Ask the Author: Lee Allen
Answered Questions (9)
Lee Allen
It is perhaps natural for anyone who creates something to, at times, be plagued by doubts as to whether it is good enough, or to become convinced it will be misunderstood or hated. There are times when I am visited by Imposter Syndrome, and feel as if everything I've ever written is terrible and whatever project I'm working on at the time will never be good enough.
Authors, and particularly indie authors, are often responsible for their own promotion. Marketing is challenging and self-promotion can be particularly discomforting. Social media in some ways makes it far easier, and in other ways more difficult.
As a child, I was often afraid of not being good enough, in so many scenarios, from many perspectives. To some degree, this is natural. Perhaps this may be the fear that follows me to this day - the fear that I or my work will not be enough. With every book and even every blog or social media post, there remains that niggling doubt in the background.
As to whether I allow it to hold me back, I feel that I am successfully fighting it and keeping it at bay. Each battle won gives you a thicker skin and a more fierce resolve to never give up.
Authors, and particularly indie authors, are often responsible for their own promotion. Marketing is challenging and self-promotion can be particularly discomforting. Social media in some ways makes it far easier, and in other ways more difficult.
As a child, I was often afraid of not being good enough, in so many scenarios, from many perspectives. To some degree, this is natural. Perhaps this may be the fear that follows me to this day - the fear that I or my work will not be enough. With every book and even every blog or social media post, there remains that niggling doubt in the background.
As to whether I allow it to hold me back, I feel that I am successfully fighting it and keeping it at bay. Each battle won gives you a thicker skin and a more fierce resolve to never give up.
Lee Allen
I love writing! For me, the best thing is being able to put pen to paper and escape into another world - one of my own creation; being in the thick of a story, exploring themes and plotting for my characters; in the midst of writing the next scene, building those images and those thoughts and feelings. I also love what I write about, so even background research is enjoyable.
When I'm immersed in these fictional creations is when I feel most myself, and a completed story is the most amazing achievement. I feel I have found my vocation with writing and love burying myself in it.
When I'm immersed in these fictional creations is when I feel most myself, and a completed story is the most amazing achievement. I feel I have found my vocation with writing and love burying myself in it.
Lee Allen
Firstly, write everything down. Even the vaguest fragment of an idea. I religiously keep notebooks - everything gets written in there.
Secondly, always remind yourself that what's most important is the next sentence. It's easy to get overwhelmed thinking about the book, the chapter, even the scene. But all of those things are ultimately built out of sentences, one at a time.
Finally, never give up. Not just on the writing dreams, but on the story that's in your head, the book your heart is telling you to write. Don't let self-doubt tell you those ideas you jotted down aren't worth pursuing; don't allow those times when confidence ebbs away or you worry you'll never finish stop you from writing that next sentence. If the story hasn't given up on you, then never give up on the story.
Secondly, always remind yourself that what's most important is the next sentence. It's easy to get overwhelmed thinking about the book, the chapter, even the scene. But all of those things are ultimately built out of sentences, one at a time.
Finally, never give up. Not just on the writing dreams, but on the story that's in your head, the book your heart is telling you to write. Don't let self-doubt tell you those ideas you jotted down aren't worth pursuing; don't allow those times when confidence ebbs away or you worry you'll never finish stop you from writing that next sentence. If the story hasn't given up on you, then never give up on the story.
Lee Allen
I find inspiration in many places. My stories usually start with a scene, a plot element, a character or a theme that begins flourishing in my mind, usually linking with other ideas that have come to me in the same way. I may start taking notes and developing the idea on paper at this stage, or I may just keep it in my mind for the time being and see if it can lead somewhere.
I read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction - books, magazines, articles and more; I also love film, television, music. Perhaps I may hear a song and the lyrics or music spark something or speak of an emotion I want to write about. Or I may overhear a conversation and take one sentence and let my imagination work on it. Many of these things may never reach the page or go beyond something that danced in my mind today, but others will link with existing ideas or inspire new ones.
Ultimately, a wide range of fragments coalesce to the point where I feel I have the beginnings of a story that I feel impelled to write.
I read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction - books, magazines, articles and more; I also love film, television, music. Perhaps I may hear a song and the lyrics or music spark something or speak of an emotion I want to write about. Or I may overhear a conversation and take one sentence and let my imagination work on it. Many of these things may never reach the page or go beyond something that danced in my mind today, but others will link with existing ideas or inspire new ones.
Ultimately, a wide range of fragments coalesce to the point where I feel I have the beginnings of a story that I feel impelled to write.
Lee Allen
Before retiring to bed each night, you probably check all the doors and windows are locked securely, blocking out the howling wind; and you may even take a cursory glance under the bed - though perhaps only those times you are sure you can hear breathing. But there's always somewhere you forget to check: shortly after switching out the light, with the covers pulled up to your chin, you hear the faint creaking of the wardrobe door...
Lee Allen
I've been lucky so far in the sense that I don't suffer from the traditional concept of writer's block. I'm never stuck on wondering where the plot will go next or what message or images I want the next scene to deliver.
I'm driven by the detail of the characters and the plots and always enjoy exploring this and taking the story in new directions as I write. Stories and characters I'm currently working on are always living inside my head.
Perhaps my greatest challenge is overcoming perceived obstacles in order to enable myself to sit down and continue writing from the latest point where I left the story. A particular way I've overcome this is to always keep a notebook to hand, or alternatively use a mobile phone or open up an email when sitting at a computer, to take notes or record the next sentence that is floating in my head.
Maybe that will be all I'll record in that sitting, but it's a good starting point for the next time I sit down to write, whether it be that evening or weekend. I rarely add this next sentence to my current draft and not continue beyond it.
I'm driven by the detail of the characters and the plots and always enjoy exploring this and taking the story in new directions as I write. Stories and characters I'm currently working on are always living inside my head.
Perhaps my greatest challenge is overcoming perceived obstacles in order to enable myself to sit down and continue writing from the latest point where I left the story. A particular way I've overcome this is to always keep a notebook to hand, or alternatively use a mobile phone or open up an email when sitting at a computer, to take notes or record the next sentence that is floating in my head.
Maybe that will be all I'll record in that sitting, but it's a good starting point for the next time I sit down to write, whether it be that evening or weekend. I rarely add this next sentence to my current draft and not continue beyond it.
Lee Allen
Despite my book collection being quite large and forever expanding, I don't tend to plan a list of books in advance, unless I happen to be going away and have to make sure I had enough with me!
I'm currently reading Stephen King's final novel in the Bill Hodges trilogy, "End of Watch". I'm very much enjoying it so far.
Next may be a legal thriller - perhaps I'll pick a John Grisham from the shelf.
Aside from that, I can say the only other book definitely featuring on my list will be Patricia Cornwell's latest Kay Scarpetta thriller "Chaos", out in paperback in July.
I'm currently reading Stephen King's final novel in the Bill Hodges trilogy, "End of Watch". I'm very much enjoying it so far.
Next may be a legal thriller - perhaps I'll pick a John Grisham from the shelf.
Aside from that, I can say the only other book definitely featuring on my list will be Patricia Cornwell's latest Kay Scarpetta thriller "Chaos", out in paperback in July.
Lee Allen
There are currently a few projects I am working on; I can't seem to concentrate on only one at a time, there are several being plotted away inside my head. But the primary focus is on my second novel, which will be in a different vein to 'Those Crimes of Passion', and also on my first children's story, which I'm very excited about. More news on that to come soon I hope!
Lee Allen
The idea for Alone came to me a little over a year ago, the result of several threads of ideas coming together.
With Christmas approaching, I was struck by the idea so many people hold that you are somehow under an obligation to be happy at Christmastime - which, for many, for one reason or another, is not always the reality. So I began with this concept, marrying it with my desire to write a ghost story for Christmas.
The final strand to thread through my concept for Alone was something more structural, the idea of piecing together a puzzle to finally reveal the solution. I crafted Alone as a sort of 'psychological jigsaw puzzle' - pulling together pieces of the story told from different points of view, such as through a journal or letters.
I hope the result has done my original idea justice!
With Christmas approaching, I was struck by the idea so many people hold that you are somehow under an obligation to be happy at Christmastime - which, for many, for one reason or another, is not always the reality. So I began with this concept, marrying it with my desire to write a ghost story for Christmas.
The final strand to thread through my concept for Alone was something more structural, the idea of piecing together a puzzle to finally reveal the solution. I crafted Alone as a sort of 'psychological jigsaw puzzle' - pulling together pieces of the story told from different points of view, such as through a journal or letters.
I hope the result has done my original idea justice!
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