Ask the Author: C.J. Erick
Answered Questions (7)
C.J. Erick
Trying to find inspiration to write is a function in the past for me. I have more ideas that I need to write than I will have lifetime to complete them.
Stories that need to be told are everywhere. We are a species that has literally grown from our less developed ancestors through STORY. It is entwined in our basic nature.
Stories that need to be told are everywhere. We are a species that has literally grown from our less developed ancestors through STORY. It is entwined in our basic nature.
C.J. Erick
My advice for writers who are less experienced than me would be pretty basic stuff that they could get from any good writing book. Don't expect writing to be easy, or without sacrifice. Prepare for rejection, then more rejection. Work HARD on your craft, but try to develop a writing process that you can enjoy. And most important -- NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, allow other writers, friends, family, strangers, enemies intimidate you out of writing. The world needs your stories!
C.J. Erick
The best thing for writing for me is when my writing moves someone to have a deep emotional response. If I can help a reader to cry, laugh, think, swear, there is nothing better.
C.J. Erick
I rarely have what most people consider writer's block, being unable to write anything. I may go into slow-mo, like in the recent chapter of my latest WIP. How I drag myself through is to be willing to write complete crap until something good comes out, and to understand that my productivity is based on time required, not word count. That paragraph that took me an hour is just as important and necessary as that full chapter that took the same amount of time. There are no short cuts.
C.J. Erick
In "A Season of Pure Light," humans must learn to live with two closely related species of extraterrestrials. The idea fascinated me of turning the tables in "When I Walked Among Serpents," placing a leader of the ET's onto a human planet with nothing but an understanding of the human standard language.
C.J. Erick
I would travel by hyper-drive to the planet Timmistria of my Yellow World novel series. Once there, I would explore the beautiful emerald Shill Wellin, the Valley of Birth, under a glowering red moon.
C.J. Erick
We laughed when the children rose against us. Now we eat only beans, Brussels sprouts, and cold oatmeal, and we clean all their rooms.
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