Ask the Author: Jim Arnold
Answered Questions (2)
Jim Arnold
I think that it's the satisfaction that comes from being able to scratch a creative urge. Unlike some of the other arts, which require instruments, canvas and paints, a stage, camera or whatever it might be, all you really need to write is a paper and pen or pencil and you can do it almost anywhere at anytime of day or night. I'm grateful that I get a huge sense of accomplishment from my writing.
Jim Arnold
I don't get writer's block often. A trick I learned from a former teacher was this--if you know where you want to end up, with a story (and I usually do), I can work my way back from the end to where I'm starting by listing any and all things that I know will be going there - say, a location, a snippet of dialogue, a plot point, a prop. It doesn't have to be everything, I know from experience my imagination will eventually always fill things in. If absolutely nothing is coming into my head, I usually do something aerobic - a walk, hike, a yoga class, something like that. Invariably during exercise I'll get some kind of inspiration. I also believe that as a professional writer, you make a commitment to show up for the page - whether that's for a half hour Monday through Friday or four hours in the middle of the night. Even if you just sit there and type nothing at all, the habit you make will encourage the muse.
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