Ask the Author: G.T. Trickle
Answered Questions (6)
G.T. Trickle
I used to do what I call "Seven Minute Takes". Everyday, at work, I'd write for seven minutes about anything -- a bird I heard singing, a grumpy co-worker, a dream I had. Many of my published essays came out of these "Seven Minute Takes". I'm retired now and I've gotten away from doing them. Now, what inspires me is a subject that lights up my emotional radar. I start imagining characters and a story revolving around whatever is pinging most loudly in my head.
G.T. Trickle
I'm revisiting two completed drafts of novels I have in my Junk Folder on my hard drive. I'm weighing which one I will start to rewrite.
G.T. Trickle
I re-read books I love. I go out and "smell the roses". And -- I'll engage people in conversations about everything and anything.
G.T. Trickle
My imagination gets a workout. I get to create characters and get to act out those characters through words. I also love doing background research for the story and giving characters a life history. I can get lost in research and can end up jumping into other subjects that excite or interest me. This "fault" eats up loads of time. I constantly have to remind myself to stay on point/on task.
G.T. Trickle
Along with studying the craft of writing, study human behaviors and the emotions found in those behaviors. Readers read to feel. Perhaps the best book written on fiction writing is an old one – Techniques of the Selling Writer, Dwight V. Swain. He says, “… the first real rule of story-writing is …find a feeling …because feeling is the place where every story starts …” I’ve learned though my published essays that if you hit emotional hot buttons, you’ll get noticed.
Develop a dual personality -- a creative self that can morph into a marketeer that doesn’t give a crap about what the creative self holds dear.
Develop a dual personality -- a creative self that can morph into a marketeer that doesn’t give a crap about what the creative self holds dear.
G.T. Trickle
In Florida, where I live, the Casey Anthony trial was covered extensively. I watched every minute of the live trial and all the follow-up legal analysis. I took copious notes but didn't know why I was so fixated on doing it. When the verdict was announced, I was stunned. Afterwards, I began to wonder about the jurors. I just couldn’t understand how the jury could have arrived at not guilty. I questioned each juror’s critical thinking abilities? I wanted to know if each juror held fast to their decision after they had access to details that weren’t admissible in court. I wanted to know how they were treated by others after rendering such an unpopular verdict. I wanted to know if their lives had changed. These questions led me to create Dorsie Raines Renninger, a juror who crucifies herself for signing her name to a not guilty verdict. Through her, I wanted to show how jury duty could change someone’s life. Juror 1389 draws from the Casey Anthony trial and interweaves trial events into a parallel background story using a made-up trial that took place in another state.
Recently, The Honorable Judge Belvin Perry, who presided over the Anthony trial, retired. In interviews he’s stated he was shocked and in disbelief when he read the official verdict on the form of record. He had to read it twice to verify he was not reading incorrectly. He also stated there was enough evidence to convict. What are those jurors feeling now? Perhaps, there’s one who is haunted by their actions just like Dorsie Raines Renninger.
Recently, The Honorable Judge Belvin Perry, who presided over the Anthony trial, retired. In interviews he’s stated he was shocked and in disbelief when he read the official verdict on the form of record. He had to read it twice to verify he was not reading incorrectly. He also stated there was enough evidence to convict. What are those jurors feeling now? Perhaps, there’s one who is haunted by their actions just like Dorsie Raines Renninger.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more