Ask the Author: James Porteous
Answered Questions (6)
James Porteous
The recent passing of British playwright/author David Storey reminded me I had a book of plays that I had not read. So I dug that out and am enjoying it. He was a wonderful writer, best-known for his book The Sporting Life.
Also on-the-go is Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt. Her book The Origins of Totalitarianism is (of course) back in the news these days!
It is going to be interesting time in the world of fiction. Will readers in the 'future' look for diversions from reality in their choice of fiction or will they turn to stories that reflect the chaos that is plays such a big part in the new world order?
I know that when I started writing Hawkins Bay two years ago it could have been called 'sci-fi' in some regards (the rich taking refuge in 'freedom bunkers' and leaving everyone else to fend for themselves) but now I see it as a look as a possible post-Trump world. We have no idea how that will play out, but in the world of global politics, there is nothing new under the sun...
Also on-the-go is Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt. Her book The Origins of Totalitarianism is (of course) back in the news these days!
It is going to be interesting time in the world of fiction. Will readers in the 'future' look for diversions from reality in their choice of fiction or will they turn to stories that reflect the chaos that is plays such a big part in the new world order?
I know that when I started writing Hawkins Bay two years ago it could have been called 'sci-fi' in some regards (the rich taking refuge in 'freedom bunkers' and leaving everyone else to fend for themselves) but now I see it as a look as a possible post-Trump world. We have no idea how that will play out, but in the world of global politics, there is nothing new under the sun...
James Porteous
That feeling you get at the end of the day when you have been so lost in the story that you did not even realize that the characters were fully in charge of where the story was going.
James Porteous
Hemingway had two basic rules.
1) Only sit down to write when you plan to write and
2) always end your work that day knowing where you will pick up the story the next day
I do not follow or find I need any other 'rules!'
1) Only sit down to write when you plan to write and
2) always end your work that day knowing where you will pick up the story the next day
I do not follow or find I need any other 'rules!'
James Porteous
Finish that first book. Just the first draft. The most important thing is the 'beginning to end' thing. Figure out how to make the story work, how to move the characters around the pages to do what you need them to do, and then when you have finished, go back and fill in the details. All of those 'details' will be clear once you finish the 'beginning to end' draft.
James Porteous
Climate change is an important issue, of course, but it is time to take it to the 'next level.' Sitting about worrying about the future is not working. We need to find a way to actually think about what it all means.
James Porteous
There is little doubt by now that the climate is changing for the worse. It has always bothered me that we are quite happy to spend trillions of dollars preparing for the worst, but fail to spend much time or money on stopping the changes before they happen.
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