Ask the Author: James Nuttall
Answered Questions (3)
James Nuttall
Ray Bradbury wrote a wonderful article about feeding the muse. Fill yourself with things that can inspire, other sources of inspiration: novels, non-fiction, films, music, pamphlets, the history channel, TED talks, interviews, basically anything that might give you an insight into a little bit more about the world. At the same time, other people are great sources of inspiration, I've started writing an odd account of a man being corrupted in London largely inspired by the things my friends said while we were drinking together.
Writer's block is like insomnia. You won't fall asleep if you just lie there, so get up, do some exercise, do your taxes online, read, watch late night TV and then maybe your body's resistance to sleep will crumble and you'll be able to drift off. Its the same with writing, if you just stare at the blank sheet it might never come, but if you start writing one sentence or even one word and just keep going who knows what might come out? It might be trash, or it might be Tolstoy. I've started this way and given up lots of times, but I've also felt uninspired one day, sat down started the first words that came to mind and finished many short stories I'm proud of and even a novel.
Writer's block is like insomnia. You won't fall asleep if you just lie there, so get up, do some exercise, do your taxes online, read, watch late night TV and then maybe your body's resistance to sleep will crumble and you'll be able to drift off. Its the same with writing, if you just stare at the blank sheet it might never come, but if you start writing one sentence or even one word and just keep going who knows what might come out? It might be trash, or it might be Tolstoy. I've started this way and given up lots of times, but I've also felt uninspired one day, sat down started the first words that came to mind and finished many short stories I'm proud of and even a novel.
James Nuttall
Very small things will set me off. Sentences, pictures, songs sometimes even words on their own. I'll get a picture in my head and that will bulge and swell until there is the beginning of a story. After that I sit in the dark or in the pub and let my mind wander with the story and see where it goes. Sometimes that only goes so far and I have to work on the rest from the skeleton, but if I cling to the original image, I can often get to the end.
James Nuttall
Don't expect it to be easy, quick, or perfect first time. Get used to disappointment. Don't be afraid to listen to other's opinions, they are potential readers. This doesn't mean you should pander to them and change everything because of one comment, but do remember while its important to keep the spirit of your original idea central, no one will read it if it's no good.
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