Ask the Author: J.D. Shaw
Answered Questions (6)
J.D. Shaw
Inspiration strikes quite randomly for me. Sometimes it is staring out the window at the hillside. Other times I can be in a crowded store or restaurant and hear a conversation that sparks my interest. Other times, it's logging onto Amazon and seeing how the previous books are selling on the charts. I never have trouble finding inspiration to write. What gives me the most trouble is actually sitting down to begin the process!
J.D. Shaw
I always thought the concept of 'luck' to be such an interesting concept. In today's society there are very few 'magical' type things that people believe in, yet how many times does someone explain something as having 'good luck' or 'bad luck' depending on the situation? I thought it would be interesting to see what happened in Cayuga Cove when something or someone began to change the natural course of luck.
J.D. Shaw
I am writing the 4th book in 'The Vivienne Finch Magical Mysteries' series. Enjoying every moment of it!
J.D. Shaw
Write. Write daily. Write even if you don't feel like writing. Sign up for writing workshops but not until you've figured out just WHO you are as a writer, otherwise you will be influences and/or intimidated by others. When you finish a story set it aside for a week, even better two or three. Get away from it and then come back and revise. Revise again. Let someone read it and listen to what works and what doesn't. Consider revising again if your gut tells you to. But, after five or six revisions you must release it and see what happens. Otherwise, you will tinker forever and you want people to READ your work. After all, that's why you write, isn't it?
J.D. Shaw
Waking up with excitement that you get to do the ideal job! There aren't many people who truly wake up happy and loving that they get to go to work. I feel truly blessed to be able to experience that.
J.D. Shaw
This is very personal to every author. What works for someone else might not work for you. However, in my case, I find it best to remove myself for a brief period of time from the computer and the manuscript on it. I go someplace different, perhaps the grocery store or to the mall and people watch. I 'listen' to snippets of conversation as people pass by. Usually, I hear something odd that makes me want to compare the statement to a character in the book and that ignites the spark to write again.
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