Ask the Author: Rudolph Kohn
Answered Questions (5)
Rudolph Kohn
I submitted a story to a magazine. I got an immediate response: "No."
Rudolph Kohn
Brainstorming. Just think up random ideas and write them down. Think up stupid ideas and write them down. Just get your hands and mind moving, above all else.
If you're really blocked, go read! Try to focus on the written word for half an hour or so, and then try writing again. It's very easy to get into a mental state where you are looking for distractions, and eliminating all of them for a short while can help you get back into the groove.
If you're really blocked, go read! Try to focus on the written word for half an hour or so, and then try writing again. It's very easy to get into a mental state where you are looking for distractions, and eliminating all of them for a short while can help you get back into the groove.
Rudolph Kohn
Don't worry about being good at first. Write frequently, at least several days a week. You don't have to show anyone a story you're not happy with, and you may find a bunch of your early stuff is not worth showing off--that's okay! It takes time to develop a voice and technique.
Read the best stuff you can find! I especially recommend going back and looking at the classics in your genre--those timeless books are a great source for learning technique and the "sound" of good writing.
Read the best stuff you can find! I especially recommend going back and looking at the classics in your genre--those timeless books are a great source for learning technique and the "sound" of good writing.
Rudolph Kohn
I just finished a horror/science fiction story that is a weird length (about 13k words) so I'm trying to figure out what to do with it!
Rudolph Kohn
My favorite way to get inspired to write is reading other authors' works. I like to read about half and half classic books and new books to get a feel for what is popular with readers now and compare that with what has stood the test of time.
Every once in a while, I'll sit down with a blank sheet of paper and write down as many rough story ideas as I can. I'll glance at that list each day and see if anything jumps out at me. Often, I can prompt myself into creating a decent idea for a story that way.
Every once in a while, I'll sit down with a blank sheet of paper and write down as many rough story ideas as I can. I'll glance at that list each day and see if anything jumps out at me. Often, I can prompt myself into creating a decent idea for a story that way.
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