Ask the Author: Chris Foster
Answered Questions (5)
Chris Foster
The idea for my latest book 'Shards' came from the local media talking about the ice (crystal meth) epidemic spreading across the country. Then my house was broken into by addicts. The local police knew the culprits but refused to arrest them. It was a strange time. All I could think was one day the cartels and criminals would rule in place of government.
And so began the birth of Shard, a new Las Vegas city that has crumbled in the dystopian future. A city built in an open cut mine, an open grave in a dying world. It's streets were white with the snow that wasn't snow, ice that wasn't water. In among the dealers, the users and the halfbreeds lived a family. A family who just wanted to keep to themselves.
A family who were savagely turn apart and in their desperation to find each other made difficult choices, the kind of which they had never ever considered...
And so began the birth of Shard, a new Las Vegas city that has crumbled in the dystopian future. A city built in an open cut mine, an open grave in a dying world. It's streets were white with the snow that wasn't snow, ice that wasn't water. In among the dealers, the users and the halfbreeds lived a family. A family who just wanted to keep to themselves.
A family who were savagely turn apart and in their desperation to find each other made difficult choices, the kind of which they had never ever considered...
Chris Foster
Perhaps it's just me, but I find the problem that causes writer's block is being unable to move the story forward. My mind goes blank, or struggles to find a suitable way forward (resist deus ex machina unless you are doing it for a specific purpose).
However I'm not one who can simply sit and stare at a blank page. So my way of dealing with writer's block is to start a new book. Hence why I have over 21 novels in progress.
This can work well, as in general I find myself finishing two novels at around the same time. It does slow the time it takes to complete a novel.
More recently it seems I am suffering less and less from Writer's block. In my opinion it means a greater confidence in my work and learning to switch the negative self critic off has allowed the words to flow freely.
For the large majority of writer's your first draft is exactly that, a first draft (or as Lian Tanner calls it, the 'experimental draft', which is a term I absolutely love). So don't worry if some parts don't make sense. Just try to keep writing. I promise, it will get easier.
However I'm not one who can simply sit and stare at a blank page. So my way of dealing with writer's block is to start a new book. Hence why I have over 21 novels in progress.
This can work well, as in general I find myself finishing two novels at around the same time. It does slow the time it takes to complete a novel.
More recently it seems I am suffering less and less from Writer's block. In my opinion it means a greater confidence in my work and learning to switch the negative self critic off has allowed the words to flow freely.
For the large majority of writer's your first draft is exactly that, a first draft (or as Lian Tanner calls it, the 'experimental draft', which is a term I absolutely love). So don't worry if some parts don't make sense. Just try to keep writing. I promise, it will get easier.
Chris Foster
Go wild.
You can be a writer.
This career is filled with moments where you'll have to jump chasms that seem impossible to cross. But you will.
Your inner voice will be your worst critic, so learn to deal with it.
Avoid the cliche of wine and cheese (well, okay, maybe a little cheese...), you don't need it to write. You just need to love stories.
If you want to be a writer, then do so with passion.
It doesn't matter what you write, it doesn't matter if it feels clunky, or slow, or shallow. As long as you are writing, then you are a writer. As long as you continue to strive for a better image, a better plot, a better character, then you are improving.
Then you can be great a writer.
Being a writer is like anything else; love it or lose it.
If you love it, then let nothing and no one stop you.
Being a writer is a calling.
Answer it.
You can be a writer.
This career is filled with moments where you'll have to jump chasms that seem impossible to cross. But you will.
Your inner voice will be your worst critic, so learn to deal with it.
Avoid the cliche of wine and cheese (well, okay, maybe a little cheese...), you don't need it to write. You just need to love stories.
If you want to be a writer, then do so with passion.
It doesn't matter what you write, it doesn't matter if it feels clunky, or slow, or shallow. As long as you are writing, then you are a writer. As long as you continue to strive for a better image, a better plot, a better character, then you are improving.
Then you can be great a writer.
Being a writer is like anything else; love it or lose it.
If you love it, then let nothing and no one stop you.
Being a writer is a calling.
Answer it.
Chris Foster
Besides from promoting 'The Potion Master'?
Well my next novel is a gripping story aimed for the Young Adult market. I don't wish to reveal too much, but if you loved 'The Gunslinger' by Stephen King then you might be interested to watch this space...there will be a giveaway, so keep tuned!
Well my next novel is a gripping story aimed for the Young Adult market. I don't wish to reveal too much, but if you loved 'The Gunslinger' by Stephen King then you might be interested to watch this space...there will be a giveaway, so keep tuned!
Chris Foster
Finding inspiration is the easiest part of writing for me. Simply being around people, having discussions and seeing new places (or old places with fresh eyes) always brings a torrent of ideas flooding my mind. The trick is deciding what to use and what to save for later.
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