Ask the Author: E.R. Chissick
Answered Questions (8)
E.R. Chissick
Secrets of the Heart.
Playing Offside.
The Perfect Android.
The Divine Comedy.
Dracula.
Playing Offside.
The Perfect Android.
The Divine Comedy.
Dracula.
E.R. Chissick
I think my life so far has been pretty boring. But, when I first lived with my hubs, I honestly thought the house we lived in (which was part of an old farmhouse in the middle of fields) was definitely haunted.
E.R. Chissick
I try not to think of it as writer's block, but more of a dry spell. For me, it's my brain's way of telling me I need to back off and let the story 'brew' in my mind so I find other things to do. I love cooking and baking so I'll happily take myself off into the kitchen to bake muffins or test a new recipe. I live in a place five minutes from the beach so I'll take the car down, park at the sea front and walk along the cliffs. Sometimes, in the school holidays, my son and I will get up at 4am, have a Maccie D breakfast and drive up to a local lighthouse to take photos of the sunrise and then explore the rockpools. And other times, if my daughter's working and my son's out at the football, hubs and I will go into the city for the day. The main thing, is to just do something completely different with no connection to your writing. Pushing your brain when it needs a break, is a sure fire way of killing your story.
Thanks for the question, and apologies for the late answer, I've only just found this section on goodreads.
Thanks for the question, and apologies for the late answer, I've only just found this section on goodreads.
E.R. Chissick
Being able to tell stories. The best thing about being and indie writer, is that I don't have anyone telling me what or how to write, how my covers should look, what tense I should write in and what my characters should be like. I tell my stories my way.
And being able to do something I've always wanted to do makes me pretty happy.
And being able to do something I've always wanted to do makes me pretty happy.
E.R. Chissick
Write!
Write it all down, write it the way you want to, write it how you want it to be told, get everything down, make notes, research all you can, ask questions and READ as much as you can too, and then ... go back to the beginning and EDIT HARD.
Edit for mistakes, look for spelling errors and grammatical errors, look for plot holes, look for characters who are too perfect, look for cliches, (some work, most don't) and if you can afford it, pay for a professional editor. If you have to, re-write anything which needs it. Do not be afraid to change things, this is why we have a delete key. And then, when you think it's ready, hide it away for a couple of months and then go through it all again with fresh eyes.
Most importantly, don't let anyone tell you you can't do it!
Write it all down, write it the way you want to, write it how you want it to be told, get everything down, make notes, research all you can, ask questions and READ as much as you can too, and then ... go back to the beginning and EDIT HARD.
Edit for mistakes, look for spelling errors and grammatical errors, look for plot holes, look for characters who are too perfect, look for cliches, (some work, most don't) and if you can afford it, pay for a professional editor. If you have to, re-write anything which needs it. Do not be afraid to change things, this is why we have a delete key. And then, when you think it's ready, hide it away for a couple of months and then go through it all again with fresh eyes.
Most importantly, don't let anyone tell you you can't do it!
E.R. Chissick
Hi there, apologies for not answering sooner, I had no idea about this part of goodreads.
I am currently working on a new fiction book and a recipe/cook book, and getting myself ready for my first indie author lit fest! Which is well out of my comfort zone!
I am currently working on a new fiction book and a recipe/cook book, and getting myself ready for my first indie author lit fest! Which is well out of my comfort zone!
E.R. Chissick
Hi, thanks for your question and apologies for not knowing about this section of goodreads.
Inspiration sometimes just happens, and sometimes needs a nudge, but it can come from anywhere if you let your mind wander enough.
Music plays a huge part in my life and sometimes, hearing a certain piece of music is enough to set my mind off. That being said, I had a story to tell and I told it. It was then expanded into a second book which started with "what if ...?" but now, I'm itching to crack on with another book. The problem is, I have characters and parts of the story, but I don't know how to get from a to z!
Inspiration sometimes just happens, and sometimes needs a nudge, but it can come from anywhere if you let your mind wander enough.
Music plays a huge part in my life and sometimes, hearing a certain piece of music is enough to set my mind off. That being said, I had a story to tell and I told it. It was then expanded into a second book which started with "what if ...?" but now, I'm itching to crack on with another book. The problem is, I have characters and parts of the story, but I don't know how to get from a to z!
E.R. Chissick
Hi there. I've only just found this section on goodreads, please accept my apologies for not answering before.
A year ago, I was still writing my second fiction, so I'm guessing your question is about my first fiction. When I was younger (14/15) I would write little snippets of stories with a couple of friends of mine. I also wrote a few poems. One of the stories I wrote began with a woman who ran away from her overbearing family to become a teacher. She then left her job as a teacher to run her own stables. However, her wayward brother manages to find her and eventually so do her parents. And then the trouble starts.
I didn't get much further than that, but I knew exactly what the big OMG moment was, and where the story would end. Then I was told I couldn't be a writer and had to find a job. Fast forward 25-odd years and I ended up writing a non-fiction book about something my husband and I went through. And that's when the writing bug bit me again and I pulled out all my old typed and handwritten bits of paper. And I set about writing again.
A year ago, I was still writing my second fiction, so I'm guessing your question is about my first fiction. When I was younger (14/15) I would write little snippets of stories with a couple of friends of mine. I also wrote a few poems. One of the stories I wrote began with a woman who ran away from her overbearing family to become a teacher. She then left her job as a teacher to run her own stables. However, her wayward brother manages to find her and eventually so do her parents. And then the trouble starts.
I didn't get much further than that, but I knew exactly what the big OMG moment was, and where the story would end. Then I was told I couldn't be a writer and had to find a job. Fast forward 25-odd years and I ended up writing a non-fiction book about something my husband and I went through. And that's when the writing bug bit me again and I pulled out all my old typed and handwritten bits of paper. And I set about writing again.
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