel that you think is very good. You can share it with other people who also enjoy writing and get their feedback. Then you can start to send your work to magazines that publish the type of things you write. After that, when you have a book of poems, a book of short stories, or a book, you can attend writing conferences. You will meet agents, editors, and publishers at writing conferences. You will have the chance to speak to them face to face. You will tell them about your book. One of them may ask you to send them your manuscript. They might even decide that your book is good enough to publish. Then you won't have to hire anybody.
But remember, write every day, even just a paragraph if that's all you have time for. And write because you love to write. Write because you have to. Most of all, have fun.
Good luck, Ying! I wish you the very best.
Scott Sussman
I was reading a bedtime story (SILLY THE SEED) to my niece. After I'd finished, when I suggested she go to sleep, she asked me to read the book again because she was afraid. I was shocked because SILLY THE SEED is a simple, happy story.
"Afraid of what?" I asked.
"The monster under my bed," she said.
Instead of reading SILLY THE SEED again, I invented a story about a boy named Fred who's afraid of the dark, and the monster under his bed who's also afraid of the dark. Later, I wrote the story down. FRED AND THE MONSTER will be published and available via Amazon.com and Octopusinkpress.com October 2014.
"Afraid of what?" I asked.
"The monster under my bed," she said.
Instead of reading SILLY THE SEED again, I invented a story about a boy named Fred who's afraid of the dark, and the monster under his bed who's also afraid of the dark. Later, I wrote the story down. FRED AND THE MONSTER will be published and available via Amazon.com and Octopusinkpress.com October 2014.
Scott Sussman
Honestly, I rarely "get" inspired to write. Most often, inspiration "gets" me to write.
Scott Sussman
A new presentation for my school visits. As elementary schools often invite me back, I'm developing a second (and third) presentation to avoid boring the teachers with the same show.
Scott Sussman
1) Write EVERY DAY, no matter what. 2) Read too, as much as possible. 3) Never give up. 4) Be receptive. Inspiration is everywhere, and often where you least expect it. 5) Enjoy your life.
Scott Sussman
1. You can work anywhere, any time. No clocking in and out. 2) The simplicity. All you need is a pen and piece of paper.
Scott Sussman
Just sit down and start writing, even if it's nonsense. Keep writing and writing. You're sure to find what you're looking for . . . if it doesn't find you first.
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